PORTUGAL star Nuno Mendes limped off in tears in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.
The left-back hobbled off the pitch crying into his shirt with his World Cup dream potentially over.
He was consoled by the team’s doctors and teammates as he left the field and headed straight down the tunnel.
The Paris Saint-Germain youngster, 20, went off just 42 minutes into the clash with Uruguay and was replaced by Raphael Guerreiro.
Mendes went into the tournament nursing a slight problem and he did not feature in Portugal’s opener against Ghana.
It is believed he had a hamstring issue but was deemed fit enough to play in Qatar.
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However it appears he may have aggravated the injury and judging from his reaction Mendes could be on the sidelines for some time.
He missed five of PSG’s matches prior to the World Cup hiatus with the muscular problem.
Portugal’s injury woes are mounting with a number of key players in the treatment room.
Liverpool ace Diogo Jota was not named in the squad due to a calf problem and while at the World Cup both Danilo Pereira and Otavio have picked up knocks.
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Pereira, who also plays for PSG, has broken his ribs but his manager appeared confident in a press conference that he will be fit again soon.
Portugal went on to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Uruguay.
It seemed Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener – before it was then credited to Bruno Fernandes.
The Manchester United midfielder then added a second from the penalty spot in injury time.
Portugal will play South Korea in their final match in Group H.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
