It will be a spectacle of world-class players, jaw-dropping goals, and record-breaking prize money. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to explode onto the American stage with 32 elite teams and a dazzling pool of talent from clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Inter Miami, and Chelsea. But behind the glamour, there’s an unmistakable shadow: a group of high-profile stars who, for varying reasons, won’t be there when the curtain rises.
They are global icons, some aging legends and others still in their prime, each carrying with them the aura of unforgettable goals, spine-tingling moments, and broken records. But due to qualification quirks, injuries, or personal decisions, these names are missing from a tournament that could have served as one last stage for some, or a star-making moment for others.
One name was always expected to headline any FIFA tournament: Cristiano Ronaldo. Now 40 and still defying age, the Portuguese forward recently lifted the UEFA Nations League with Portugal, scoring the winning goal in the final. Yet Al-Nassr’s failure to qualify ruled him out of contention for the Club World Cup. Despite FIFA president Gianni Infantino reportedly exploring ways to shoehorn him into the tournament, even suggesting potential transfers to a qualified side, Ronaldo stayed put in Saudi Arabia.
“It wasn’t to be,” Diario AS noted, after Ronaldo dismissed suggestions of a summer move. He scored the 938th goal of his career, but fans hoping for a final Messi vs Ronaldo showdown were left with dreams unfulfilled.
And speaking of iconic trios, Neymar Jr, the third piece of the legendary “MSN” Barcelona frontline, will also be absent. Having returned to Santos in January to focus on recovery after years of injury struggles in Saudi Arabia, the 33-year-old prioritized fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Though rumors linked him to Inter Miami, potentially reuniting with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, nothing materialized.
Next generation left waiting
While veterans sit this one out, rising stars like Lamine Yamal will also miss a golden opportunity. The 17-year-old Barcelona phenom, often compared to Lionel Messi, has lit up the soccer world with his “thrilling dribbling and penchant for the spectacular.” But after clocking over 4,000 minutes in 62 appearances this season, the Spaniard gets the summer off – a small blessing considering the burnout that derailed the early careers of Ansu Fati and Pedri.
Barcelona’s absence also rules out Raphinha, who, after scoring 34 goals and assisting 25 last season, has made a compelling case for Ballon d’Or contention. He, like Yamal and Pedri, will now watch from the sidelines.
Salah and Liverpool miss the cut
Liverpool, fresh off winning the Premier League, surprisingly didn’t make the cut for the Club World Cup due to UEFA’s two-team-per-nation rule and the 2021-2024 qualification cycle, where Manchester City outpaced them on points.
This means Mohamed Salah, the Premier League’s goal involvement leader with 29 goals and 18 assists, will not be lighting up stadiums across the U.S. The Egyptian winger, who helped lead Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019, has instead taken to “sunbathing by the beach,” posting a relaxed photo on Instagram. While fans will miss the spectacle of Salah’s sharp footwork, the man himself may welcome the break after fading in the final stretch of the season.
Alongside him, Virgil van Dijk, now back to peak form under Arne Slot, and Anfield’s latest recruit, Florian Wirtz, on the verge of a record-breaking transfer to Liverpool, will also enjoy a summer
Add in other notable absentees like Alexander Isak, Bukayo Saka, and Kevin De Bruyne, and the 2025 edition carries the bittersweet weight of what could have been.
