Ronaldo, stuck on 99 goals, doubtful for Croatia match

Reuters Videos
Updated

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH PORTUGAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, PORTUGAL TRAINING

SHOWS:

SHOWS: LISBON, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 3., 2020) (FPF-ACCESS-ALL)

1. PORTUGAL TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS

2. PORTUGAL COACH FERNANDO SANTOS GIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAYERS

PORTO, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 4, 2020) (FPF-ACCESS-ALL)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, TALKING ABOUT CRISTIANO RONALDO, SAYING:

"He is better today. That is undeniable. He got better when he started taking the antibiotics. He was seen by a dermatologist as well because he is the doctor who oversees this type of disease. We will wait now to see how the progress will be. I have a lot of doubts he will be 100% tomorrow. Anyway, his progress has been very good. He didn't come today because he was at the gym doing the possible work. I have some doubts he will be in good condition for tomorrow. "

LISBON, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 3., 2020) (FPF-ACCESS-ALL)

4. SANTOS AT TRAINING SESSION

PORTO, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 4, 2020) (FPF-ACCESS-ALL)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL COACH, FERNANDO SANTOS, SAYING:

"Cristiano practised very well on Monday and Tuesday, very well especially for someone who did not have many days of practice. And then on Wednesday morning he showed up with some pain on his foot so we decided it was better for him to go to the gym. We did not know what it was so we decided it was better for him to go to the gym. After lunch we realised what it was. All of a sudden he had a red toe and foot...almost like when a bee bites you...when the foot is red and becomes warmer. We soon realised that it had nothing to do with any injury but it was an infection that he caught on his foot and he was given antibiotics. And now it's a normal process, isn't it? The antibiotics will solve the problem."

LISBON, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 3., 2020) (FPF-ACCESS-ALL)

5. PLAYER SHOOTING AT GOAL

6. PORTUGAL GOALKEEPER RUI PATRICIO

7. PLAYERS DURING TRAINING SESSION

STORY: Cristiano Ronaldo may have to wait a few days longer before he can attempt to score his 100th Portugal goal after a toe infection made him doubtful for Saturday's (September 5) Nations League match at home to Croatia.

Ronaldo, Portugal's all-time leading scorer and most capped player, has been stuck on 99 goals for 10 months since scoring in the 2-0 win away to Luxembourg in their last international.

"I have a few doubts as to whether he will be fit," coach Fernando Santos told reporters on Friday (September 4).

"Cristiano trained very well on Monday and Tuesday but on Wednesday had this pain in his toe.

"It looked a bit like a bee sting but it turned out to be an infection. It has been treated with antibiotics and seems to be back to normal but we still have to evaluate it."

There have been no international matches played in Europe since last November due to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the postponement of Euro 2020 until next year.

Ronaldo, 35, is bidding to become only the second player to score 100 goals at international level after Iran's Ali Daei.

Portugal's following match is away to Sweden on Tuesday (September 8).

(Production: Miguel Pereira, Tim Hart)