Ronaldo Hamstring Injury Raises World Cup Concern
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hamstring injury is more serious than first thought, Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus said on 06.03.2026. The news raised fresh concern about Portugal’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The 41-year-old limped off during Al Nassr’s 3-1 Saudi Pro League win over Al Fayha on 28.02.2026. The club published a medical report on 03.03.2026 and said his recovery would be assessed day by day.
Treatment in Spain
Speaking before a home game against Neom, Jesus said tests had shown a bigger problem than the club expected. He explained that Ronaldo would travel to Spain for treatment with his personal physiotherapist.
Al Nassr had already shared pictures of Ronaldo working in the gym as part of his rehabilitation. The injury came at a time when he was scoring freely, with 21 goals in 22 league games that season.
beIN Sports noted that he was 35 goals short of 1,000 in his professional career. Al Nassr were top of the league when he was injured.
Portugal’s plans
Portugal had two friendlies scheduled in North America: against Mexico in Mexico City on 28.03.2026 and against the United States in Atlanta on 01.04.2026. They were the last games before coach Roberto Martínez named his World Cup squad.
At the World Cup, which ran from 11.06.2026 to 19.07.2026, Portugal were drawn in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo, who came through the play-offs. Martínez had already spoken about managing star players with injuries, recalling Vincent Kompany’s groin problem before the 2018 World Cup when he coached Belgium.
Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals in men’s international football, with 143 for Portugal. The 2026 tournament would be his sixth World Cup.
Update 16.10.2026: a sixth World Cup, and his last
On 20.03.2026 Martínez left Ronaldo out of the squad for the games against Mexico and the United States. AP reported that he had not played since the Al Fayha match. It also noted that Ronaldo had not played in the United States since a Real Madrid friendly against Manchester United in August 2014.
Martínez told reporters the injury was minor and that Ronaldo could be back within one or two weeks. He insisted that Ronaldo’s place at the World Cup was not at risk and named him and Gonçalo Ramos as his two main centre-forwards. Martínez added that he was looking for a third striker with a different profile, and called the March camp the last chance to experiment before the World Cup.
Ronaldo recovered in time. Martínez named him in the squad on 02.06.2026, making him the second man after Lionel Messi to play at six World Cups. Portugal opened against DR Congo in Houston on 17.06.2026 and drew 1-1, with Ronaldo playing the full match and failing to have a shot on target.
Portugal recovered after the opening draw. They beat Uzbekistan 5-0, drew 0-0 with Colombia to top Group K, then beat Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32, where Ronaldo converted a penalty. At 41 years and 147 days he became the oldest player to score beyond the group stage.
The run ended on 06.07.2026 in Arlington, where Spain won 1-0 through a Mikel Merino goal in stoppage time. Ronaldo said afterwards that he would not play at another World Cup. Roberto Martínez left his post hours later.