oi-Soumyaroop Mukherjee

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 knocking on the door, coach Roberto Martinez will marshal his troops in a warm-up game against Mexico at the iconic Aztec Stadium. The Portuguese side will be without their talismanic striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is sidelined due to a right hamstring injury.

Ronaldo’s fitness became a bone of contention for Portugal in the run-up to the World Cup after he had sustained a muscular problem while playing for Al Nassr on February 28. Subsequently, the 41-year-old underwent treatment in Madrid. Interestingly, the 41-year-old has not played in America since 2014, when he was part of Real Madrid’s pre-season tour.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play In The Portugal vs Mexico Match?

Ronaldo, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation post his injury, will be unavailable for the Portugal side, which takes on Mexico at the iconic Aztec Stadium on March 28. He will also not feature in the match against the United States, which will take place on March 31 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Addressing the anxiety of the fans over the absence of Ronaldo, head coach Roberto Martinez assured that the injury to the former Real Madrid star is not grave and will be minor. “No, he’s not in danger,” Martinez said while announcing the 27-man squad for the friendlies on Friday. “It’s a minor muscle injury, and we think he can be back in a week or two. Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows that he’s in great shape,” he added.

When Will Portugal Play The First Game Of FIFA World Cup 2026?

Portugal will begin its World Cup campaign in Houston on June 17 against the winner of this month’s playoff tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo made his first public appearance in the United States since the 2014 preseason tour when he attended a White House dinner last November. The event was hosted by Donald Trump in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The all-time top scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, Ronaldo was absent from Portugal’s final match of 2025, a dominant 9-1 win over Armenia in their last World Cup qualifier on November 16, due to suspension.

Meanwhile, his in-form Al Nassr teammate João Félix has been included in the squad, along with Bruno Fernandes, the Manchester United captain, who has recorded seven goals and 16 assists in 27 league appearances this season.

Mateus Fernandes Gets Debut Call For National Side

Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United has received his first-ever call-up and is among six Premier League-based players selected. Gonçalo Guedes, currently playing for Real Sociedad, returns to the national setup for the first time since 2022.

“Guedes is a versatile player,” Martínez said. “He has scored nine goals this season and is in excellent form.

“He’s a game-changing striker, a player who is of great interest to us. I’ve already said that for the World Cup, the center forward position belongs to Cristiano and Gonçalo Ramos, and we’re looking for a striker with a different profile.

“And he’s in a form that deserves a call-up. We’re very excited about what he could bring to the national team in these friendlies.”

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