'Monster' Cristiano Ronaldo 'won't want to miss out' on Club World Cup while eternal rival Lionel Messi stars for Inter Miami as Chelsea & Man City linked with 'marketing coup'

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is due to grace FIFA’s expanded global gathering in the United States with MLS side Inter Miami. As things stand, eternal rival Ronaldo is set to be left watching on from afar.

He is still tied to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, who have not qualified. Ronaldo’s record-breaking contract in the Middle East is, however, running down and he could walk away as a free agent.

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Various landing spots have been speculated on for the Portuguese GOAT, with teams across Europe and South America - including Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City - reportedly mulling over moves to secure his signature, potentially on a short-term contract that covers the 2025 Club World Cup.

Gallas, who once lined up against Ronaldo in English football, believes CR7 will be desperate to grace another major tournament. The former Arsenal and Chelsea defender has told Prime Casino: “FIFA want the Club World Cup to become a big thing, obviously, to become the next great tournament. So it needs plenty of marketing, and the right type of marketing. Don’t forget the fans, too, they’ll want the biggest and best names in America.

“So to get Ronaldo over there this summer, even on a short-term move to another club, it would be a marketing coup. Of course, on the pitch, Ronaldo is still a monster, and perhaps he won’t want to miss out if Lionel Messi is there with Inter Miami.

“The fans will want to see them, it would be huge to see them both in that competition, but I’m not convinced they will be able to make it happen.”

There has been talk of Messi potentially joining Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, with the Argentine icon yet to trigger an extension option in his contract at Inter Miami. He will, however, be helping to open the Club World Cup when his current employers face Al Ahly on June 14.