[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo heads Portugal's 24-player preliminary World Cup squad released on Monday.

Ronaldo failed to score in qualifying and missed the playoff series with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"We all know that because of his fitness and his injuries he couldn't give his best," Coach Carlos Queiroz said of Ronaldo. "Now we'll do all we can to get him properly ready."

Queiroz included Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammate, Pepe, who hasn't played since a knee injury in December, and Zenit St. Petersburg striker Danny, who was sidelined for almost a year, also with a knee injury.

Portugal Roster:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (FC Braga), Beto (FC Porto), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis).
Defenders: Duda (Malaga), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel Brito (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ze Castro (Dep. Coruna), Ricardo Costa (Lille).
Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Miguel Veloso (Sporting).
Forwards: Nani (Man. United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Danny (Zenit St. Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting).