Question marks over Ronaldo could lengthen Portugal's World Cup odds

Portugal's World Cup odds may be affected by an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo as he struggles to make the qualification play-offs.

The Real Madrid winger is battling an ankle problem which has kept him out for two weeks so far and is not expected to be fully overcome until mid-November.

However, according to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, "there is no consensus on the progress of the player's right ankle".

Henry Paton writes that within Real there is now a concern that there is a possibility Ronaldo has damaged bone in the ankle, which could prolong his period on the sidelines.

This could call into question his fitness for Portugal's crunch two-legged World Cup play-off with Bosnia later this month.

Betfair still has Portugal as the overwhelming favourites for the tie, on 1.31 to make the finals at the expense of Bosnia, on 4.10.

However, if Ronaldo is absent, it will add to doubts about the chances of Carlos Quieroz' men, who stuttered throughout their qualifying group and finished second to Denmark.

Betfair still has Brazil and Spain as joint favourites for next year's finals in South Africa, both on 6.00.