According to a number of media sources, Portugal's World Cup preparations have been hit again, Portugal may be difficult to get through Turkey due to injuries, epidemics and suspensions, and Cristiano Ronaldo may miss his last chance to participate in the World Cup. As they finish second in the group stage in the qualifiers, Portugal, champions of Euro 2016, will face Turkey in Thursday's World Cup qualifier play-offs, with the winner of this match battling for a spot with Italy or North Macedonia.
In the group stage, Ronaldo scored a total of 6 goals, the first scorer in the game. But the current severe injury suspension could dash their hopes of qualifying. Portugal are no longer in the game without Cancelo and Renato Sanchez, who have also been suspended. Both players were cautioned for yellow cards in their 2–1 home win over Serbia in November and were suspended for accumulating yellow cards. Ruben Díaz, Ruben Neves and Semedo will also miss the Turkish competition, all three due to injuries. Diaz and Semedo have been absent for weeks, while Neves just injured his knee in Wolves' friday game.
To make matters worse, there are reports that veteran defender Pepe has tested positive for covid-19. The centre-back is expected to only play in the second leg, with Sanchez and Cancelo also playing if Portugal beat Turkey in the first leg, but it is clearly difficult for the team to beat Turkey without the lack of 6 core players. As Portugal's second top scorer in the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored seven goals in four games. Only Eusebio has scored more goals than he has, and a defeat against Turkey would end Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of breaking records. Meanwhile, only 3 players in history have played in five World Cups: Mateus, Márquez and Kabajar. If it loses, Cristiano Ronaldo will also miss this historical record. Considering that Ronaldo is 41 years old when the 2026 World Cup is over, this year's World Cup will be his last chance to break records.