Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer widely known as one of the greatest players of all time. FIFA removed their original 2026 World Cup poster after heavy criticism because it excluded Cristiano Ronaldo, the prominent Portuguese football star.
Bruno Fernandes Chosen Over Ronaldo to Represent Portugal
The original poster featured Bruno Fernandes instead of Ronaldo to represent Portugal, which ignited widespread outrage and confusion among fans globally. Ronaldo’s absence was seen as a significant oversight given his stature and potential participation in the World Cup for a record sixth time.
Fans accusing FIFA on social media
The backlash was swift and severe on social media, with many fans accusing FIFA of bias and favoritism toward other players, notably Lionel Messi. Following the criticism, FIFA deleted the original poster from its official social media accounts and subsequently released a revised poster that included Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside iconic moments from the 2022 World Cup, such as Lionel Messi celebrating with the trophy and Youssef En-Nesyri’s decisive header.
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This controversy also spotlighted underlying tensions between FIFA and Ronaldo, who has taken a critical stance on some FIFA decisions in recent years, including controversies around the Ballon d’Or awards and past FIFA social media posts that mocked Ronaldo’s performances. The removal of the poster and its quick revision reflect the significant influence Ronaldo holds in the football world and fans’ demand to see him properly recognized in official FIFA materials for the World Cup.