Portugal will take the pitch against DR Congo on June 18 without one of the most important defenders in world football. Ruben Dias, the Manchester City center-back and cornerstone of Portugal’s backline, has been ruled out of the opening World Cup match due to fitness issues.
What happened with Dias
The warning signs surfaced on June 16, when Dias trained separately from the rest of the Portugal squad.
Teammate Matheus Nunes struck an optimistic tone that same day, describing Dias as a critical asset to the national team and expressing hope for his eventual return during the tournament.
The underlying concern appears to be hamstring-related, though Portugal’s camp has not disclosed the specific nature of the fitness issue.
