Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected an offer to represent Al Hilal at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, opting instead to remain loyal to his current club, Al Nassr.
The 40-year-old Portuguese forward had been approached by the Saudi Pro League champions for a temporary switch ahead of the tournament, which will debut in its expanded format this June. Al Hilal are set to face former European champions Real Madrid in the group stage — a side where Ronaldo enjoyed a glittering career. Had he accepted, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would have lined up against his old club in one of the marquee matches of the competition.
However, Ronaldo declined the opportunity, citing his commitment to Al Nassr, where he serves as club captain. Reports suggest that the veteran striker is close to agreeing on a contract extension, despite Al Nassr’s disappointing exit from the AFC Champions League this season.
Speculation had also linked the forward with a possible guest appearance for Egyptian giants Al Ahly in their opening match against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. That rumoured reunion of the two global icons — scheduled for the early hours of 15 June (CET) — has also been ruled out.
Unless Al Nassr receive an unlikely late invitation to the tournament, it appears Ronaldo will play no part in this year’s Club World Cup, the first to be held in the United States and the first under FIFA’s new 32-team format.
Ronaldo, who has continued to break scoring records since joining Al Nassr in December 2022, remains one of the most marketable and watched players in world football, and his absence from the tournament will be keenly felt by fans hoping for another chapter in his storied rivalry with Messi.
