Ronaldo has confirmed that the heavy World Cup workload is taking its toll but the Inter striker expects to be fit to face Turkey in Wednesday’s semi-final.

“I went two years without playing and, now we have played a lot of games in a short space of time, I’m more tired than the others,’ he admmitted. ‘But I’m fine, I’m recovering and in two or three days I will be better,” said the five-goal forward.

“It has been a good World Cup with a lot of surprises and great goals. I hope it finishes even better,” he added.

Ronaldo was substituted during Brazil’s quarter-final victory over England and has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy in a bid to be fit for Wednesday’s game.

The Brazilian has been plagued with injuries for the past four years and his return to fitness at this World Cup has confounded sceptics, many of whom believed his playing career was effectively over.