Cristiano Ronaldo rules himself out of Club World Cup

MUNICH – Al-Nassr and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo said on June 7 he did not plan to play at the Club World Cup in the United States, despite being courted by clubs participating in the expanded 32-team tournament.

Speculation over the 40-year-old’s future intensified in May when Fifa president Gianni Infantino said discussions were under way about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify.

Al-Nassr’s sporting director Fernando Hierro said in May they were negotiating with Ronaldo over a contract extension but faced competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Ronaldo himself added to the uncertainty after Al-Nassr’s season-ending match at Al-Fateh, posting on social media: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.”

Asked about the possibility of signing for another club in the coming days in order to play at the Club World Cup starting on June 14, he told reporters: “It’s irrelevant, at the moment it doesn’t make sense to talk about things other than the national team.

“There has been plenty of contact (from clubs). I see things that make sense, others that don’t. You can’t go to all of them (clubs), you have to think short, medium and long term. It’s something that’s practically decided on my part, which is not to go to the Club World Cup, but I’ve had plenty of invitations.”

The veteran also gave his take on the Ballon d’Or, saying the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League.

Ronaldo’s five wins is bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times. The duo had a monopoly on the accolade for a decade from Ronaldo’s first win in 2008 to his last in 2017.

The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

“In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d’Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,” said Ronaldo, who added “I cannot tell you who deserves it” this season.

First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season. Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31 led to growing calls for forward Ousmane Dembele to win this season’s gong.

Teenage Spanish star Lamine Yamal’s superb display in June 5’s 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France, however, had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d’Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history.

France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying “considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that’s all I wish for him”.

At a press conference in Stuttgart, Germany on June 7, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele.

“Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we’re talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I’m voting for Dembele,” he said.

He also added that he was happy to see his former team PSG win the Champions League for the first time this season, despite having left the club a year ago in acrimonious circumstances to join Real Madrid.

Mbappe left PSG on a free transfer as the team’s all-time top scorer, but the 26-year-old took his former club to court over €55 million (S$80.8 million) in unpaid wages.

“I was happy, they deserved it. They’ve been through so many problems, I’ve been through that too. I’ve been through every stage of the Champions League except winning it,” he said.

“They were the best team in Europe. I can’t remember ever seeing them go 5-0 up. It’s 100 per cent deserved, they’re becoming the team everyone wants to beat.” REUTERS, AFP