The reason behind Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from FIFA Club World Cup

In late May, Infantino publicly expressed his desire to see Ronaldo participate in the expanded tournament.

"There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows," he said half-jokingly during an interview with American streamer and YouTuber iShowSpeed.

While unusual for a FIFA president, Infantino's comment made sense when the tournament expanded to 32 teams. With Ronaldo's contract at Al Nassr set to expire, FIFA had hoped he could sign a short-term deal to participate in the event, potentially boosting viewership and global attention, according to AP.

Rumors quickly surfaced about a possible move to Al Hilal, the only Saudi club qualified for the tournament. Adding Ronaldo would have made sense from both a sporting and marketing perspective.

However, Al Hilal and Al Nassr are fierce rivals, both based in Riyadh and majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). A transfer between the two, even temporary, was deemed highly controversial.

"As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognize he is, it's certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you," Al Hilal chief executive Esteve Calzada told BBC. "Even more when it's only for three to four weeks."

In addition, Al Hilal's newly appointed coach Simone Inzaghi was reportedly opposed to the idea. Sources suggested the Italian manager was concerned that Ronaldo's presence could disrupt the team's tactical balance and dressing room atmosphere.

FIFA was also said to have explored other options, including potential short-term deals with MLS clubs like Inter Miami or Los Angeles FC. However, signing a high-profile 40-year-old player like Ronaldo on a short-term contract proved complicated due to salary demands, squad dynamics and limited preparation time, talkSPORT reported.

"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, you can't catch every ball," Ronaldo said at a press conference on June 8, before the UEFA Nations League final.

According to FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch (FERW), with Lionel Messi set to headline the opening match for Inter Miami, Ronaldo's absence speaks volumes.

"The prospect of the two greatest players of their era facing off on American soil would have been a marketer's dream," FERW wrote. "Instead, FIFA must settle for a tournament that, while historic in scale, lacks the singular star power that only Ronaldo can provide."