Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was set to return from a thigh injury in today's season final against Espanyol, with the intention being that the high-scoring winger would use the contest as a tune-up for next weekend's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.
But those plans have gone awry, throwing his participation in the European final into doubt.
Pretty huge from Bernabeu, Ronaldo named in XI, feels injury in warm-up, now not even on bench. Serious doubt now for Lisbon next Sat.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) May 17, 2014
Real Madrid confirmed that the Portuguese attacker was replaced in the starting lineup by Isco, but did not reveal if the problem was indeed related to his recent injury - although it seems likely.
Ronaldo, who has scored a league-leading 31 goals in 30 games this season, has been hampered by a multitude of injuries late in the season. But with Real Madrid harboring title ambitions on three different fronts until very recently, he has likely been playing at less than full fitness.
The news also means that the 29-year-old will not be able to surpass Liverpool's Luis Suarez in the race for Europe's top scorer. The two men are tied at 31 goals apiece, and today's contest was Ronaldo's last chance to separate himself from the Uruguyan striker. The pair will now share the award.