Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will not play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, despite receiving multiple offers from participating teams.
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The 40-year-old’s contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr ends this June. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently hinted that Ronaldo might join another team for the tournament, the star striker says he has other plans.
“I won’t be at the Club World Cup,” Ronaldo told reporters. “Some teams reached out with offers—some made more sense than others, but you can’t chase every opportunity. You can’t catch every ball.”
In May, Ronaldo sparked speculation after posting “the chapter is over” on social media following Al-Nassr’s final league game. However, he has since clarified that a decision about his future is “almost final,” ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final against Spain.
A Remarkable Run at Al-Nassr
Since joining Al-Nassr in 2023 after parting ways with Manchester United, Ronaldo has scored 99 goals and delivered 19 assists in 111 games. He netted 35 goals in 41 matches during the 2024–25 season, though he did not win any major trophies with the club.
Club World Cup 2025 Kicks Off June 14
The newly expanded Club World Cup will begin on June 14 in the United States. The tournament now features 32 of the world’s best clubs in a month-long competition.
Ronaldo, a four-time Club World Cup winner, is currently the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with seven goals in eight appearances. However, with more matches in this year’s format, that record could soon be broken.
