Recent rumors in Brazilian football sparked speculation: Would Cristiano Ronaldo, the global football icon, wear Palmeiras’ jersey for the 2025 Club World Cup?

The idea of Ronaldo playing at Allianz Parque or on American soil excited fans. However, Leila Pereira, Palmeiras’ president, firmly dismissed these rumors.

Leila Pereira stated in an interview: “Cristiano Ronaldo has never shown interest in coming to Brazil, and Palmeiras has absolutely no interest in signing him.”

This statement completely refuted the transfer rumors. Brazilian journalist Danilo Lavieri, close to Palmeiras, also emphasized that the transfer was practically impossible. He said: “This rumor captivated fans, but there was never any chance of it happening.”

One major obstacle is financial. Ronaldo earns over $1 billion annually at Al Nassr, with a monthly salary of around $13 million—figures unattainable for Brazilian clubs, even financially strong ones like Palmeiras.

Palmeiras projects revenues exceeding $1 billion in 2025 from ticket sales, player transfers (such as Estevão’s $160 million move to Chelsea), and sponsorships. Yet, even this budget cannot cover Ronaldo’s astronomical wages.