Magnus Carlsen Challenges Cristiano Ronaldo to a Chess Match in Saudi Arabia

Magnus Carlsen seriously challenges football legend Cristiano Ronaldo to a chess match while in Riyadh for the 2025 Esports World Cup.

Chess meets football royalty. Or at least, Carlsen hopes it will.

World chess number one Magnus Carlsen is heading to Riyadh for the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), and he’s not just packing his chess board. The five-time world champion has thrown down a surprising and playful challenge: a chess match against football (soccer) megastar Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I don’t know what Ronaldo has done on the chessboard,” Carlsen admitted in an interview with the EWC YouTube acccount, “but his life and football career are extremely impressive. It would definitely be an honor to meet and play a game with him during my stay here.”

A $250,000 Quest, and a Dream Opponent

Carlsen will be in Saudi Arabia from July 29 to August 1, where chess will make its debut at the EWC with a whopping $1.5 million prize pool. The winner will walk away with $250,000 – the largest single-event payday in chess outside the world championship.

But even with that on the line, Carlsen seems equally excited about the possibility of facing Ronaldo, the Al Nassr superstar and five-time Ballon d’Or winner, even if it’s just over a friendly game of 64 squares.

Unfortunately, the chess vs. football showdown will likely remain a fantasy, at least for now. While Carlsen battles it out in Riyadh, Ronaldo and Al Nassr are away in Austria for pre-season training, with a stop in Portugal before returning to Saudi Arabia after the EWC wraps up.

A Shared Photo, But Not a Shared Room

Although they may not cross paths this time, Ronaldo and chess have technically already met. In 2022, the Portuguese icon appeared alongside Lionel Messi in a viral Louis Vuitton campaign where the two are pictured playing chess. The photo, which racked up nearly 42 million likes on Instagram, wasn’t just a publicity stunt – the chess position in the image was lifted directly from a real game between Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, played in the 2017 Norway Chess Super Tournament.

And no, Messi and Ronaldo weren’t in the same room. It was a clever composite, fashion meets fantasy, but it remains one of the most-liked photos in Instagram history, proving the power of chess, star power, and well-timed marketing.

Carlsen the Football Fan

Carlsen’s love for football is no secret. A die-hard Real Madrid fan, he’s met Ronaldo multiple times during the striker’s tenure in Spain. In fact, back in 2014, Ronaldo presented the chess king with a Real Madrid jersey (number 1, of course) during a visit to the club’s training grounds.

Carlsen has also spoken about the growing popularity of chess among footballers. Stars like Mohamed Salah, Martin Ødegaard, Harry Kane, Christian Pulisic, and N’Golo Kanté have all been spotted playing or praising chess. But as far as we know, neither Ronaldo nor Messi has ever made a move on the board, at least not publicly.

Who is Magnus Carlsen, and why does he matter?

Magnus Carlsen, 34, is often called the Messi of chess. Born in Norway, he became a grandmaster at just 13 and went on to dominate the sport like no one else in modern times. He held the world champion title for a full decade (2013–2023) and is known not just for his brilliance on the board, but also for bringing a new swagger to chess. With a rockstar-like presence, massive online following, and a love for both trash talk and fashion collabs, Carlsen has helped transform chess from a quiet game into a global spectator sport.

Who is Cristiano Ronaldo, and why is this chess challenge such a big deal?

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, is one of the most famous athletes on Earth. With five Ballon d’Or trophies, hundreds of career goals, and a fan base that spans continents, He’s a global icon. Known for his intense work ethic, flashy style, and unmatched longevity in the game, the 40-year-old currently captains Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. While his chess skills are a mystery, his competitive spirit is legendary – which is exactly why Carlsen’s challenge is so intriguing.

A Match for the Ages?

Whether or not a Carlsen-Ronaldo match ever happens, the idea itself is enough to stir imaginations. After all, what better symbol of chess’s cultural rise than a game between the greatest mind in chess and one of the greatest legs in football?

In the meantime, Carlsen has bigger things to focus on: a pioneering tournament, a record-setting prize, and proving that chess belongs on the biggest stage in esports.

But hey, Magnus, if Ronaldo ever says yes, we’ll be watching.

Chess Makes History at the Esports World Cup 2025

For the first time ever, chess is taking center stage at the EWC.

Hosted in Boulevard Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, from July 29 to August 1, the 2025 EWC is no ordinary chess tournament. With a staggering $1.5 million prize pool, it’s the most lucrative rapid chess event in history, second only to the World Championship. The winner will walk away with $250,000, and just as importantly, 1,000 club points in the competitive Champions Chess Tour system.

This isn’t just an exhibition. It’s the new season finale for the Champions Chess Tour, replacing the traditional Tour Finals with something bigger, bolder, and broadcast-ready.

The format is fast, fierce, and viewer-friendly:

• Stage 1 features four groups of four players in a double-elimination (GSL) format.
• Matches use 10-minute games with no increment, and Armageddon serves as the tie-breaker.
• Stage 2 is a knockout bracket, ending with a dramatic Best-of-3 sets Grand Final.

And the lineup? Absolutely elite.
Sixteen of the world’s top grandmasters have made it to Riyadh, including:

• Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – the face of modern chess
• Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – the streaming king
• Alireza Firouzja (France), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) – all elite heavyweights
• Rising stars like Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Wei Yi bring youth and firepower

These titans represent powerhouse esports clubs like Team Liquid, Gen.G, Team Falcons, and Natus Vincere — blending the worlds of traditional chess and cutting-edge competitive gaming.