Cristiano Ronaldo doubtful for 2026 World Cup? New worrying injury update emerges
The Portuguese star suffered an injury in the last game.
There are concerns that Cristiano Ronaldo might not be fully fit to compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the last Saudi Pro League match, the 41-year-old veteran appeared to sustain a muscle injury during Al-Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Al-Feyha.
To make matters worse, with the score tied at zero at the start of the first half, Ronaldo inexplicably missed a penalty.
Shortly after his team gained the lead in the 80th minute, Ronaldo gave the bench a signal and exited the field in obvious agony. Later, Ronaldo was seen with an ice pack on the back of his knee while sitting on the bench.
Jorge Jesus alleviates any fears of serious injury
The veteran was taken off before the hour mark against Al-Najma midweek, marking the second time he has been dragged off early. Cristiano Ronaldo will undergo “urgent” testing, according to Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus.
He said: “Ronaldo suffered muscle fatigue and the medical staff will urgently perform the necessary tests to determine his condition.”
Any significant problem might cause the Portuguese striker to miss the quadrennial spectacular, as the World Cup is only three months away.
Portugal have been assigned to a favourable group that includes Colombia, Uzbekistan, and either the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia. This is expected to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup.
He is only thirty-five goals away from hitting the incredible milestone of 1,000 career goals. Currently leading the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr are three points ahead of Al-Hilal and two points ahead of Al-Ahli.
With 21 league goals this season, Cristiano Ronaldo is only behind Ivan Toney (23) and Julian Quinones (22) of Al-Qadsiah in the hunt for the Golden Boot.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo miss the 2026 World Cup?
Reports indicate that if the injury is serious, then he might.
Which injury has Ronaldo suffered?
He might have suffered a knee injury.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.