Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the biggest names in world football and is going strong even at the age of 40. He has certainly helped to improve the quality and popularity of the Saudi Pro League since joining Al-Nassr and has helped them compete at a higher level. However, the Portuguese forward has not been able to win any major trophies with Al-Nassr so far, and that will impact his ability to play in the newly created 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on 14 June 2025.

Al-Nassr are currently in 4th place in the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League with two games remaining, and their campaign is going to be finished after that is over. Football fans will be urging to see Ronaldo in action in the Club World Cup, especially considering how Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will be among the participants for the tournament. But will Ronaldo play FIFA Club World Cup?

Will Ronaldo play FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

FIFA has decided to change the structure of the FIFA Club World Cup. As a result, 32 teams from around the world have qualified for the inaugural version of this new Club World Cup structure. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will see four teams from Asia represent them in the FIFA Club World Cup, but Al-Nassr are not going to be the Saudi Pro League's representatives for the tournament.

That is because Al Hilal have secured a spot in the championship instead. Al Hilal won the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League title, and that has helped them get a spot in the tournament. FIFA is being quite strict with teams that can qualify for the Club World Cup, as they are only considering teams that have won a domestic league championship or continental titles to be eligible for the title.

Unfortunately for Ronaldo, Al-Nassr have not been able to win the Saudi Pro League title in recent years or even an AFC competition. They were knocked out of the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite by Kawasaki Frontale in the semi-finals, robbing Ronaldo of the opportunity to win a continental title. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said "there are discussions" for Cristiano Ronaldo to play at this summer's newly expanded Club World Cup.

Could Ronaldo Play For A Different Team In FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

There is a bit of uncertainty over Ronaldo's future at Al-Nassr. He is contracted to the Saudi Pro League club until the end of June 2025 and has not been able to agree on a contract extension yet. That has caused speculation to run amok about the future of the Portugal legend and whether he could potentially join another club before the beginning of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

He started being linked to a potential move to Brazilian heavyweights Palmeiras, who have qualified for the Club World Cup as part of the CONCACAF region. However, Palmeiras were quick to rubbish the speculation, as one of their representatives insisted that their foreign player list for the Club World Cup has been finalized and they won't be making any changes to it.

Botafogo are another club to have been linked with Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese forward's contract gets closer to expiration at Al-Nassr. Renato Paiva, Botafogo's head coach, seemed amused to be linked to Ronaldo and responded: “Christmas is only in December. But if he came, you can't say no to a star like that. I don't know anything. I'm just answering the question. But, as I said, coaches always want the best. Ronaldo, even at his age, is still a goal-scoring machine. In a team that creates chance after chance, he would be good."

At this point, it appears that Ronaldo will not be able to play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Time is running out for the Portuguese icon to try and join a club participating in the tournament, or fear missing out on the biggest competition of the summer.