Why Cristiano Ronaldo Missed the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, FIFA Club World Cup

June 18, 2025

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Why Cristiano Ronaldo Missed the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicked off on June 14 in the United States, but one big name was missing: Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite efforts from FIFA and Saudi Arabia, the football legend did not take part in this exciting tournament. So, what happened? Why Ronaldo, a star footballer, couldn’t join the FIFA Club World Cup and what factors played a role.

Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club. Unfortunately, Al-Nassr did not qualify for the Club World Cup 2025. The tournament included four Asian teams, but Al-Nassr didn’t secure one of those spots. The qualifying teams from Asia were Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (UAE), and Ulsan HD (South Korea). Since Al-Nassr finished third in the Saudi Pro League and lost in the Asian Champions League semi-finals, they missed out on the FIFA Club World Cup.

To boost the FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA created a special transfer window from June 1-10. This allowed clubs to sign new players just for the tournament. With Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr set to expire at the end of June, there was hope he could join another team for the Club World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino even hinted at this possibility during an interview, saying clubs might be interested in signing Ronaldo for the event.

However, Ronaldo decided against moving to a new team. He received several offers from clubs in the Club World Cup, but he chose not to accept them. Ronaldo explained that some offers made sense, but others didn’t, and he needed to think about his short-term and long-term goals.

One idea was for Ronaldo to join Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s only team in the Club World Cup. Al-Hilal is a strong club, having won the 2021 AFC Champions League. Since Ronaldo is a major star in Saudi Arabia, this seemed like a possible move. However, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are fierce rivals in Riyadh. Even though both clubs are partly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, a transfer was seen as unlikely.

Al-Hilal’s chief executive, Esteve Calzada, said it wouldn’t make sense to bring in Ronaldo, their rival’s biggest player, for just a few weeks. He respected Ronaldo’s skills but felt it was not practical for the Club World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has big ambitions in football. They’ve invested heavily in the sport, including hosting the 2034 World Cup and buying Newcastle United in the Premier League. For the Club World Cup, Saudi Arabia helped fund the event with a $1 billion investment in the tournament’s broadcaster, DAZN, and a partnership with FIFA. This created a huge $1 billion prize pot for the teams.

The Club World Cup was a chance for Saudi Arabia to show its growing influence in global football. Al-Hilal faced top teams like Real Madrid, a 15-time European champion, in the tournament. Despite this, Saudi Arabia couldn’t get Ronaldo, their biggest star, to play in the FIFA Club World Cup.

While Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t join, Al-Hilal still had strong players like Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Ruben Neves. They also made a big move by hiring Simone Inzaghi, a well-known coach from Inter Milan, to lead the team in the Club World Cup. Inzaghi said his goal was to help Al-Hilal grow and compete with the best clubs in the world.

Al-Hilal tried to sign other stars like Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, but he turned down the offer. They also looked at players like Victor Osimhen and Darwin Nunez, but no deals were made before the FIFA Club World Cup started.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Inter Miami, Riyadh Sеason Cup

Ronaldo made it clear he wasn’t interested in a short-term move for the Club World Cup. Speaking before Portugal’s Nations League final against Spain, he said he was focused on his national team and long-term plans. He mentioned that a decision about his future was “almost final,” hinting he might stay with Al-Nassr or move to another club after the tournament.

Ronaldo’s choice showed he was thinking beyond the Club World Cup. At 40 years old, he’s still scoring goals, with 99 in 111 games for Al-Nassr. He’s aiming to reach 1000 career goals and possibly play in the 2026 World Cup.

The Club World Cup highlights Saudi Arabia’s push to become a major player in football. While they couldn’t get Cristiano Ronaldo to participate, their team, Al-Hilal, is still competing against top clubs. The match against Real Madrid on June 18, 2025, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was a big moment for Saudi football.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the Club World Cup because Al-Nassr didn’t qualify, and he chose not to join another team, even with FIFA’s special transfer window. Rivalries, like the one between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, also played a part. While Saudi Arabia and FIFA tried to make it happen, Ronaldo’s focus was elsewhere, leaving the Club World Cup to shine without him.

FAQs About the Cristiano Ronaldo Absence in FIFA Club World Cup 2025

1. Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo play in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t play because his club, Al-Nassr, failed to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. He also turned down offers from other participating teams, choosing to focus on his national team and future plans.

2. Which Saudi team played in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

Al-Hilal was the only Saudi Arabian team in the Club World Cup 2025. They qualified by winning the 2021 AFC Champions League.

3. What is the FIFA Club World Cup special transfer window?

FIFA created a special transfer window from June 1-10, 2025, allowing clubs to sign new players for the FIFA Club World Cup. This was meant to help teams strengthen their squads, but Ronaldo chose not to use it.