Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated he will almost certainly not participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, potentially disappointing FIFA President Gianni Infantino who hoped to feature one of football’s most prominent figures at the tournament.
The Portugal captain revealed on Saturday that he had received “quite a few” offers from participating clubs to join them for the tournament beginning June 14, but has decided against accepting any of these invitations.
“Some things make sense to talk about, other things don’t, and, as a person says, you can’t take part in everything,” Ronaldo explained. “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 made these comments in Munich, one day before Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final match against Spain. The 40-year-old forward had recently scored his 137th international goal during Portugal’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Germany on Wednesday, securing their place in the final.
When initially questioned about the FIFA Club World Cup, Ronaldo responded, “This is irrelevant right now. It makes no sense to talk about anything other than the national team.”
The decision represents a setback for FIFA’s ambitions to attract major star power to the expanded Club World Cup format. Ronaldo’s absence would remove one of football’s most recognizable and marketable players from the tournament, potentially affecting viewership and commercial appeal.
Despite receiving multiple opportunities to participate through various club offers, Ronaldo appears to be prioritizing his long-term career planning over the immediate opportunity to compete in FIFA’s revamped tournament format.
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