Ronaldo recently travelled out of the Middle East on his private jet amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf region. Shortly after, Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus confirmed that the Portuguese star had gone to Spain for medical treatment, ruling him out of recent Saudi Pro League matches against Neom and Al Khaleej.
The 41-year-old forward is still not fully fit, with both club and national team officials agreeing that he should prioritise recovery ahead of the upcoming World Cup, which is just months away.
He will also miss Portugal’s high-profile friendly against Mexico on 28 March, a match scheduled to mark the reopening of the Estadio Azteca. He is expected to be sidelined for about two weeks and will not travel with the squad to Mexico City.
Ronaldo’s absence has slightly reduced the attention surrounding the fixture, which had drawn significant interest due to his expected participation. Nevertheless, Portugal will still head into the games with a strong and competitive squad.
Midfielder Vitinha is expected to play a key role in the team’s setup, having become an important figure in recent matches.
There is also a return for Gonçalo Guedes, who has been recalled to the national team after a long absence. The Real Sociedad attacker has impressed with consistent performances this season, earning his place back in the squad.
Head coach Roberto Martínez reportedly views Guedes as a strong attacking option and has not ruled out his inclusion in plans for the upcoming World Cup if his form continues.