Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the Club World Cup is telling not because of injury or retirement, but because of deeper rivalries and the intricate power dynamics still at play in Saudi football. On Wednesday, when Al Hilal face Real Madrid at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the Portuguese superstar will be watching from afar, despite Saudi Arabia’s financial might and even FIFA’s open willingness to include him in the tournament.
There was a bold, almost audacious plan in the works: sign Ronaldo to a short-term deal specifically for the Club World Cup. With his contract at Al-Nassr nearing its end and a specially crafted FIFA transfer window, the logistics weren’t a problem. Even FIFA president Gianni Infantino hinted at the possibility, openly inviting clubs to bring Ronaldo on board for the global event.
Naturally, attention turned to Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s most decorated football club and the nation’s sole representative at the newly expanded tournament. But the plan hit a wall that no amount of money could bulldoze fierce domestic rivalry. Al Hilal and Al-Nassr, despite being state-funded through Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, remain traditional adversaries. For Al Hilal, signing the biggest icon of their archrival, even for a few weeks, was a line they refused to cross.
This decision reveals something significant: that despite Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented investment in football, some principles remain rooted in sporting integrity and club identity. The idea of Ronaldo wearing Al Hilal’s colors was simply too counterintuitive for the club’s leadership and fans alike.
Interestingly, Saudi Arabia’s ambitions on the global stage remain as aggressive as ever. With its successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup, ownership of Premier League side Newcastle United, and enormous investments in other sports, the country has placed itself firmly at the center of the global sports map. The Club World Cup is just another platform to project that ambition, complete with a billion-dollar partnership and prize pool.
And yet, Al Hilal entered the tournament without a fresh marquee signing. Neymar had been released due to injury earlier in the year, and high-profile pursuits of Bruno Fernandes, Victor Osimhen, and Darwin Nunez all failed. Instead, the club’s major acquisition came in the form of coach Simone Inzaghi, who swapped Inter Milan for a new challenge in Saudi football.
Ronaldo may not be on the pitch, but his influence endures. His 2022 arrival in the Saudi Pro League marked a turning point in the country’s football narrative. His absence now underlines that while money opens doors, rivalries still dictate which ones remain shut.
