Cristiano Ronaldo becomes Esports WC 2025 global ambassador

Arguably football’s greatest of all time Cristiano Ronaldo has been announced as the Global Ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2025, marking a significant crossover between traditional sports and the rapidly growing esports industry. The announcement was made earlier today via Ronaldo’s official X account, accompanied by a striking promotional image featuring the five-time Ballon d’Or winner holding a trophy with the Esports World Cup (EWC) logo.

The Esports World Cup, hosted by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and ESL FACEIT Group, is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks the second edition of the tournament, which was rebranded from Gamers8 in late 2023. The 2025 event will feature 25 competitive titles, including popular games like League of Legends and Chess, with a total prize pool exceeding $70.45 million USD, including $27 million allocated to the EWC Club Championship.

Ronaldo, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in 2022, expressed his enthusiasm in the announcement, stating, “I’m proud to join the Esports World Cup as Global Ambassador – standing with esports athletes who rise above and inspire the next generation.” His appointment aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, which includes a projected $13.3 billion gaming and esports market by 2030, according to Savvy Games. The kingdom, with 23.5 million gamers (67% of its population), is positioning itself as a global hub for esports excellence, further highlighted by its upcoming hosting of the Olympic Esports Games in 2025.

The partnership leverages Ronaldo’s massive global following, with over 500 million social media followers, to elevate the tournament’s international profile. The EWC is expected to attract over 318 million enthusiasts worldwide by 2025, a significant increase from 215.2 million in 2020, according to Statista. This move also challenges the traditional divide between physical and digital sports, with Ronaldo’s endorsement potentially inspiring a new generation of athletes across both domains.

The announcement has sparked varied reactions on X, with fans celebrating Ronaldo’s influence and others debating his shift from football to esports advocacy. The tournament’s qualification phase is already underway, with applications for the Club Support Program accepted from December 10, 2024, to January 10, 2025. Further details on Ronaldo’s ambassadorial role and the event schedule are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

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