
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit in time for Portugal's opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania on September 7, national coach Paulo Bento said Friday.
Bento said that their medical team decided that the 29-year-old Real Madrid player was "not fit to compete".
Bento declined to elaborate on the concerns over the player who has been hampered by a nagging left knee injury and right thigh muscle problem in recent months.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti dropped Ronaldo to the bench for his side's Spanish Super Cup second leg against Atletico Madrid last week because of a hamstring problem.
Ronaldo was on Thursday named European Footballer of the Year by UEFA, after winning the Ballon d'Or eight months ago.
He broke the record for goals, 17, by a player in a Champions League campaign last season as Madrid claimed their tenth European title.
But hampered by his injuries he failed to impress during Portugal's World Cup campaign as they went out in the first round.
Portugal play their first Euro 2016 qualifier at home against Albania on September 7 in the northern town of Aveiro. They are in Group I, which also features Armenia, Denmark and Serbia.
Source: AFP
GMT 18:30 2017 Tuesday ,26 December
FIFA trial: New York jury acquits former Peru soccer bossGMT 13:18 2017 Tuesday ,26 December
Early drama as Sydney to Hobart fleet race to break recordGMT 20:25 2017 Monday ,25 December
Klopp urges Liverpool to focus on Euro ambitionsGMT 18:35 2017 Monday ,25 December
Mutko suspends Russian football role to fight Olympic lifetime banGMT 10:11 2017 Monday ,25 December
Federer, Nadal shine as rivals hobble into 2018GMT 19:22 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Southampton's Austin charged with violent conductGMT 18:02 2017 Sunday ,24 December
'Tongan Bear' Uhila extends Clermont contractGMT 17:07 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Serena Williams to make competitive return in Abu Dhabi next week
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor