What is Cristiano Ronaldo doing in Paris?

"The Bug" made the news again today, although this time far from a football pitch. The Al Nassr forward traveled to Paris this Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup 2026.

The organization confirmed the Portuguese footballer's continued participation for this edition alongside chess player Magnus Carlsen, strengthening the connection between traditional sports, video games, and entertainment.

A figure linked to the tournament

The Al-Nassr star was present at the event as one of the tournament's global ambassadors, a figure that brings even more prominence to a competition that has continued to grow in recent years.

His presence gives a tournament that in recent years has sought to expand its reach beyond the usual video game community enormous international exposure.

What is the Esports World Cup?

The organization defines the Esports World Cup as the largest multi-game esports competition in the world. In the current edition, over seven weeks it brings together the best players and international organizations to compete in tournaments across dozens of different titles. Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation , it distributes more than 70 million dollars in prize money among the various competitions, qualifying tournaments, the MVP awards and the Club Championship.

Its origins date back to Gamers Without Borders, a series of charity tournaments promoted by the Saudi Esports Federation to raise funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a global ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2026 , and his presence aims to connect traditional sports with competitive gaming and attract massive audiences worldwide. With more than one billion followers across his social media, he becomes a person with unprecedented visibility.

All Gamers takes the title

The Chinese team All Gamers was crowned winner of the third edition of the Esports World Cup, a gigantic video game tournament that concluded on Sunday in Paris after seven weeks of competition.

All Gamers thus dethroned Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons , two-time champions, while France’s Vitality completed the podium, just like last year.

The final victory was decided in the racing game Trackmania , from which the Frenchman Gwendal Duparc emerged victorious, earning the title for his club, which also pockets seven million dollars.

With the closing ceremony in Paris , the 2026 edition brought seven weeks of competition to an end. And among the figures who helped turn the event into a phenomenon that transcends video games was Cristiano Ronaldo, whose presence once again demonstrated the reach esports seek to have beyond their traditional audience.