FIFA President Gianni Infantino made an unexpected cameo on popular YouTuber IShowSpeed’s live stream this week, unveiling the new Club World Cup trophy in a moment that left fans stunned.
IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins, was broadcasting live to his nearly 40 million subscribers when Infantino suddenly appeared in the background, clutching the official match ball for this summer’s tournament.
In a playful exchange, Infantino handed Watkins the match ball with one condition: he must bring it to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium for the tournament’s kickoff on June 14.
But the surprises didn’t end there. The FIFA boss then revealed the dazzling Club World Cup trophy, catching Watkins off guard.
Infantino demonstrated a unique feature of the trophy, using what he called a “magic key” to rotate its golden centerpiece. “Whoever designed that might be in Greek mythology or something,” Watkins quipped, clearly impressed.
The conversation took an even more intriguing turn when Infantino floated the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo featuring in the tournament, despite Al Nassr’s failure to qualify.
“Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” he told Watkins. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows. Still a few weeks time, will be fun.”
FIFA added fuel to the speculation on Wednesday by confirming that last-minute transfers are permitted for participating teams, opening the door for a potential short-term deal.
While unprecedented, a Ronaldo transfer could be a major draw for the tournament, boosting both visibility and ticket sales across the 11 U.S. host cities.
Such a signing would also set the stage for a long-awaited reunion between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the same competition, something fans haven’t seen since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Interestingly, Inter Miami, Messi’s current club, was extended an invitation by FIFA last October to represent the host country. However, their early exit from the MLS Cup playoffs left that slot open.