Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation at the World Cup is in doubt after he was reportedly warned he could be putting his career at risk if he continues to play in Brazil.
Ronaldo was a slight doubt for Portugal’s opener against Germany on Monday after suffering a thigh problem and tendonitis in his knee in the build-up to the tournament. The forward’s injuries forced him to miss several training sessions and warm-up matches against Greece and Mexico.
The 29-year-old, however, completed 90 minutes in the 4-0 defeat but fresh fears have arisen that the injury has failed to heal.
According to Spanish online newspaper El Confidencial, Portuguese surgeon Jose Carlos Noronha told Ronaldo: “Let your knee rest, or your future is in danger”, to which Ronaldo reportedly replied: “I’m the one that says whether I’m playing or not.”
The Real Madrid star had a light workout for about 45 minutes on Wednesday before having ice applied to his troublesome left knee – a precaution the medical staff have also taken in previous days.
Ballon D’Or winner Ronaldo himself endured an afternoon to forget at Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova against Germany, where he was over-shadowed by Thomas Muller’s hat-trick.
He stormed through the mixed zone after the game, refusing to answer reporters’ questions. Reserve goalkeeper Beto, in line to take over goalkeeping duties after first choice Rui Patricio suffered a tear in his thigh, insists Portugal’s captain is fit ahead of their match against the USA on Sunday.
“Ronaldo didn’t leave (training) early. He finished his training at the same time as the rest of the players,” said Beto. “Cristiano is 100 per cent fit to play. Every match he starts to play, it’s because he’s fit to play,” said the goalkeeper, who plays his club football for Sevilla.
“He loves football but his body is the most important thing for him, to be fit, to be healthy so if he starts the match it’s because he’s ready, he’s fit.”
The Portuguese will definitely be without suspended centre-back Pepe against the USA while left-back Fabio Coentrao has been ruled out of the tournament with thigh injury after undergoing an MRI scan to discover the extent of the damage.
The USA beat Ghana 2-1 in their opener and are on three points alongside Germany, meaning Portugal cannot afford another slip-up in the Amazon rainforest city of Manaus.
“The best version of Portugal can beat the United States. We respect the USA as a very good team,” Beto added. “They have grown up over the last years so we have to respect them but we believe in ourselves, we believe in our work, in our quality so we have to be responsible, we have to be in the best condition to win this match and we believe it.”
