A former teammate of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has brought his longtime colleague up for discussion in the Icon League. He explained on Twitch why the Portuguese might be particularly interested in one thing about the new small-sided football league.
Which former teammate is it about? On Monday, May 12, 2025, former world-class winger Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, known to most football fans as Nani, was a guest in the Icon League hosted by streamer EliasN97.
Nani not only impressed with strong actions on the pitch but also created quite an atmosphere off the field. He particularly delighted EliasN97 with an announcement during an interview.
Why could Cristiano Ronaldo soon play in the Icon League? When asked which former teammate Nani would like to see in the Icon League, the Portuguese replied:
I think Cristiano (Ronaldo) would like to play in the Icon League. He is a great player in the 5-a-side format because he is so skillful. (Nani via Twitch)
Afterward, Nani even confirmed to EliasN97 that Cristiano Ronaldo would definitely come if he asked his buddy. The only condition would have to be that referees must penalize the kicks in the Icon League, meaning small fouls, even more, as there is still too much kicking going on.
Keyword kicks: Football star Ronaldo shows you as a fighter in a new fighting game how he himself delivers kicks.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo really coming to the Icon League?
3 arguments in favor of Cristiano Ronaldo making an appearance:
- Toni Kroos, as co-founder of the Icon League, could persuade Ronaldo to make an appearance.
Toni Kroos and Ronaldo also share a long history in football. Both shaped the most successful period at Real Madrid in recent decades. It is quite possible that Kroos is working behind the scenes for a guest appearance by Ronaldo.
- Cristiano is already the most well-known footballer worldwide (most followers on X and Instagram) but is always looking for new opportunities to generate more reach.
A commitment in the Icon League could further benefit the marketing of the Portuguese, as EliasN97 belongs to the most successful content creators and ranks 8th in the most-watched streamers in the last 12 months according to Sullygnome.
- With the participation of former world-class players like Franck Ribéry or Nani, the prestige of the Icon League grows. This makes the participation of other stars more likely.
The former world-class players still enjoy proving their skills. They receive much appreciation from fans and teammates, which they visibly enjoy.
This could argue against an appearance by Cristiano Ronaldo:
- The Portuguese is still a paid professional footballer and has to adhere to the requirements of his employer.
Due to the higher risk of injury on artificial turf, his club Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) might be critical of an appearance in the Icon League or even prohibit it.
An engagement of the football star would likely elevate the prestige of the Icon League to a new level. Whether EliasN97 and his football league can pull off this coup remains to be seen. The extent of the cult of personality surrounding the Portuguese became clear when he went live with his own YouTube account in August 2024: “SIUUUbscribe” – Cristiano Ronaldo is now on YouTube and immediately breaks a world record in 24 hours
