Riyadh, June 13, 2025 – The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially announced Cristiano Ronaldo as the Global Ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC).

Yes, you read that right — the Cristiano Ronaldo is now part of esports.

Known for dominating football with five Ballon d’Or titles and countless goals, Ronaldo is now lending his global presence to the world of competitive gaming. As ambassador, he'll lead the EWC 2025 campaign and help shine a global spotlight on esports players and fans.

EWC 2025, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will run for seven weeks and feature 25 tournaments across 24 games, including Dota 2. Over 2,000 players from 200 clubs will battle it out for a $70+ million prize pool, the biggest in esports history.

Ronaldo’s connection to the EWC isn’t new — he helped announce the event back in 2023 and appeared at the 2024 Closing Ceremony. This year, he’ll even be a playable character in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves.

Ronaldo shared his thoughts on esports:

“The commitment, drive, talent, and intensity I’ve seen in esports athletes is no different from what I’ve experienced on the pitch.”

His involvement highlights this year’s EWC theme: “Rise Above”, celebrating passion, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness — something we Dota players know all too well.

If you're hyped for the event or want to check it out, tickets and more info are at esportsworldcup.com.

So yeah… Cristiano Ronaldo, esports, $70M prize pool — 2025 is wild.