Juventus announce Cristiano Ronaldo has recovered from COVID-19

Italian Serie A giants Juventus confirmed on Friday that superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tested negative for COVID-19 nearly three weeks after he tested positive for the virus while on international duty with Portugal. 

"The exam provided a negative result," Juventus explained of Ronaldo's latest diagnostic test. "The player has, therefore, recovered after 19 days and is no longer subjected to home isolation." 

Ronaldo first tested positive on Oct. 13 and hasn't played for club or country since. Without the 35-year-old, Juve managed to notch only Serie A draws with Crotone and Hellas Verona. While Juventus defeated Dynamo Kiev in a Champions League game on Oct. 20, they fell to Barcelona in a European fixture on Wednesday. 

Ronaldo hoped to appear against Barca for his first matchup versus Lionel Messi since the Portuguese star completed his transfer from La Liga side Real Madrid to Juventus in July 2018. The two have never faced off in a Champions League group stage game. Their next opportunity to change that comes on Dec. 8 when Juventus travel to Camp Nou. 

Juventus are a disappointing fifth in the domestic table after taking nine points from five games. They are away to Spezia (14th, five points) on Sunday. Ronaldo should be available for that match but likely won't start as he works to return to full fitness.