Pitchside US
·17 de marzo de 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo races to be fit as Portugal prepares for key World Cup friendlies

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Yahoo sportsPitchside US
·17 de marzo de 2026

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make his final appearance in a major international competition.
Portugal’s schedule includes two matches in March and a final warm-up in June, all part of a North America-focused preparation plan.
Ronaldo suffered a hamstring injury in early March while playing for Al-Nassr. Initial reports suggested a recovery timeline of two to four weeks.
That timeline puts his availability for the March international window in doubt.
There is internal optimism that he could return in time, but his status remains uncertain.
Portugal’s first match is against Mexico on March 28 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The match marks the reopening of the stadium following renovations and will be Ronaldo’s first appearance at the venue. Portugal is expected to field a full-strength squad.
Portugal will then face the United States on March 31 in Atlanta.
The fixture continues Portugal’s preparation within the World Cup host region.
Portugal has one additional friendly scheduled before the World Cup:
This match will serve as the final adjustment before the tournament begins.
Portugal’s group-stage matches are set:
The team has selected the United States as its training base, aligning preparation with tournament conditions.
The March friendlies are central to Portugal’s preparation.
Ronaldo’s availability remains the key variable. If he recovers in time, he is expected to rejoin the squad and retain a leading role.









































