Ronaldo out of World Cup playoffs

LISBON: Real Madrid's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was ruled out on Tuesday of his country's crucial World Cup playoff matches after undergoing medical tests on a troublesome ankle injury.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz had insisted he intended to call up the world's most expensive player for the matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Nov 14 and 18 despite opposition from Real but in the end the Portuguese Football Federation admitted Ronaldo would not be fit enough.

"The player is not in good enough physical condition to train with the squad ahead of the playoffs," the federation said.