Ronaldo Named Global Ambassador for $70M Esports World Cup 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as a global ambassador for the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 7 July to 24 August. The high-profile appointment underscores the growing convergence between elite traditional athletes and the rapidly expanding world of competitive gaming.

The tournament will feature more than 2,500 players from over 100 countries, representing more than 200 esports organisations, all vying for a share of the record-breaking $70 million prize pool. This makes the EWC 2025 the largest esports event in history in terms of prize money and global participation. Players will compete across 25 game titles, ranging from FIFA and Fortnite to League of Legends, Valorant, Dota 2 and newly added categories, including chess.

Ronaldo’s involvement is expected to serve as a bridge between traditional sports audiences and the younger, digitally native fan bases that dominate the esports ecosystem. As ambassador, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will appear in official campaign material, lead global promotional efforts and even be featured as a playable avatar in select gaming titles, including the upcoming “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.”

For Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo’s appointment forms part of a broader strategy to position the Kingdom as a global hub for sports, entertainment and digital innovation under Vision 2030. The Esports World Cup, supported by the Esports World Cup Foundation and funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is the successor to the highly successful Gamers8 festival and represents the most ambitious esports venture Saudi Arabia has undertaken to date.

The event’s expanded format includes the EWC Club Championship, which will award a separate prize to the most successful multi-game organisation. This format is designed to elevate the competitive stakes and encourage clubs to build well-rounded rosters across various gaming genres. Alongside the competition, the tournament will also feature live performances, fan zones, creator meetups and industry forums, creating a festival-like atmosphere that caters to gamers and non-gamers alike.

The decision to appoint Ronaldo also signals the organisers' intent to appeal to global mainstream audiences, extending esports’ cultural relevance far beyond its traditional base. His massive global following, spanning social media, football fans and lifestyle audiences, offers an unrivalled platform for exposure, sponsor acquisition and international credibility.