RONALDO OUT OF PORTUGAL NATIONS LEAGUE AS RAPE ALLEGATION BOILS UP

Ronaldo has been accused of rape by Kathryn Mayorga, who says the player assaulted her in Las Vegas in 2009. He has denied the accusation.

The national captain will miss his country’s UEFA Nations League game with Poland on October 11, before a friendly with Scotland three days later.

The Juventus forward also missed Portugal’s first two post-World Cup matches last month, with coach Fernando Santos saying Ronaldo had only just moved to the Italian club and needed time to settle in.

Santos used the 33-year-old team captain’s absence last month to try out younger players in the senior side.