Portugal suffer major injury blow as Cristiano Ronaldo team-mate ruled out of Euro 2024

Portugal have received a major injury blow ahead of Euro 2024 - with manager Roberto Martinez already forced to bring in a replacement just weeks after naming his squad.

Martinez went early in naming his full squad, with the Spaniard naming a provisional 26-man contingent on May 21.

Cristiano Ronaldo headlines the squad - a full 20 years after playing in his first competitive tournament with Portugal at Euro 2004.

Premier League stars involved include Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, while Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo and Diogo Costa are all expected to play prominent roles.

Another player named in the initial squad was wide midfielder Otavio, who is a team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

The 29-year-old scored 10 league goals and provided five assists for Luis Castro's side, enough to earn him a spot in Portugal's provisional Euro 2024 squad.

But he suffered an injury while playing for Al Nassr in the King's Cup final that will rule him out of the tournament entirely.

Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes called up as his replacement, as per Abola.

A Portuguese FA statement read: "Matheus Nunes was called up this Tuesday by Roberto Martinez for Euro 2024.

"The Manchester City midfielder will take the place left vacant by the dismissal of Otavio, who was injured while playing for Al Nassr.

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"Otavio was evaluated this Monday by the FPF Health and Performance Unit, which concluded that it was impossible for the player to recover in time to participate in the European Championship, in Germany."

Nunes, 25, has received 12 caps for the Portugal national team since his senior debut in 2021, but was excluded from the initial squad by Martinez for Euro 2024.

The midfielder was called up for the nation's most recent squad in March, but made just nine Premier League starts for City this season after his £53 million move from Wolves and now has a chance to make a key impact in Germany.