One of the biggest stars in the world of sports is officially serving as an intermediary to a different type of gaming. Ronaldo has been named the Global Ambassador for Esports World Cup 2025, which should help draw in a broader audience of sports fans into the esports space. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, celebrated the announcement and released a statement that said in part that “As Global Ambassador, [Ronaldo] bridges traditional sport and competitive gaming, helping spotlight the next generation of athletes competing for global glory. We’re humbled to have the greatest of all time stand with us in this moment for esports.”

Ronaldo, who has been recreated digitally in dozens of video games like the popular EA Sports FIFA series (as well as the fighting game FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves), will serve as one of the public faces of Esports going into the 2025 World Cup. The annual event will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The global competition will pit 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries against one another in 25 tournaments across 24 games. Culturally, there is over $70 million at stake in the tournament, which highlights the sheer scale of Esports on the global stage.

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In a statement, Ronaldo shared that “Sport is always evolving, and Esports is one more frontier… The commitment, drive, talent, and intensity I have been able to see in esports athletes is no different from what I’ve experienced on the pitch. I’m proud to stand alongside these competitors and be part of a global event that’s inspiring a new generation.”

Some of the titles with tournaments at the World Cup include popular titles like League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Overwatch 2, as well as some enduring gaming classics like Counter-Strike 2, Starcraft II, and Chess. EA Sports FC 25 will also be one of the games featured in a tournament, with the digital Ronaldo likely to see some action in the tournament.

Esports World Cup 2025 begins July 8, 2025 and will run through August 24. Tickets are now available.