Cristiano Ronaldo will not move to another club this month to participate in the Club World Cup. A new encounter with his rival Lionel Messi will therefore not happen.
“It has almost been decided that I will not participate in the Club World Cup, despite having received many invitations and offers,” Ronaldo said Saturday at a press conference of the Portuguese national team in the run-up to the Nations League final against Spain.
The forty-year-old Ronaldo says he did consider going to one of the 32 World Cup participants. Al Nassr did not qualify for the World Cup, which starts next Sunday. “But you have to think about the short, medium and long term.”
Ronaldo recently hinted at a departure from Al Nassr, where his contract expires on June 30. “This chapter is over,” he wrote on Instagram next to a photo of him in the shirt of the Saudi club. It is not yet clear where he will play football next season.
There was also no clarity at the press conference on Saturday. “I live from day to day,” said Ronaldo. “I don’t have many years left as a football player and I enjoy this moment. There is no date of my retirement known.”
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, the founder of the new format of the World Cup, is said to have lobbied behind the scenes to bring Ronaldo to a World Cup participant. Messi plays for the American club Inter Miami.
Ronaldo did not respond to that. He did express his appreciation for Messi, who is also active at a late age after his glory years at FC Barcelona. “Of course I have something with Messi. We have been at the top for fifteen years. He has always treated me well and respects me.”
Lamine Yamal, one of Ronaldo’s opponents in the Nations League final, also received the necessary compliments. “He’s doing great, but let him grow. Don’t put too much pressure on him. There is no shortage of talent. If he doesn’t win the Golden Ball this time, he will next year.”