Cristiano Ronaldo tests positive for coronavirus, leaves Portugal squad


 Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal national team after testing positive for the coronavirus.


Portugal confirmed in a statement that Ronaldo is in isolation and not showing symptoms.The statement added that following Ronaldo's test, the remaining players in the Portugal squad underwent new tests on Tuesday, which came back negative.


Portugal will be without Ronaldo when they host Sweden on Wednesday in a UEFA Nations League game.


The 35-year-old played all of Sunday's 0-0 draw against world champions France and came closest to scoring when he fired a left-footed strike at goal in added time, but his deflected shot was well saved by France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.


He also started in Portugal's goalless draw against Spain in Lisbon last week, a game that marked his 200th appearance for his country at both youth and senior level.


On Monday, Ronaldo posted a picture of himself with the Portugal squad alongside the message: "United on and off the field!"


Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, posted a photograph of him wearing the Portugal jersey with the message: "God gives great battles to great warriors and it is one more war that you will win son."


Portugal were scheduled to practice normally on Tuesday and hold a news conference ahead of the match against Sweden.


Ronaldo is now a doubt for Juventus' Serie A game against Crotone on Saturday and their Champions League opener against Dynamo Kiev next Tuesday as he undergoes an isolation period.


He was among several Juve players who joined up with their national teams last week and did not remain in quarantine in Turin after Juve reported that two staff members had tested positive for the coronavirus.


Juve announced that the squad isolated at Juve's hotel as per the protocol by Turin's health authorities.


Ronaldo did test negative in one test carried out in Turin but left Juve's hotel on Monday before the second test was carried out.


Juventus players weren't allowed by the local health authorities to leave the hotel until Oct. 7, two days after Ronaldo had joined Portugal.


The Turin health authorities have reported those Juve players who left the quarantine early to the local prosecutor's office to determine whether any infraction of the protocol was committed.


Last month, Ronaldo became the second male player to score 100 international goals as he scored twice in a 2-0 UEFA Nations League win against Sweden.


He is second in the all-time list of leading international scorers behind Iran's Ali Daei, who scored 109 in his career.

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