FIFA president Gianni Infantino made a bizarre appearance on IShowSpeed’s YouTube channel this week to unveil the Club World Cup trophy.
IShowSpeed – whose real name is Darren Watkins – was live streaming to his near-40 million subscribers when Infantino suddenly emerged in the background holding the first official match ball that will be used at this summer’s tournament.
As well as gifting him the ball under the agreement he brings it to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for the opening game of the competition on June 14, the soccer chief also left Watkins stunned when he brought out the glamorous Club World Cup trophy.
He also demonstrated how the centerpiece of the unique gold shield can be rotated using a ‘magic key’ in order for it to ‘shine to the world.’
‘Whoever designed that might be in Greek mythology or something,’ Watkins joked.
During their conversation on the stream, Infantino went on to claim to the YouTube star that his favorite soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo, might make a shock appearance at the Club World Cup this summer despite his club in Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr, not qualifying.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino made a bizarre appearance on IShowSpeed’s YouTube channel
Infantino unveiled the unique trophy for this summer’s Club World Cup during a live stream
‘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 confirmed Wednesday that last-minute transfer signings are open to all teams going to tournament, which fueled more speculation that one of them will try to sign the 40-year-old Ronaldo on a short-term deal, potentially a loan.
Such a move would be unprecedented in modern soccer though could appeal to FIFA by boosting the profile and ticket sales of an inaugural tournament being played in 11 U.S. cities.
A transfer for Ronaldo also would reunite him and Lionel Messi in the same competition for the first time since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Last October, FIFA invited Messi’s Inter Miami to enter the tournament in the slot that was expected to be reserved for the host nation’s champion. Inter Miami was eliminated in the MLS Cup playoffs.
