Ronaldo muscle injury raises World Cup doubts

Cristiano Ronaldo faces an anxious wait over his fitness after sustaining a muscle issue during Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win against Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro League.

The 41-year-old forward was substituted in the 80th minute after signalling discomfort to the bench. He was later seen with an ice pack on the back of his knee.

The concern comes with the 2026 World Cup approaching, a tournament that could mark his sixth appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Penalty miss and early exit

Ronaldo endured an uncharacteristically difficult outing. With the score at 0-0, he missed an early penalty before appearing to struggle physically as the match progressed.

 

This marks the second consecutive game in which he has been withdrawn early, having also left the field before the hour mark in a midweek fixture against Al-Najma.

Head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed post-match that medical assessments would follow.

“Ronaldo suffered muscle fatigue and the medical staff will urgently perform the necessary tests to determine his condition,” he said.

World Cup implications

Any prolonged absence would cast doubt over Ronaldo’s participation at the 2026 World Cup, widely expected to be his final appearance at the tournament.

Portugal have been drawn alongside Colombia and Uzbekistan, with one additional qualifier yet to be confirmed.

Despite his age, Ronaldo remains a central figure for club and country. He has scored 21 league goals this season, placing him among the top scorers in the division and within reach of the 1,000 career goals milestone.

Al-Nassr currently lead the league table, holding a narrow advantage over title rivals. However, the immediate focus will be on medical evaluations to determine whether the injury poses a significant threat to Ronaldo’s availability in the months ahead.