Cristiano Ronaldo might feature in FIFA’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup this summer through an unprecedented transfer arrangement, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Despite his current club Al Nassr not qualifying for the tournament, the Portuguese superstar could potentially join one of the participating teams through a special transfer window.
“Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” Infantino revealed during an interview with popular YouTuber IShowSpeed. “There are discussions with some clubs… if any club is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows?”
FIFA has confirmed that participating teams can make last-minute transfer signings between June 1-10 and again from June 27 to July 3, creating a unique opportunity for the 40-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner to join the competition being held across 11 US cities.
This exceptional transfer provision has sparked speculation about potential destinations for Ronaldo, with reports linking him to Saudi Arabian qualifier Al Hilal, Brazilian side Palmeiras, and Morocco’s Wydad, though the latter is currently under a FIFA transfer ban.
The possibility of Ronaldo’s participation adds significant star power to FIFA’s expanded tournament format, which replaces the previous seven-team competition held annually. More importantly, it could reunite football’s two greatest modern icons—Ronaldo and Lionel Messi—in the same competition for the first time since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Messi’s Inter Miami received a special invitation to the tournament last October, despite being eliminated in the MLS Cup playoffs. The Argentine’s inclusion was widely seen as a strategic move to boost the profile of the inaugural event.
Football marketing experts suggest Ronaldo’s potential involvement could significantly increase ticket sales and global viewership. The tournament represents FIFA’s ambitious attempt to create a club competition rivaling the prestige of the UEFA Champions League, with an estimated $2 billion in revenue projected.
For Ronaldo, who has scored 44 goals in 45 matches for Al Nassr this season, the tournament would offer another opportunity to compete at the highest level as his illustrious career enters its final chapters.
