Hot: Cristiano Ronaldo risks missing the 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo is anxiously awaiting results on an injury condition that could force him into a long-term absence just before this summer's World Cup.

The Portuguese legend was forced off the pitch during Al Nassr's 3-1 victory over Al Fayha last weekend. Ronaldo appeared to have a muscle issue after signaling to the bench and seemed in considerable pain before being substituted by Abdullah Al-Hamdan in the 81st minute. Later, the 41-year-old player was seen icing the back of his knee.

Earlier in the match, Ronaldo also surprised by missing a penalty, his 11-meter shot went wide of the post with the score still at 0-0. This miss nearly cost Al Nassr dearly as Al Fayha took the lead just before halftime. However, three second-half goals from the visitors, including one from Al-Hamdan himself, Ronaldo's replacement, secured all three points for Al Nassr.

After the match, coach Jorge Jesus confirmed the forward would undergo "urgent" examinations. He stated: “Ronaldo has muscle fatigue, and the medical team will urgently conduct the necessary tests to assess his condition.”

This news raises concerns with the World Cup just three months away. Ronaldo is aiming to join the Portuguese national team for his sixth career World Cup – a record if achieved.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has appeared in five consecutive World Cups since 2006. He is currently one of only six players to have participated in five final tournaments, alongside Lionel Messi, Lothar Matthaus, Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, and Rafael Marquez. Both Ronaldo and Messi have the chance to become the first to play in six World Cups at the tournament hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the USA this summer.

Portugal will begin their campaign on June 17th against the winner of the playoff between New Caledonia, Jamaica, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the group stage, they will also face Uzbekistan and Colombia. Coach Roberto Martinez's squad has also scheduled friendlies against Mexico and the USA this month in preparation.

Ronaldo has scored 143 goals in 226 appearances for Portugal since his debut in 2003 at age 18, including 8 goals in 22 World Cup matches. This recent injury, along with the missed penalty, also impacts his ambition to win the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot.

Ronaldo aims to become the first European player to win this award for three consecutive seasons. After his recent goalless match, he currently has 21 goals in 22 appearances this season. Ivan Toney currently leads the scoring charts with 23 goals for Al Ahli.