Cristiano Ronaldo rules himself out of Club World Cup

The Portugal captain said suggestions he was set to take part in the newly expanded competition were wide of the mark. (AP)
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Updated 07 June 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo rules himself out of Club World Cup

  • Ronaldo came into Nations League in Germany amid swirling doubts about his future at club level
  • Says not interested in making a short-term decision which would allow him to play in the competition

MUNICH, Germany: Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he would not play in the upcoming Club World Cup on Saturday, dismissing rumors he was set to transfer to one of the participating clubs.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Nations League final against Spain in Munich, The Portugal captain said suggestions he was set to take part in the newly expanded competition were wide of the mark.

“I will not be at the Club World Cup,” the Portugal veteran said, but added he had “been contacted” by several participating teams.

Ronaldo came into Nations League in Germany amid swirling doubts about his future at club level, with the veteran’s contract at Saudi side Al-Nassr set to expire at the end of June.

In May, the Portuguese posted on social media “the chapter is over” as reports emerged he could switch to another club, potentially Saudi side Al-Hilal, one of the teams who will be at the tournament in the United States in June.

Ronaldo said he was not interested in making a short-term decision which would allow him to play in the competition.

“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.”

The forward said the decision on his future was “almost final.”


Al-Attiyah claims victory at 2026 Hail Baja international rally

Updated 6 min 7 sec ago
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Al-Attiyah claims victory at 2026 Hail Baja international rally

HAIL: The Hail Baja Toyota International Rally 2026 ended on Saturday with Nasser Al-Attiyah claiming overall victory, completing the event in a total time of 4 hours, 6 minutes, 23 seconds. Yazeed Al-Rajhi finished second with 4:07:05, while Dania Akeel secured third place with 4:20:47.

The event was organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Sport, the Hail Region Emirate and the Hail Region Development Authority, with Jameel Motorsport as official partner alongside the Saudi Motorsport Marshals Club.

The winners were crowned by Mansour Al-Mokbel, CEO of Saudi Motorsport Company, in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, chairman of the Hail Region Development Authority board.

The ceremony followed the second and final stage of the rally, which was hosted in Baqaa and covered a total distance of 323 km, including 151 km of the timed special stage.

The event brought together 152 drivers and navigators from 26 nationalities, including 72 Saudis, with 93 vehicles competing across six categories.

Overall classification — Hail Baja Toyota International Rally 2026

FIA Ultimate Category

Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar)

Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Saudi Arabia)

Dania Akeel (Saudi Arabia)

FIA Challenger Category

Yasir Bin Saiedan (Saudi Arabia)

Hamad Al-Wuhaibi (Oman)

Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (Qatar)

FIA SSV Category

Fernando Alvarez (Argentina)

Mansour Al-Helai (UAE)

Erik van Loon (Netherlands)

FIA Stock Category

Majed Al-Thunayan (Saudi Arabia)

Abdullah Al-Shegawi (Saudi Arabia)

Al-Mashna Al-Shammari (Saudi Arabia)

FIM Motorcycles Category

Alex McInnes (Great Britain)

Mohammed Al-Balooshi (UAE)

Sultan Al-Balooshi (UAE)

FIM Quad Bikes Category

Hani Al-Noumesi (Saudi Arabia)

Abdulaziz Al-Atwi (Saudi Arabia)

Ahmed Al-Jaber (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Toyota Baja Championship

Ultimate Cars Category

Faris Al-Shammari (Saudi Arabia)

Motab Al-Qnon (Saudi Arabia)

Khalaf Al-Shammari (Saudi Arabia)

SSV Category

Prince Sultan bin Turki bin Sultan (Saudi Arabia)

Mashael Al-Huwaish (Saudi Arabia)

Abdulmoeen Al-Shawaf (Saudi Arabia)

Stock Category

Mohammed Al-Asiri (Saudi Arabia)

Salem Al-Quraini (Saudi Arabia)

Hatem Al-Shammari (Saudi Arabia)

The Hail Baja international rally is considered one of the region’s premier motorsport events. It has been a key fixture on the desert rally calendar for more than two decades, offering high standards and an exciting sporting experience for both competitors and spectators. The rally also holds an important position on the calendars of several regional and international championships, reinforcing its status as one of the standout cross-country rallies in the region and reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation as a global motorsport destination.