Cristiano Ronaldo remains the highest-profile player not taking part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, but the former Real Madrid superstar had an offer on the table to go head-to-head against old rival Lionel Messi once again in a new tournament. 

The team Cristiano Ronaldo turned down at the Club World Cup

Speaking to ESPN, River Plate head coach Marcelo Gallardo revealed he made an “informal” offer to Ronaldo about representing the Argentinian giants at the Club World Cup. Gallardo briefly worked with the Portugal captain in a friendly game with the Riyadh All-Stars team in Saudi Arabia.

“In mid-March, informally, through a mutual friend, I told him, ‘Hey, I have a Club World Cup coming up, for a player like you, who defined an era… don’t you have any intention of playing in it?’”Gallardo revealed. 

However, it appears not even the prospect of potentially coming up against Messi once last time was enough to entice him to the U.S. this summer. 

Ronaldo’s reason for not going to the Club World Cup

“Not only did he feel recognised, but he evaluated it, thought about it, but then responded, ‘I have to prepare for next season’,” explained the River Plate coach. 

Speaking during the international break in June, Ronaldo stated he would almost certainly not be playing in the FIFA Club World Cup, although he had received “plenty of offers” from - until now - unnamed clubs. 

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner turning out for an Argentinian club, which Messi has never done in his career, would been an unexpected twist in the pair’s rivalry. 

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