Injury: Ronaldo pulls out of Espanyol game in warm up

(AFP) – World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo pulled out of Real Madrid’s final La Liga game of the season against Espanyol on Saturday due to the recurrence of a thigh injury.

The 29-year-old Portuguese had missed Real’s 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo last weekend due to the problem, but had intended to return to action to prove his match fitness ahead of the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid next Saturday.

Ronaldo had been named in Carlo Ancelotti’s intitial line-up, but didn’t complete the warm up alongside his teammates and was replaced at the last minute by Isco in the starting eleven.

His absence also means Ronaldo will share the European golden boot with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez as both men managed 31 league goals this season.