Khaberni - Media reports mentioned that Cristiano Ronaldo raised concerns about his readiness for the 2026 World Cup after suffering a muscle injury during his team Al Nassr's match against Al-Fayha in the Saudi League, in a game that ended with a 3-1 victory.
The British newspaper The Sun stated that the match witnessed an unusual moment from the captain of the Portuguese national team, after he missed a penalty in the first half with the score at a goalless draw, before showing signs of physical distress in the final minutes of the game, where he asked to be substituted and left the field in the 80th minute in clear pain.
It added: "Cameras spotted Ronaldo sitting on the bench with an ice pack behind his knee, an initial indication of a muscle issue that may need thorough examinations to determine its severity, especially with major international events approaching."
Al Nassr's coach, Jorge Jesus, confirmed in his statements after the match that the player felt muscle fatigue, indicating that the medical team will conduct urgent exams to precisely assess his condition and determine the expected duration of his absence from the fields.
This is the second time in just a few days that Ronaldo had to leave the field early, after he exited before the end of a previous match against Al Nejmeh, which increases concerns about his physical condition, especially given the match pressures and his advancing age.
Ronaldo hopes to participate in the upcoming World Cup, which could mark his sixth appearance in the tournament, a record-breaking number in the history of the competition.
The Portuguese national team is expected to compete in the tournament in a group that includes Colombia and Uzbekistan, along with one of the teams qualifying from a playoff involving the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.
Despite the current concerns, Ronaldo continues to make historical achievements, as he approaches scoring the 1000th goal in his professional career, being only 35 goals away from this milestone, while he has scored 21 goals in the league this season, remaining in contention for the top scorer title.
Al Nassr leads the Saudi league table with a two-point lead over Al Ahli and three points over AlHilal, reflecting the important role Ronaldo plays in the team's journey this season, both in scoring and leading on the field.
