Football's world governing body FIFA has been forced into an embarrassing U-turn after facing massive backlash for excluding Cristiano Ronaldo from initial promotional material for the 2026 World Cup.
The Poster That Caused Outrage
FIFA sparked widespread criticism when it released its first promotional poster ahead of the 2026 World Cup group stage draw, notably missing Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo. The design featured players from all 42 qualified nations, including modern greats like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
However, when it came to representing Portugal, the poster showed Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes rather than the legendary Ronaldo. The absence of the 40-year-old forward, who is one of the most recognisable athletes globally, immediately drew confusion and anger from football fans worldwide.
Swift Social Media Reaction Forces Change
The backlash was so intense that FIFA quickly deleted the original social media post and replaced it with a new version featuring Ronaldo. The revised poster also included some curious additions - Morocco star Youssef En Nesyri's header that eliminated Portugal from the 2022 World Cup and Messi holding the trophy.
Fans didn't hold back their opinions on social media platforms. One user commented: "FIFA leaving Cristiano Ronaldo off the official World Cup poster is hard to understand. From a marketing point of view, he's the most influential athlete on the planet."
Another suspicious supporter suggested: "The editor forgot Ronaldo? Yeah, that's a Messi fan at work, 100%." The general consensus was summed up by one fan who stated: "Ronaldo doesn't need posters. Posters need Ronaldo."
Ronaldo's Historic World Cup Credentials
The decision to initially exclude Ronaldo seemed particularly baffling given his extraordinary World Cup record. The Al Nassr forward is just one goal away from becoming the competition's joint-top goalscorer and has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring in every World Cup since 2006.
This tournament in the United States is expected to be Ronaldo's World Cup swansong. Speaking about his career timeline recently, the Portuguese captain revealed: "When I mean soon, it's: I'm going back in the days and tell you - I'm really enjoying the moment right now."
He added: "As I tell you before I feel very good in this moment, I score goals I still feel quick and sharp, I'm enjoying my game in the national team and Al Nassr, but of course, let's be honest when I mean soon it's probably one, two years [where] I'll still be at the game."
The controversy comes shortly after Ronaldo attended the White House alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino as part of a Saudi Arabian delegation. The Portugal star has also publicly endorsed Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup, describing the country's infrastructure as "amazing."
The World Cup group stage draw is scheduled for December 5, where the 42 qualified teams will learn their fate for the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
