Christiano Ronaldo decision made football lovers furious as he gave hints about his future.
Some things make sense to talk about, others don’t, you can’t be part of everything. You have to think short, medium, and long term. Christiano Ronaldo said.
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he’s unlikely to feature in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, dimming hopes of fans — and FIFA President Gianni Infantino — who were eager to see one of football’s greatest stars light up the tournament. Speaking on Saturday, the Portuguese legend shared that he had received “quite a few” offers from teams set to compete in the event kicking off June 14 but ultimately chose not to take any of them.
Cristiano Ronaldo has all but ruled out an appearance at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, saying it’s a decision he’s “practically” made — despite receiving “quite a few” offers from clubs competing in the tournament.
The Portuguese icon made the comments in Munich, just a day before Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final clash with Spain. He had just added to his legendary tally with his 137th international goal in a 2-1 semifinal win over Germany.
When asked about the Club World Cup, Ronaldo was clear: “This is irrelevant right now. It makes no sense to talk about anything other than the national team.”
Christiano Ronaldo vs Lamine Yamal: Euro 2025
Since making his electrifying debut in 2023, Lamine Yamal has been hailed as one of football’s brightest young talents — with many drawings’ early comparisons to Lionel Messi. But as Spain prepares to face Portugal in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League final (3 p.m. ET on FOX), the spotlight turns to a fascinating generational showdown: Yamal versus Messi’s legendary counterpart and long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
At just 17, Yamal is already making waves on the international stage, showcasing maturity and technical brilliance beyond his years. On the other side stands Ronaldo, now 40, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner whose legacy in the game is etched in gold. Despite the 23-year age gap, the two find themselves as key figures in the same final — Yamal, the rising prodigy, Ronaldo, the ageless icon.
Here’s a closer look at how these two stars — one just beginning his journey, the other potentially nearing its end — stack up ahead of the UEFA Nations League final.
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of historic. At Euro 2024, the teenage sensation shattered multiple records and firmly announced himself on the global stage. At just 16 years and 338 days old, Yamal became the youngest player ever to appear in a European Championship match — and just 24 days later, he became the youngest goal scorer in tournament history at 16 years and 362 days. Yamal wrapped up the tournament with one goal and four assists, including a crucial assist in the final. He also became the youngest player to register an assist in a major international tournament (17 years and 1 day old), and his four assists tied him for the most in a single Euros campaign. Unsurprisingly, he was named the Young Player of the Tournament. He didn’t stop there. Riding the momentum from his Euro heroics, Yamal went on to deliver a breakout club season with FC Barcelona. Across all competitions, he racked up 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 appearances — numbers that put him firmly among Europe’s elite. To put that in perspective: at the same age, Cristiano Ronaldo had five goals and six assists in 31 games. Ronaldo wouldn’t hit the 15-goal mark in a single season until he turned 21. While it’s far too early for definitive comparisons, Yamal’s trajectory at 17 suggests the football world may be witnessing the rise of its next true superstar.
Lamine Yamal’s rise isn’t just about records — it’s already translating into silverware. The 17-year-old played a key role in Barcelona’s 2024–25 LaLiga title-winning campaign, finishing as the league’s assist leader with 13. With that triumph, Yamal now boasts *four trophies at the club level* with Barça. On the international stage, he’s already lifted one major trophy with Spain. And if La Roja defeats Portugal in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League final, Yamal will match Cristiano Ronaldo’s international trophy haul — *at just 17 years old*. Ronaldo, now 40, has two major international titles to his name: *Euro 2016* and the *2019 Nations League*. The fact that Yamal could equal that tally before his 18th birthday speaks volumes about both his precocious talent and the early success he’s enjoyed. While comparisons between the two span vastly different stages of their careers, Yamal’s trajectory is setting the stage for something truly special.
Christiano Ronaldo
As dazzling as Lamine Yamal’s early career has been, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary achievements will be a monumental challenge — and a long-term journey.
Ronaldo continues to set the bar impossibly high. With his goal against Germany in the UEFA Nations League semifinal, the Portuguese icon extended his record as the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football, reaching an astonishing 137 goals. He broke the previous record at age 36 by scoring twice against Ireland in a 2021 European qualifier, surpassing Iran’s Ali Daei, who held the mark at 109 goals.
Beyond his goal tally, Ronaldo has built a résumé unmatched in the men’s game. In 2022, he became the first male player to score in five different World Cups — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 — a feat only matched by legends in the women’s game like Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
For all of Yamal’s promise and early success, Ronaldo’s international legacy is the product of two decades of consistency, evolution, and relentless ambition. If Yamal is to one day reach those heights, the road ahead is long — but the foundation he’s building is undeniably special.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s international résumé is already legendary, but it’s his staggering longevity and club dominance that truly set him apart. With *220 international caps*, Ronaldo holds the all-time record for most men’s international appearances — a mark that puts him 28 games clear of his longtime rival Lionel Messi, the next active player on the list. The only other player who came close, *Bader Al-Mutawa* of Kuwait, retired in 2022, cementing Ronaldo’s place at the top. While some critics point to a relatively modest international trophy haul compared to his all-around dominance, it’s worth noting that Ronaldo still delivered two major titles for Portugal: *Euro 2016* and the *2019 UEFA Nations League* — the two biggest prizes in European international football. But where Ronaldo truly towers above is in his *club career*. Across stints in England, Spain, Italy, and now Saudi Arabia, he’s collected *31 major trophies*. That haul includes *five UEFA Champions League titles*, tying him for the second-most all time. His influence on the competition is unmatched: he’s the *all-time top scorer* in the Champions League with *141 goals*, including a record *67 in the knockout stages* and *three in finals*. Individually, Ronaldo’s dominance has been recognized with *five Ballon d’Or awards*, second only to Messi’s eight. From goal-scoring records to international appearances and continental success, Ronaldo’s career remains one of the most decorated and influential in the history of football.
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