The football world is holding its breath as Portugal coach Roberto Martínez announced a 27-man squad for crucial World Cup warm-up friendlies—without captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward, who has not played for his country since March 2025, is battling a right hamstring injury that threatens to end his remarkable international career just months before what would be his sixth World Cup.

The omission of Ronaldo, alongside Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, marks a watershed moment in Portuguese football. With just three months until the tournament kicks off, Martínez faces the most delicate balancing act of his tenure: planning for a World Cup with or without the greatest player in Portugal's history.

The Ronaldo Situation: A Race Against Time

Cristiano Ronaldo has not featured for Al-Nassr since suffering a right hamstring injury on February 28. The 41-year-old striker—holder of the all-time records for international appearances (226) and goals (143)—was expected to be absent from this squad announcement, but the reality of seeing his name omitted has sent shockwaves through the football community.

Speaking at a press conference at the Cidade de Futebol in Oeiras, Martínez was measured but candid about Ronaldo's situation: "We have players who are not ready. Cristiano's injury recovery is ongoing, and we cannot risk him in these friendlies. The priority is ensuring he's fit for the World Cup."

When pressed on whether Ronaldo's World Cup spot is guaranteed, Martínez offered no certainties: "I cannot guarantee anything at this stage. If he's fit and in form, he will be considered. But right now, that's not the case. We have contingency plans."

The coach confirmed that Gonçalo Ramos (Benfica) and other forwards are positioned as potential center-forward options for Portugal's Group K matches, should Ronaldo remain unavailable.

Bernardo Silva's Surprising Absence

Equally shocking is the omission of Bernardo Silva, Manchester City's Portuguese maestro. Unlike Ronaldo, Silva is not injured—his absence appears to be a tactical or rotational decision by Martínez.

Silva has been instrumental for both club and country, offering creativity, work rate, and tactical intelligence in midfield or wide areas. His exclusion suggests Martínez is either resting him for the more critical World Cup matches or experimenting with alternative options.

The decision has raised eyebrows given Silva's consistent excellence, but Martínez has shown throughout his tenure that he values form and fitness over reputation.

Who's In: The 27-Man Squad

Despite the headline omissions, Portugal's squad remains packed with world-class talent:

Forwards:** - Gonçalo Ramos (Benfica) – Leading the line in Ronaldo's absence - Rafael Leão (AC Milan) – Electric pace and dribbling - João Félix (Chelsea) – Creative forward with technical quality - Pedro Neto (Arsenal) – Premier League form has been excellent - Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP) – Domestic league standout

Midfielders:** - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – Captain in Ronaldo's absence, creative hub - Vitinha (PSG) – Technically gifted, excellent passer - João Palhinha (Bayern Munich) – Defensive anchor - Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal) – Experience and composure - Otávio (Al-Nassr) – Ronaldo's club teammate

Defenders:** - Rúben Dias (Manchester City) – World-class center-back - Pepe (Porto) – The 43-year-old legend continues defying age - Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) – First-choice right-back - Nuno Mendes (PSG) – Dynamic left-back - António Silva (Benfica) – Young defensive talent

Goalkeepers:** - Diogo Costa (Porto) – First-choice goalkeeper - José Sá (Wolverhampton) – Experienced backup - Rui Patrício (Roma) – Veteran presence

Martinez's Tactical Approach

Martínez has subtly begun preparing Portugal for life without Ronaldo. In recent matches, he's experimented with a fluid 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation that emphasizes collective movement over individual brilliance.

Gonçalo Ramos, Portugal's likely starter against the USA and Mexico, offers a different profile than Ronaldo: more traditional center-forward play, better link-up, and less reliance on being the focal point. Bruno Fernandes, wearing the captain's armband, provides leadership and creativity from midfield.

The system seems designed to spread goalscoring responsibility across multiple players rather than relying on one talisman—a pragmatic approach given Ronaldo's age and injury concerns.

World Cup Context

Portugal were drawn into a competitive group at December's World Cup draw, facing challenging opponents that will require them to be at full strength. The absence of Ronaldo for the group stage—or even the entire tournament—would be a psychological blow as much as a tactical one.

Ronaldo has been Portugal's talisman for two decades, leading them to Euro 2016 glory and Nations League success in 2019. His presence alone commands respect from opponents and inspires teammates. Replacing that intangible leadership is perhaps Martínez's greatest challenge.

The Coming Weeks

Portugal face the United States on March 25 and Mexico on March 29, offering Martínez his final opportunity to evaluate squad depth before announcing the final 26-man World Cup roster in mid-May.

For players like Gonçalo Ramos, Rafael Leão, and João Félix, these matches represent an opportunity to prove they can thrive without Ronaldo. For Martínez, it's a chance to test his contingency plans in competitive settings.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo will be watching from Saudi Arabia, racing against the clock to regain fitness. Al-Nassr's medical staff are reportedly working around the clock to ensure his recovery, but hamstring injuries in players over 40 are notoriously unpredictable.

The Emotional Weight

The prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo missing the 2026 World Cup would be one of football's most poignant storylines. A player who has defined an era, broken countless records, and inspired millions worldwide could see his international career end not with a triumphant final tournament, but with an injury table in Riyadh.

Ronaldo himself has remained quiet publicly, though sources close to him describe him as "determined and hopeful" about his recovery. His social media accounts have shown glimpses of rehabilitation work, but no concrete return date has been announced.

Final Thoughts

Roberto Martínez faces an impossible dilemma: build a team capable of winning the World Cup with Ronaldo, or prepare for the reality of life without him. These March friendlies suggest he's leaning toward the latter, even while keeping the door slightly ajar.

For Portugal, the question is no longer whether they can win with Ronaldo—but whether they can win without him. The coming weeks will provide crucial answers as the nation prepares for its most significant World Cup campaign in years.

And for Ronaldo, the greatest goalscorer in international football history, time is running out to add one final chapter to an already legendary career.

Portugal face the USA on March 25 and Mexico on March 29. The final World Cup squad will be announced in mid-May.