Cristiano Ronaldo In Doubt For Start Of World Cup With Two Injuries
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the players many are excited to watch starting next week at the World Cup in Brazil, however, his presence on the field remains in doubt.
Portugal’s captain is suffering from, not one, but two injuries to his left leg: tendinitis and a muscle injury. In the latter part of the La Liga season, he was forced to skip some of the crucial matches for Real Madrid, but he took part in the totality of the UEFA Champions League final — which Real won 4-1 in OT — but this may have aggravated his injured leg.
On Wednesday, the Portugal football federation confirmed that Ronaldo is suffering from tendinitis in the area around his left kneecap. The statement added that the striker was receiving “specially adapted, individual” training on Monday but did not share any additional details as to his condition.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento said in the past that Cristiano Ronaldo would not join the rest of his teammates in practice, but would undergo physical conditioning to get him fit for the World Cup.
Following those comments, Ronaldo sat out the friendly against Greece, which ended in a disappointing, scoreless draw, but Bento said he would not start Cristiano unless he is ready to play.
Cristiano Ronaldo had one intense season and won two international awards with his Real Madrid team, the Copa del Rey in April and the UEFA Champions League last month in front of his hometown fans in Lisbon.
It was apparent that Ronaldo was not 100 percent during the last weeks of La Liga and Real’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, scrapped him from the starting line-up on several occasions.
As one the main attractions, not only in Portugal, but the World Cup as a whole, Ronaldo is under a microscope and the world is watching his every move.
“We hope that Cristiano is in good enough shape to play and to help the team,” Manchester United’s and teammate Nani said. “He is going well, and he is relaxed about it. If for some reason (Ronaldo) is not there, whoever is there playing has to be confident in their ability to get the job done.”
#ForçaPortugal pic.twitter.com/a8ywntsZwm
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 2, 2014
Ronaldo has expressed his wish of bringing the World Cup trophy to Portugal for the first time, calling it “a dream” and hopefully football fans around the world and in Brazil won’t be prevented from watching one of the most exciting stars in the sport.
[Image via Maxisport / Shutterstock.com]
