Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s upcoming friendlies against the United States and Mexico due to a hamstring injury. The injury, sustained during a Saudi Pro League match in late February, has kept the 41-year-old forward sidelined. Ronaldo’s absence from the squad has been confirmed by Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez, who announced the lineup ahead of the March friendlies. The international games are part of Portugal’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Ronaldo's Injury and Absence from Friendlies
Ronaldo has not played since February 28 when he limped off the field during Al-Nassr's 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro League. The injury has kept the five-time Ballon d'Or winner from participating in the upcoming Portugal friendlies. Despite his absence, Portugal will face Mexico in Mexico City on March 28 and then take on the United States in Atlanta on April 1.
Ronaldo holds the record for most goals scored in men’s international football, with 143 goals for Portugal. His participation in the World Cup remains uncertain due to his injury, but he is expected to return for the tournament in June.
Portugal’s March Friendly Squad
Without Ronaldo, Portugal will still field a strong squad for the upcoming friendlies. The roster features a mix of experienced players and emerging talent, including goalkeeper Diogo Costa from FC Porto and defenders like João Cancelo from Barcelona and Nuno Mendes from Paris Saint-Germain. Midfielders such as Bruno Fernandes and Rúben Neves will play pivotal roles, with forwards like João Félix and Rafael Leão providing attacking options.
The full squad includes:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon).
Defenders: Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), António Silva (Benfica), Tomás Araújo (Benfica).
Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto).
Forwards: Ricardo Horta (Braga), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting Lisbon), João Félix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting Lisbon), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain).
The Road to the 2026 World Cup
As Portugal prepares for the World Cup in June, they have one last opportunity to fine-tune their squad with these friendlies. The 2026 World Cup will take place in North America, with teams vying for a spot in the tournament’s expanded 48-team format. The 2026 World Cup promises to be one of the biggest and most exciting global sporting events in history.
Fans can follow the friendlies and World Cup coverage via FOX Sports, which will provide extensive live broadcasting of all 104 matches across FOX and FS1. Every match will be available for live streaming on FOX One and the FOX Sports app, ensuring fans won’t miss a minute of the action.
2026 FIFA World Cup Viewing Details
FOX Sports Schedule: From June 11 through July 19, 2026, FOX Sports will air every match live, including prime-time broadcasts for over one-third of the tournament's games.
USA’s World Cup Schedule:
June 12: United States vs. Paraguay — Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California (9 p.m. ET)
June 19: United States vs. Australia — Seattle Stadium (3 p.m. ET)
June 25: United States vs. UEFA Playoff C — Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California (10 p.m. ET)
