Hamstring Injury Sidelines Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal Friendlies Against United States and Mexico

Lisbon—Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s upcoming friendlies against the United States and Mexico after failing to recover from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 28, when the 41-year-old limped off the field while playing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez confirmed on Friday that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was not included in the 27-man squad for the March 28 meeting with Mexico at Estadio Azteca and the April 1 encounter with the U.S. at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The matches serve as Portugal’s final tune-ups before this summer’s World Cup in North America.

Ronaldo, who holds the all-time men’s international scoring record with 143 goals for Portugal, has not appeared in the United States since a 2014 preseason friendly in Ann Arbor, Michigan, when he featured for Real Madrid against Manchester United.

Martínez has retained a blend of experience and youth for the two-game swing. Porto’s Diogo Costa, Wolverhampton’s José Sá and Sporting Lisbon’s Rui Silva will compete for minutes in goal, while a back line led by João Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain) and Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) will look to tighten a defense that has conceded just once in its last four competitive fixtures.

The midfield engine room features Paris Saint-Germain pair Vitinha and João Neves alongside Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves providing depth.

In Ronaldo’s absence, the attacking burden falls on AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, Chelsea winger Pedro Neto, Paris Saint-Germain striker Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix, Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr teammate who has been cleared to join the squad.

Portugal enters the friendlies unbeaten in eight competitive matches and atop its 2026 World Cup qualifying group. Martínez is expected to rotate his lineup across both fixtures as he finalizes the tactical blueprint he hopes will carry the Seleção deep into the knockout rounds this summer.