Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s best soccer player, might struggle on the biggest stage.
Ronaldo is battling thigh and knee injuries as the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup nears.
On Wednesday, the Portuguese Football Association said Ronaldo is suffering from “muscle injury on the back of his left thigh as well as left-leg patellar tendinitis,” according to FIFA.com.
Ronaldo had a limited practice Monday, which the Portuguese FA called a “specially adapted, individual” session, according to the BBC.
Ronaldo, 29, has struggled with both injuries since early April. The injuries caused Ronaldo to miss the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) final on April 16, as well as three of Real Madrid’s last seven La Liga (Spanish first division) games. But Ronaldo and Real Madrid managed the injury through the end of the season, and he scored in Real Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final May 24.
Portugal was drawn into Group G of the World Cup, where it will face Germany on June 16, the United States on June 22 and Ghana on June 26.
Portugal will play two exhibition games in the U.S. before it heads to Brazil. It plays Mexico on Friday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., and Ireland on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
It’s unknown if Ronaldo will play in either World Cup warm-up game. Portugal is desperate for him to be as healthy as possible when it begins its World Cup campaign.
Photo via Twitter/@itvfootball
