Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo out for matches vs. Mexico and USMNT
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of Portugal's roster for upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the United States. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez named a 27-player roster on Friday , which did not include the 41-year-old legend. Ronaldo suffered a muscle injury at the end of February in a game with Al Nassr, and has not recovered in time to make the trip to North America.
There will still be plenty of global stars on the roster, including Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes, PSG midfielder João Neves, AC Milan winger Rafael Leão and more. Martinez's side will face Mexico on March 28 in the grand reopening of the Estadio Azteca (now known as Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City. Portugal will then take on the United States on March 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Earlier this month, Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus said that Ronaldo's injury turned out be be worse than the club initially feared. "After the tests he underwent, it became clear that it is a more serious injury than we were expecting," Jesus said. "He will need rest and recovery.
Cristiano will travel to Spain for treatment. " Ronaldo has continued to be a key player for Portugal as he eyes a spot at a sixth World Cup this summer. The forward has scored 143 goals for Portugal in 226 appearances, the most all-time international goals for any men's player.
Portugal roster vs. Mexico and USMNT Goalkeepers : Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP) Defenders : Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), António Silva (SL Benfica), Tomás Araújo (SL Benfica) Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), João Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto) Forwards : Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting CP), João Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cristiano Ronaldo injury: Portugal star out vs. Mexico and USMNT