Cristiano Ronaldo may be out of the rest of the World Cup.
The Portugal star is rumored to have suffered an injury so severe that he will miss the rest of the games.
Freelance journalist Ewan MacKenna shared the news via Twitter on Wednesday: “Rumours - unconfirmed may I add - here in press centres in Brazil that Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the World Cup.”
However, he cautioned people to not take rumors as fact unless confirmed.
“Just for the record, when you say there are ‘unconfirmed rumours here that Ronaldo is out,’ why do people solely see the last three words?!” he asked.
Ronaldo was pictured getting ice on his left knee after a training session in Campinas, Brazil on Wednesday.
Teammate Beto said in an interview posted on FIFA.com that he Ronaldo is fit to play.
“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 percent 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.”
See an Associated Press update below.
Some stars shining at World Cup, others remain dim
CAMPINAS, Brazil—Cristiano Ronaldo needed an ice pack for his troublesome left knee during a training session on Wednesday, as Portugal prepared for its World Cup match against the United States.
Though his knee had been bandaged in previous training sessions, Ronaldo started without one Wednesday.
After some light work with the rest of the first team, followed by some stretching, the world player of the year had the knee ice-packed.
He then waved and distributed some T-shirts to a crowd of some 3,000 before leaving with the rest of the squad.
Ronaldo was doubtful to play before Portugal’s opening 4-0 defeat by Germany, but said before the game he was “100 percent fit”.
Portugal plays the U.S. on Sunday in Manaus.
