Cristiano Ronaldo's future jeopardized by World Cup play claims doctor: Report

Cristiano Ronaldo limped out of a Portugal training session 30 minutes early Wednesday with ice strapped to his left knee.

The Portuguese captain and holder of the Ballon D'Or, was expected to lead his team at this World Cup but, after playing an ineffective 90 minutes in Portugal's  4-0 loss to Germany on Monday, the soccer superstar was warned by his doctor that he risks threatening his career by playing on at the World Cup, reported the Daily Mail.

The Real Madrid superstar is struggling with a knee injury but is under pressure to lead his team into Sunday’s crucial clash with the USA after the embarrassing loss to Germany.

According to Spanish online newspaper El Confidencial, Portuguese surgeon Jose Carlos Noronha told the 29-year-old: 

"Let your knee rest, or your future is in danger," to which Ronaldo reportedly replied: "I’m the one that says whether I’m playing or not."

There had been serious doubts over the Real Madrid superstar's injuries ahead of the tournament, after a thigh problem and tendinitis in his knee forced him to miss training and two warm-up matches.

Ronaldo declared himself "100 per cent" fit on the eve of Portugal's opening defeat to Germany but, although he managed to play the entire game, he was mostly on the periphery and failed to make an impact.

It now appears that the Player of the Year has suffered a recurrence of his knee problems after receiving treatment during a training session in Campinas. 

Ronaldo was taken through a series of stretches before having his left knee bandaged with an ice pack and helped off the field a half hour before Wednesday's practice finished. He watched the rest of the session from the sidelines.

Portugal will face the USA on Sunday in a must win game in Group G. Until then, Portugal fans will have to wait for Ronaldo's decision for a single game — and maybe his career.

This dog loves watching the World Cup more than anyone (VIDEO)

Meet Georges — a soccer-mad dog who is more than happy to spend hours in front of the TV watching the World Cup.

In a video posted on YouTube, the tail-wagging pooch can been seen enthusiastically jumping up and down in front of the TV while watching the Argentina-Bosnia and Herzegovina pool game from his owner's home in the U.S..

"Georges, my dog who loves watching sports, is having a great time watching the World Cup 2014," writes YouTuber Bearaids. "He will watch the games for hours and doesn't care who wins or loses, as long as he can watch them play."

The same can't be said for his little pal at the end.

CNN reporter injured by tear gas canister during live coverage of World Cup protests (VIDEO)

The World Cup got off to a riotous start after Brazilian police fired tear gas into a small group of people trying to work its way through Sao Paulo to the Arena Corinthians stadium to protest the opening game.

At least one person was arrested and CNN reporter Shasta Darlington and producer Barbara Arvanitidis were slightly injured when one of the gas canisters hit them. Darlington suffered a minor cut on her arm, and Arvanitidis was hit on the wrist.

A CNN video of the incident shows Darlington in a green blouse and a backpack talking about a skirmish that broke out during a protest before the first World Cup game, which resulted in one arrest. 

Moments later, she is shoved to the side by a demonstrator as police officers in riot gear begin hurling tear gas canisters into the crowd.

"Gotta go!" she cries out before adding, "It hit my arm."

Critics are furious at the Brazilian government for spending $11 billion on the World Cup instead of low-income housing, hospitals and schools.

Thank you to @WyreDavies and cordon of protesters who helped our @Arvanb01 after we were hit by canister at protest #CNNWorldCup
— Shasta Darlington (@ShastaCNN) June 12, 2014

Forget vuvuzelas — the sound of Brazil 2014 will be caxirolas (VIDEO)

The Brazil 2014 World Cup will be unleashing its own version of the infuriating vuvuzela on the world and only time — and hearing loss — will tell if the caxirola is just as annoying.

Unlike the vuvuzela —a percussion instrument which many fans blamed on ruining the World Cup experience in South Africa — the caxirola has been designed especially for mass use in stadiums.  The hand-held instrument makes a rattling sound when shaken and was created in a collaboration between Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown and Brazil's ministry of sports.

Produced in the national team colors of yellow and green, the small instrument is made from recycled plastic and will be handed to fans attending the Confederations Cup in June, the country's unofficial dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup.

A FIFA spokesman promised the instrument would "add to the fan experience" at the tournaments and help "create a unique Brazilian atmosphere in the stadiums."

The sound of the vuvuzela is etched in many a football fan's mind — and ear drums — as the over-riding memory of the South African World Cup. The controversial three-dollar trumpet produced an uncomfortable 127-decibel blare, providing a deafening background to the entire tournament.

WATCH video below — imagine 70,000 more of the little rattlers together at once — and decide.

Klinsmann not happy about Team US 'victory parade' for tie against Mexico

The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced a special "victory parade" in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the scoreless  0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico, reports Yahoo! Sports.

The officially ended in a tie. But it was only the second time the U.S team earned a point in World Cup qualifiers and it felt like a win — especially since it came in the raucous, sold-out Estadio Azteca. American reaction to the stand-off was as if the third-place team had won a tournament and now the USSF is pulling out all the stops to show their affection.

"This is a historic event for the U.S. national team and the fact that it comes in our federation's centennial year only makes it more special," USSF president Sunil Gulati told reporters. "So, like Spain does after winning every real trophy, we will hold a victory parade through our nation's capital to mark this momentous occasion. There will be balloon animals for the kids and the fan who had the most mystery liquids thrown on them at the Azteca will be awarded the Medal of Honor. By Morgan Freeman. Dressed as Abraham Lincoln."

The tie leaves the U.S. in third place three games into the six-nation, 10-game qualifying tournament for Brazil 2014 after a game in which they were outshot 19-1 and helped by a referee who ignored Mexico's penalty shot in the second half.

The U.S. squad's coach Jurgen Klinsmann doesn't sound like a big fan of twisted balloons or even "The Shawshank Redemption" actor in a beard and stovepipe hat.

"I think it's a stupid idea," said Klinsmann when asked about the parade. "We need to act like this has happened before -- which it has in 1990-freaking-seven -- and move on with the qualification process. Now let's focus on actually winning matches and things instead of Morgan Freeman in a Lincoln suit."

Mexicans weren't as jubilant about the tie as their U.S. counterparts. Fans south of the border booed their team off the field after it fell to fifth in a qualifying tournament in which only three teams are guaranteed berths in Brazil.

For the U.S., it all sounds like the trophy-less, self-esteem building, "everyone's a winner" coddling — that is rampant in kid's sports  today — has finally made it to the big leagues.