Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the Juventus match day squad for the Champions League game against Barcelona, more than two weeks after the 35-year-old superstar initially tested positive for COVID-19.
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It means the latest eagerly-awaited showdown between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the pair who have dominated the individual accolades for the world's best player over the past decade, is off.
Ronaldo tested positive on October 13 and was reported to have no symptoms.
The Portuguese player posted a photo and message on Twitter on Wednesday, hours before kick-off.
"Feeling good and healthy!" he wrote. "Forza Juve!"
Ronaldo first tested positive two days before Portugal's Nations League match against Sweden. He was dropped from the squad after another test on October 14 confirmed the positive result.
On Tuesday, Juventus refused to comment on Italian media reports that Ronaldo's latest test was still positive for COVID-19.
Alvaro Morata replaced Ronaldo against Dynamo Kiev last week and scored twice in a 2-0 win in Group G.
Australian Associated Press
