World Cup 2014 Injury List: Cristiano Ronaldo Out? Bruno Martins Indi, Samuel Eto’o, Jozy Altidore Latest Injuries, Football Stars Missing from Brazil Tournament

An injured Jozy Altidore of the United States lies on the field during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

By Larry Ong

Larry Ong

Journalist

Larry Ong is a New York-based journalist with Epoch Times. He writes about China and Hong Kong. He is also a graduate of the National University of Singapore, where he read history.

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June 17, 2014Updated: June 18, 2014

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The Brazil World Cup is on the way, football stars are still getting knackered, and bizarre injuries have taken place.

Even before the samba soccer party got underway in June, a number of big names — Franck Ribery (France), Marco Reus (Germany), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Theo Walcott (England), and Kevin Strootman (Netherlands), to name just but a few — were already ruled out of the competition.

Some stars managed to sneak into their side’s final 23-man squads even though they were injured just before the start of the tournament, such as Luis Suarez (Uruguay) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (England), because their coaches decided to take a gamble on them recovering in time for the later matches in the World Cup.

There have been some rather bizarre injury-related events as well.

A Ghanian witch doctor allegedly performed some hoodoo to jinx Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo from playing against Ghana in Group G. Ronaldo did suffer tendonitis in his left knee, although he seems to have recovered enough to feature for Portugal in their opening match against Germany. As Portugal are still two matches away from facing Ghana, the efficacy of the witch doctor’s jinx remains to be seen.

And in a most baffling turn of events, England’s team physiotherapist Gary Lewin somehow managed to dislocated his ankle while celebrating Daniel Sturridge’s goal against Italy.

Currently, Cameroon have talismanic striker Samuel Eto’o out via a knee injury, and Uruguay’s captain Diego Lugano is also out.

The Netherland’s Bruno Martins Indi got injured in the match against Australia.

According to journalist Ewan MacKenna and ESPN reporter Roger Bennett there have been unconfirmed news that Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the World Cup.

Rumours – unconfirmed may I add – here in press centres in Brazil that Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the World Cup.

— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) June 18, 2014

Eye on this US fans @EwanMacKenna Rumours – unconfirmed I add – here in press centres in Brazil Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the World Cup

— roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 18, 2014