Portugal coach Paulo Bento remains optimistic that Cristiano Ronaldo will be fully fit in time for their campaign in the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Ronaldo has been struggling as of late as he is continuously being bothered by an ailing hamstring and knee problems, and has only completed two of Real Madrid's last nine matches.
The Real Madrid forward only played seven minutes in Real's 1-1 draw against Real Valladolid last week, and was seen asking to be substituted allegedly because of a hurting thigh. Ronaldo then missed Real Madrid's 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Bento believes that Real Madrid is just taking a cautious approach in dealing with Ronaldo's fitness, and he is confident that the superstar forward will be fully ready in time for the World Cup. He quickly added, though, that he might also be forced to manage Ronaldo's health when the tournament kicks off less than a month from now.
"We have faith that [Ronaldo] will arrive fine at the tournament," Bento said via Marca. "At this moment you must know what is happening and look at the condition in which he will arrive. Then we will try and manage his condition in best way possible."
Ronaldo, who has 31 league goals this season, could play in Real Madrid's final league game on Saturday as the Portugal international needs to score at least one more goal to overtake Liverpool's Luis Suarez and become the sole winner of this season's European Golden Boot award.
Meanwhile, Radamel Falcao could play for Colombia this summer as he was included in the 30-man squad released by coach Jose Pekerman.
Falcao has been sidelined over the past four months after undergoing left knee surgery, but the Monaco striker recently revealed that he is doing well in his rehabilitation.
"I am getting better and I'm very happy with how the knee is reacting," Falcao said, via SFGate. "I'm starting on the pitch with the ball, again getting used to what used to be familiar."
After undergoing surgery in January, doctors said that Falcao's chances of making it into this year's World Cup is 50-50, but it appears that the 28-year-old striker is one pace to make it into the 23-man squad.
