The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially named Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, as its global ambassador, aiming to enhance the tournament’s global recognition.

The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient expressed his thoughts on this appointment, stating, «The dedication, passion, skill, and intensity I observe in esports athletes reflect my own experiences on the field,» on June 13.

With esports increasingly paralleling traditional sports, Ronaldo has been a part of the tournament’s development and participated in last summer’s EWC 2024 closing event in Riyadh, where he honored Team Falcons’ championship victory.

This year’s EWC features 24 games, including FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, in which Ronaldo can be played as a character, further indicating his connection to the esports world. Other titles included this year are popular games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter Strike 2, among others.

The Esports World Cup will host 2,000 esports athletes and 200 clubs from over 100 countries, competing across various games for a total prize fund of $70 million.