Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will not be participating in this month’s FIFA Club World Cup, despite receiving offers from clubs competing in the tournament. The 40-year-old striker, whose contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr expires at the end of June, addressed mounting speculation about his next move after Al-Nassr failed to qualify for the tournament. “I will not be at the Club World Cup,” Ronaldo told reporters ahead of Portugal’s Nations League final clash with Spain. “Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can’t try and do everything. You can’t catch every ball.” In May, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had hinted at the possibility of Ronaldo joining one of the qualified teams, fuelling rumours of a short-term move. However, Ronaldo’s statement appears to have put those rumours to rest. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star further stirred speculation about his future after posting “the chapter is over” on social media following Al-Nassr’s final league game in May. Despite this, sources close to the club told BBC Sport that Al-Nassr remains confident of renewing the veteran’s contract. Speaking on the eve of the Nations League final, Ronaldo described his future plans as “almost final,” though he stopped short of revealing his next destination. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in early 2023 and has since scored 99 goals in 111 appearances, including 35 in 41 matches during the most recent season. His leadership and goal-scoring prowess have continued at the international level, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner netting the decisive goal in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Germany on Wednesday to secure their place in Sunday’s final. As fans await clarity on his next move, Ronaldo remains focused on adding another international trophy to his collection when Portugal face Spain at 20:00 BST on Sunday.
Ronaldo Rules Out Club World Cup Appearance, Future at Al-Nassr Uncertain
