Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of Portugal's friendly with Brazil on Tuesday with injury following a match-winning and record-breaking performance on Friday.

The Seleccao skipper scored a hat-trick in their 4-2 win at Northern Ireland to prevent the nation's World Cup 2014 qualification hopes from crumbling and overtook striking legend Eusebio as the second-highest goalscorer in Portugal's history in the process.

Team doctor Henrique Jones admitted that the 28-year-old had been a doubt for the clash at Windsor Park due to tendinitis, but put himself through the pain barrier to help them to victory.

"Ronaldo has had a week of intense treatment, he made an enormous sacrifice and now he needs to rest," he told reporters. 

The result in Belfast kept Portugal on top of Group F of the European qualifying section with 17 points from their eight matches.

And the Real Madrid star's treble - Ronaldo's 41st, 42nd and 43rd goals for his country - moved him to just four behind Portugal's goalscoring record holder Pauleta.