Ronaldo, Silva Omitted from Portugal's Pre-World Cup Friendlies Squad

The coach clarified that Ronaldo missed out due to a "minor muscle injury" and Silva's absence is a "technical decision".

Portugal plays Mexico on March 28 at Azteca Banorte Stadium, on March 28 while they will play the USA on March 31 in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

As per a statement from the team, "The national team will begin training in Mexico next Tuesday, with the team gathering on Monday."

During the WC, Portugal is in Group K alongside a qualifier team, Uzbekistan and Colombia and will start their campaign against the qualifier team from June 17 onwards at Houston.

As per Goal.com, Martinez said about Ronaldo's omission from the team for friendlies, "The World Cup is not at risk!. He is not at risk. It is a minor muscle injury, and we think he can return in a week or two. Everything Cristiano has done physically during the season shows that he is in great shape."

On Silva, he added, "Bernardo Silva, it's a technical decision, based on the medical information that the player's club provided."

Here is the list of players called up by Roberto Martinez:

Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP)

- Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto);

- Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting CP), João Felix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceicão (Juventus), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad) and Goncalo Ramos (PSG).

- ANI