Cristiano Ronaldo warned by Portuguese surgeon that he is risking his Real Madrid future by playing at the World Cup



Cristiano Ronaldo limped out of Portugal training with knee injury

Real Madrid superstar has been suffering from thigh and knee problems

Portugal lost 4-0 to Germany in their opening World Cup game

Pepe is facing a three-game ban, Fabio Coentrao has been ruled out for the rest of tournament and there are injury concerns over Almeida and Patricio



Cristiano Ronaldo was warned by his doctor that he risks threatening his career by playing on for Portugal at the World Cup.

The Real Madrid superstar is struggling with a knee injury but is under pressure to lead his team into Sunday’s crucial clash with the USA after the 4-0 opening defeat to Germany.

According to Spanish online newspaper El Confidencial, Portuguese surgeon Jose Carlos Noronha told the 29-year-old: ‘Let your knee rest, or your future is in danger’, to which Ronaldo reportedly replied: 'I’m the one that says whether I’m playing or not.'

Ronaldo was pictured limping out of training with his knee heavily strapped.



There had been serious doubts over the Real Madrid superstar's fitness ahead of the tournament, after a thigh problem and tendonitis in his knee forced him to miss training and two warm-up matches.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Worrying times for Portugal as Ronaldo limps out of training



Not happy! Cristiano Ronaldo has his left knee treated during Portugal's training session in Campinas

Injury blow! Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been suffering from thigh and tendonitis problems, is helped up

Will he won't he? Portugal will be left sweating to see if Ronaldo can return for their next game against USA



At a stretch: Cristiano Ronaldo is taken through some exercises before leaving the session 30mins early

Walk of pain: Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the training session to watch from the sidelines

Ronaldo declared himself '100 per cent' fit on the eve of Portugal's opening 4-0 demolition at the hands of Germany but, although he managed to play the entire game, he was largely peripheral and failed to change the course of the result.

It now appears that the Ballon d'Or winner has suffered a recurrence of his knee problems after receiving treatment during a training session in Campinas.



Ronaldo was taken through a series of stretches before having his left knee bandaged with an ice pack and helped off the field 30minutes before training finished. Ronaldo watched the rest of the session from the sidelines.



Portugal are already without defender Pepe after a rush of blood to the head saw him face a possible three-match ban for aggressively confronting Thomas Muller in the opening game.

Fellow Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup with a thigh injury while there are also injury doubts over Hugo Almeida and Rui Patricio.

Portugal face the USA o 22 June in a must win game in Group G. Until then, Portugal fans are likely to be waiing with baited breath to find if their talisman is fit to lead them.

Humbled: The Portuguese captain looks dejected after losing 4-0 to Germany in their opening game

Rush of blood: Portugal defender Pepe faces a possible three-match ban for headbutting Thomas Muler (R)