Burley doubts Ronaldo can lead Portugal to World Cup glory (1:12)Craig Burley debates Portugal’s World Cup hopes if Cristiano Ronaldo starts. (1:12)
Adriana GarciaMultiple AuthorsMar 20, 2026, 08:53 AM ET
Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal’s squad for the March World Cup warmup games against Mexico and the United States having failed to recover from a right hamstring injury.
The Portugal captain’s fitness was a concern after he had sustained the muscular problem while playing for Saudi Pro League leaders Al Nassr on Feb. 28.
Ronaldo has not played in the U.S. since 2014, when he was here as part of Real Madrid’s preseason tour.
Portugal will begin its World Cup campaign in Houston on June 17 against a winner of this month’s playoff tournament.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez reassured fans that Ronaldo is not at risk of missing what will be a record sixth World Cup.
“No, he’s not in danger,” he said when announcing his 27-man squad on Friday. “It’s a minor muscle injury, and we think he can be back in a week or two.
Ronaldo made his first public U.S. appearance since that 2014 preseason tour as a guest at the White House last November as President Donald Trump hosted a dinner to honor Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, Ronaldo had missed Portugal’s last game of 2025, a 9-1 victory over Armenia in their final World Cup qualifier on Nov. 16, through suspension.
Ronaldo’s in-form Al Nassr teammate João Félix is in the squad as is Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes, who has seven goals and 16 assists in 27 league games this season.
West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes has earned his first call-up and is one of six Premier League-based players in Portugal’s squad. Real Sociedad winger Gonçalo Guedes returns to the squad having not featured for the national team 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.
Burley doubts Ronaldo can lead Portugal to World Cup glory (1:12)Craig Burley debates Portugal’s World Cup hopes if Cristiano Ronaldo starts. (1:12)
“Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows that he’s in great shape.”
Portugal squad: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP); Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gonçalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), António Silva (SL Benfica) and Tomás Araújo (SL Benfica); Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), João Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto); 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) and Gonçalo Ramos (PSG).
Craig Burley debates Portugal’s World Cup hopes if Cristiano Ronaldo starts. (1:12)