MUNICH — Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday he is “practically certain” he will not take part in this month’s FIFA Club World Cup, despite receiving multiple invitations from participating clubs, delivering a significant setback to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s push to feature global stars at the newly expanded tournament.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final against Spain, the 40-year-old forward confirmed he had been approached by several clubs about joining them for the tournament, which kicks off June 14, but he has declined the offers.
“Some things make sense to talk about, other things don’t,” Ronaldo said. “You can’t take part in everything. You have to think about the short, medium and long term. It’s a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I’ve had quite a few invitations to go.”
Ronaldo remains under contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr until the end of June. Speculation about a possible short-term transfer arose after FIFA created a unique transfer window for the Club World Cup to allow flexibility for marquee players to feature. Ronaldo further fueled speculation when he posted “this chapter is over” following Al-Nassr’s final league match of the season.
Among the potential destinations mentioned were Brazilian giants Palmeiras and Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal — Al-Nassr’s local rival and the only Saudi club qualified for the tournament. A move to Al-Hilal would have been controversial, given the intense rivalry and the structure of Saudi football, where both clubs are majority-owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). PIF holds a 75% stake in each club and was recently announced as an “official partner” of the Club World Cup by FIFA.
FIFA had reportedly hoped that Ronaldo’s presence would boost international interest and ticket sales for the inaugural 32-team edition of the tournament. His absence will leave rival Lionel Messi, who is set to compete with Inter Miami, as the tournament’s biggest individual draw.
Ronaldo, however, chose to keep the focus on national duties ahead of Sunday’s final against Spain. “This is irrelevant right now,” he said when asked again about the Club World Cup. “It makes no sense to talk about anything other than the national team.”
Ronaldo scored the match-winning goal in Portugal’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Germany on Wednesday, extending his world record to 137 international goals. If he plays Sunday, it will mark his 221st appearance for the Portuguese national team, another all-time record.
