Cristiano Ronaldo suffers injury blow ahead of World Cup 2026 as Portuguese star undergoes medical assessment
Cristiano Ronaldo faces an anxious wait over his fitness after being forced off during Al-Nassr’s 3-1 victory against Al-Feyha in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday.
The Portuguese star signalled to the bench before departing the pitch in the 80th minute, clearly struggling with discomfort.
He was subsequently spotted on the substitutes’ bench with ice strapped to the back of his knee.
This marks the second occasion this week that the 41-year-old has been withdrawn early, following his substitution before the hour mark against Al-Najma in midweek.
Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus confirmed that medical staff would conduct immediate assessments.
He said: “Ronaldo suffered muscle fatigue and the medical staff will urgently perform the necessary tests to determine his condition.”
The timing of this latest setback has raised significant concerns regarding Ronaldo’s participation in the World Cup, which kicks off in just three months’ time.
Should the injury prove serious, the veteran forward could be denied what would be an unprecedented sixth appearance at football’s showpiece tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo faces an anxious wait over his fitness after being forced off
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GETTY
Portugal have been handed a relatively straightforward group stage draw, with Colombia, Uzbekistan and one of DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia awaiting them.
The competition is widely anticipated to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup, making any extended absence from training or competitive action particularly worrying for the Portuguese national team setup.
Beyond the injury concerns, Ronaldo endured a frustrating afternoon as he uncharacteristically failed to convert a first-half penalty whilst the match remained goalless.
Despite this setback, the forward continues to chase the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot, sitting third in the standings with 21 goals this campaign.
The Portuguese star signalled to the bench before departing the pitch in the 80th minute, clearly struggling with discomfort
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GETTY
Al-Qadsiah’s Julian Quinones leads with 22 strikes, whilst Ivan Toney tops the chart on 23.
The Portuguese icon also remains within touching distance of a remarkable personal milestone, requiring just 35 more goals to become the first player in history to reach 1,000 career strikes as a professional.
Al-Nassr currently occupy top spot in the Saudi Pro League standings, holding a two-point advantage over second-placed Al-Ahli and sitting three points clear of Al-Hilal in third.
The club’s title aspirations could be significantly impacted should Ronaldo face any prolonged spell on the sidelines, given his crucial contribution of 21 league goals this season.
He was subsequently spotted on the substitutes’ bench with ice strapped to the back of his knee
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GETTY
With the campaign entering its decisive phase, the Portuguese superstar’s availability will be paramount to Al-Nassr’s hopes of securing the championship, making the outcome of his medical examinations all the more critical for the Saudi club’s ambitions.
Ronaldo stands alone as the most prolific scorer in the history of men’s international football, having netted 143 times across 226 matches for Portugal.
The forward, who has accumulated 964 goals throughout his club and international career, continues his pursuit of the remarkable 1,000-goal milestone.
Beyond his overall tally, Ronaldo became the first player ever to register 10 hat-tricks at the international level.
Ronaldo stands alone as the most prolific scorer in the history of men’s international football
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GETTY
His 37 assists for the national team further demonstrate his enduring influence on Portuguese football.
No other footballer has found the net across five separate World Cup tournaments, with Ronaldo achieving this feat in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, scoring eight goals in total.
He replicated this longevity at European Championships, becoming the sole player to score in five different Euro finals between 2004 and 2020.
His 14 goals at the European Championship finals remain unmatched by any competitor, and in World Cup qualifying, Ronaldo surpassed Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz in October 2025 to claim the all-time record with 41 goals.
