FIFA once again stirred up football fans around the world when it emerged that, despite being able to punish Cristiano Ronaldo, the World Football Federation still expected the Portuguese superstar to participate in the 2026 World Cup. This decision immediately sparked a wave of fierce controversy, causing not only fans but also many famous players to speak up.
It is worth mentioning that FIFA’s alleged “soft hand” on Ronaldo is creating a sense of bias in the eyes of public opinion. People are asking: Is this because of CR7’s huge commercial appeal, or is FIFA simply prioritizing economic benefits over fairness on the field? This information has further stirred up the online community when many opinions say that a “normal” player would probably receive a much more severe punishment.
Immediately, Lionel Messi – Ronaldo’s colleague and longtime rival – is said to have publicly expressed his dissatisfaction. On social media, Messi subtly criticized the unfairness of FIFA’s handling of the penalty, emphasizing that all players should be treated fairly, regardless of their name or commercial influence. Several other players in the football world also spoke out, calling this a “special privilege” that few stars receive.
Not only players, but also fans are extremely upset. They feel that FIFA is creating a “two-standard playing field”: one standard for famous players, one standard for the rest. On football forums, the hashtag #FIFAthienviRonaldo quickly became a trend, with thousands of comments criticizing the injustice and calling on the Federation to be transparent in all decisions. Some fans even set up surveys to see what the community thought about FIFA possibly giving Ronaldo concessions, with the overwhelming result that the majority disagreed.
However, FIFA still stands by its decision, emphasizing that Ronaldo’s presence is not only for personal gain but also a “specialty” that attracts global audiences and revenue. This shows how big CR7’s commercial influence is. However, the value of fairness in football – which is a basic principle – is being questioned.
This story does not stop at whether Ronaldo is being lenient or not, but also opens up a debate about how FIFA handles superstars and economic interests compared to the spirit of fairness in football. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, fans will continue to closely monitor every move, and this debate will certainly last throughout the season.
