Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer’s most expensive player, was ruled out of Portugal’s 2010 World Cup playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina because of an ankle injury.

Ronaldo traveled to Lisbon yesterday to have the injury assessed by Portugal team medical staff, even after his Real Madrid club said the forward wouldn’t be fit for the encounter.

“The player is not in good enough physical condition to train with the squad ahead of the playoffs,” the Portuguese soccer federation said in a statement on its Web site.

Portugal, which reached the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup, faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in Lisbon on Nov. 14 and again in Zenica four days later, with the winner over the two games advancing to next year’s 32-team tournament in South Africa.

Ronaldo, signed by Real for a record 80 million pounds ($133 million) in June from Manchester United, hasn’t played since re-injuring his ankle Oct. 10 playing for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier against Hungary.

Real Madrid doctors said last week they expect Ronaldo to be out of action for at least two more weeks.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney dbaynes@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 10, 2009 18:10 EST