The injury that left Cristiano out of the game against Inter Miami: details and expectations of his return

A problem in his left calf prevented Cristiano Ronaldo from facing, perhaps for the last time, Lionel Messi. An injury that is striking in a player with little history of absences.

February was the date chosen for the so-called “last dance” between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; However, an injury to the Portuguese left him out and expectations for the match dropped considerably . This is a friendly match scheduled for Inter Miami’s preseason tour.

According to official statements from the Al Nassr club, in which Ronaldo is the undisputed star, the injury has been located in the left calf since January 2024 . It would have happened during a training session.

What injury does Cristiano Ronaldo have?

Ronaldo’s problem was briefly described as a minor muscle injury to his left calf. If we review the Portuguese’s loss history, we will find that he has not lost too many games, far from it, he has done so due to circumstances involving his calves.

The calves known as calves are a set of muscles in the back of the leg. They work together to plantarflex and assist in propulsion during walking and running.

In general, injuries in that area, in soccer players, usually respond to some of the following causes:

• Distension: consists of a stretching of the muscle fibers of the calves , without tearing. It can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the number of fibers affected. There is usually pain, loss of strength and a short rest period of 15 to 30 days is required.
• Tear: More severe than a strain, it involves partial or complete tearing of muscle fibers . The pain is acute and the calves immediately lose their ability to move. Bruises also appear. The recovery time is much longer.
• Tendonitis: inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calves to the heel bone, could be confused with a muscle injury. There is also pain and lack of strength. In any case, with simple image studies it is possible to distinguish between one and the other.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury is most likely a calf strain. According to surveys carried out in other sports, such as American football, athletes are usually out of competition for 2 weeks, on average , when they suffer from a problem of this type.

Why would Ronaldo have been injured?

In theory, the star suffered the problem during training . We do not know if it was something progressive or if the discomfort appeared and complementary studies were only performed there.

This type of injury usually occurs during physical activities that involve sudden changes in direction or accelerations and decelerations. All of this is common in soccer games and in professional training for this activity.

In many cases, the underlying mechanism is a sudden and powerful muscle contraction . For example, when performing a sprint or an explosive run.

Muscle fatigue is another factor that increases the risk of strain. When fibers are depleted, their ability to absorb impacts and resist stress is reduced.

In amateur players, but not so much in professionals, the lack of an adequate previous warm-up is the cause of injuries. However, it would be a very rare situation for an extremely prepared athlete like Ronaldo.

According to statistical data from European professional football , older players are twice as likely to injure their calf. Although Cristiano is 38 years old, the truth is that his injury history is short . The good news is that, among all lower limb injuries in soccer players, those of the calves are the ones that leave the fewest consequences of stiffness in the future .

Which is the treatment?

In the context of a calf strain, treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and speeding recovery. For this, the most used measures are the following:

• Rest: muscle tissue must stop its activity to heal. Above all, given the demands of professional football, it is necessary to suspend participation in matches, as Cristiano Ronaldo did. During rest, it is preferred that the lower limb be elevated, above the level of the hip, to avoid the accumulation of inflammatory fluids.
• Local cold: applying cold to the area reduces inflammation and pain. In professional athletes, not only ice is used, but a series of cryotherapy techniques.
• Compression: the bandage limits inflammation, although each medical team has its own criteria on the ideal duration of this treatment.

After the initial 2 weeks of stricter rest, rehabilitation begins. According to experts, return to competition is enabled when the athlete can walk without feeling pain in the calf.

Why was this match so important?

There was much speculation about the confrontation between Inter Miami and Al Nassr. Although friendly, it meant a face to face between those who were the best players in the world, at the same time, for many years.

Messi and Ronaldo faced each other 37 times . 17 victories were for the Argentine and 11 for the Portuguese, with 9 draws. The last time they were on the same field was on January 19, 2023, in a friendly between PSG and Riyadh XI.

Now there is doubt among fans about the possibility of the opportunity being repeated. For now, Cristiano Ronaldo is recovering from his injury and plans to return whole to continue bringing joy to his Saudi club .