Cristiano Ronaldo tests positive for COVID-19

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged positive for coronavirus and will begin self-isolation.

Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, has tested positive for coronavirus and will play no part in Portugal’s Nations League group match against Sweden on Wednesday.

The Portuguese Football Federation (PFF) made the announcement on Tuesday in a press statement. They said that the Juventus forward is “doing well, without symptoms, and currently in isolation,”

The remainder of Portugal’s squad all went back to training after they were tested and returned with negative results. So every other player in the squad is available for the Group A3 match in Lisbon.

Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in two of Portugal’s matches so far during the October international break. The 35-year-old started in a friendly against Spain in Lisbon and then played the full game in their 0-0 draw with France on Sunday.

The draw means that Portugal and France are currently level on seven points each, but Portugal are top of their group on goal difference.

On Wednesday, Portugal will go up against Sweden. Sweden are bottom of the group, as they have failed to get a single point from the three matches they have played so far.

In the first leg of the encounter between Sweden and Portugal back in September, Ronaldo scored two goals and became the first European player to reach 100 international goals. Portugal won the game 2-0, with Ronaldo pulling the strings and banging the goals.

Ronaldo will be aiming to break the record for most international goals scored by a player, which is held by Iranian Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals.

It looks likely that Ronaldo will miss Juventus’ match against Crotone, but would be back to face Barcelona in the Champions League.

Without Cristiano, Portugal can count on their talented youngsters to step in and fill his shoes. The likes of Joao Felix, Diogo Jota, Francisco Trincao, and Bernardo Silva will be hoping to earn a place in the starting XI for the match against Sweden.

 

Written by: Collins Nwokolo