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River Plate Tried to Sign Cristiano Ronaldo for 2025 Club World Cup – Marcelo Gallardo Reveals
🗣️ Gallardo Personally Reached Out to Ronaldo
Gallardo, who coached Ronaldo during the Riyadh All-Stars vs PSG friendly in 2023, said in an interview with ESPN that he maintained a friendly connection with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Around March 2025, he reached out via a mutual friend to ask if Ronaldo would consider joining River Plate for the Club World Cup.
“I met him not only as a great professional, but also as an excellent person. We maintained a relationship," Gallardo shared.
“Around March, we had informal contact through a mutual friend. I said to him: ‘There’s a Club World Cup and a player like you, who has marked an era… Do you intend to play?’ He not only felt recognized but was also evaluating it. Then he told us that he had to prepare for the following season.”
The interaction confirms that Ronaldo seriously considered the offer, though he ultimately declined due to fitness planning for his 2025-26 season.
❌ Why Cristiano Ronaldo Isn’t Playing in the Club World Cup
Although FIFA President Gianni Infantino hinted at the possibility of Ronaldo joining a participating team — even mentioning it to streamer IShowSpeed — the veteran striker dismissed the speculation in a press conference.
“I will not be at the Club World Cup. Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can't try and do everything,” Ronaldo said via Sky Sports.
Al-Nassr failed to qualify for the expanded tournament, eliminating Ronaldo’s chances of participating under his current club.
📊 Ronaldo's Club World Cup Legacy Still Stands
Despite not featuring in the 2025 edition, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the all-time leading goal scorer in Club World Cup history, with 7 goals across multiple appearances for Manchester United and Real Madrid.
His legacy in the competition continues to cast a long shadow over its history, even as Lionel Messi and others chase his record in the ongoing tournament.