The newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup is now less than a month away, with 32 teams from around the world preparing to compete for the title of best club team in the world.
This new format of the competition sees the number of teams competing increase from seven last time out in December 2023, with some of the world’s biggest clubs and most dazzling names set to appear in the United States beginning next month.
Al Nassr was one of the teams that did not qualify, so Cristiano Ronaldo, a global sporting icon, will not play.
Cristiano Ronaldo has a Club World Cup offer
The Portuguese star’s absence was a setback for the marketing team, who would have loved nothing more than to hype up a possible final meeting between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, whose Inter Miami side did make the cut.
Despite the presence of Ronaldo, the Saudi Pro League’s leading scorer with 23 goals this season, Al Nassr are currently fourth in the table, 13 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
According to Marca, Al Nassr’s disappointing season will likely result in key changes this summer, which could indicate Ronaldo is considering joining the club, as his contract expires on June 30.
The report also claims that an unnamed Brazilian club has launched an audacious bid to sign the former Manchester United player, who was ranked fourth on FourFourTwo’s list of the sport’s greatest-ever players.
This potential move would ‘open up the possibility’ of Ronaldo competing in this summer’s Club World Cup.
Four Brazilian teams have qualified for this summer’s tournament: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo, all of whom won Copa Libertadores in the previous four years.
Marca add that Ronaldo is ‘tempted’ by the proposal as it would give the 40-year-old another opportunity to feature on the world stage.
