Not even the combined might of Saudi Arabia’s football revolution or FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s influence could manoeuvre a route for Cristiano Ronaldo to feature in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Infantino, never shy of spectacle, had made a public appeal last month, teasing the possibility of Ronaldo joining a Club World Cup side: “If any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup…” he said during an interview.
With Ronaldo’s contract at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr nearing its end and FIFA creating a special short-term transfer window for the revamped tournament, speculation mounted that the Portuguese icon could join Al Hilal — Saudi Arabia’s most decorated club and the nation’s sole representative at the competition.
However, despite both Al Hilal and Al-Nassr being under the umbrella of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the rivalry between the Riyadh-based giants proved too fierce for such a move to be palatable.
“As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player… it’s completely counter-intuitive to bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you,” Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada told the BBC. “Even more so when it’s only for three to four weeks.”
Still, the very notion of Ronaldo making a short-term switch reflects the audacious strides Saudi Arabia continues to take in global sport. Its influence has already reshaped golf through LIV, secured major boxing bouts, brought Formula One and elite tennis to its shores, and captured the footballing world’s attention through high-profile player signings and the acquisition of Premier League side Newcastle United.
Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in football are perhaps the most dramatic. The kingdom is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and has significantly backed this year’s Club World Cup through its commercial partnership with FIFA and a reported $1 billion investment in DAZN, the tournament’s broadcaster.
Al Hilal’s appearance in the expanded Club World Cup, which kicks off with a clash against 15-time European champions Real Madrid at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, marks a pivotal moment. This is Saudi Arabia’s chance to showcase its footballing might on the international stage.
Surprisingly, despite its lavish spending in recent years, Al Hilal did not secure a marquee signing before the tournament. Brazil star Neymar was released in January after suffering a serious ACL injury that limited him to just seven appearances following his €94 million move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Efforts were reportedly made to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, while names like Victor Osimhen and Darwin Núñez were also linked. However, no major deals materialised before the transfer window closed.
Head coach Simone Inzaghi, who recently left Inter Milan to take charge of Al Hilal, remained optimistic. “The club is working to improve the team… Now it’s pointless to talk about the market because the market is closed,” he said.
Inzaghi himself is arguably the club’s biggest acquisition in the lead-up to the tournament, bringing with him vast experience and European pedigree.
“My ambition, the ambition of the club, is to grow more, to make Al Hilal one of the best football clubs,” said Inzaghi. “I believe the time has come to get out of my comfort zone.”
Indeed, Saudi Arabia is forcing the global football landscape out of its comfort zone. As Real Madrid prepare to face Al Hilal, it presents a compelling clash: the established dominance of European football versus a fast-emerging challenger with limitless ambition.
“Sometimes we just focus on what’s going on in Europe and think there’s nothing else beyond it,” Madrid manager Xabi Alonso remarked. “We’re too focused on Europe.”
With Saudi Arabia’s continued investment and its hunger for global relevance, that perception may not last much longer.
