If Italy still has to do it suffered for several months Before finding out whether he will be able to participate in the 2026 World Cup in North America, the entire football world is preparing for the event that will keep hundreds of millions of fans glued to their screens next summer. Ahead of the group draw on December 5 it wasn’t completely peacefuldue to a mistake the FIFA social team caused a storm on the internet.
The object of the dispute? The graph is “forgotten” to include a certain Cristiano Ronaldo among the key players of the next World Cup. This error sparked speculation and many users accused FIFA of doing this prefer Lionel Messi, caused the post to be deleted and a new poster published with CR7’s image clearly displayed.
Bruno Fernandez instead of CR7?
The graphics released by FIFA through its official channels are not particularly innovative: a collage of the most significant players the national team which has already qualified for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup addedsensational promotion for December’s draw in Washington DC. At least judging by the final result, the graphics studio that handled this image is not very familiar with the dynamics of world football, so it did a very surprising mistake. Some of the choices make a lot of sense: Lionel Messi represents world champions Argentina, Kylian Mbappé represents vice-champions France, Harry Kane represents England and Erling Haaland to carry the Norwegian flag, at his first World Cup since France 1998. However, when it came to choosing a representative for the Portuguese national team, the graphic designer chose not to use the face of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo but the face of the Manchester United striker. Bruno Fernandes.
The first to react of course was Portugal fanfollowed by many fans of the former Juventus star: from those who accused the graphic designer of supporting him Red Devil to those who, in turn, criticize FIFA itself, which has been accused of it for years openly supportive superstar Rosario in eternal dualism with the Portuguese flag. Rather than evaporating as often happens in these social controversies, the wave of criticism spreads hour by hour, with commentary often rude against those responsible for this error. If the user writes that “Certainly the graphic designer is a Messi fan, 100%”others remember how “Ronaldo doesn’t need a poster. Poster needs Ronaldo”. A completely unexpected media storm that brought a lot of unwanted attention to the December 5th draw and a lot of shame between FIFA and the organizing committee.
On the other hand, you can’t do without Ronaldo
In the end, the main world football organization preferred remove the poster from their account without providing any explanation, hoping to correct the error. Viewed by speed with which FIFA can create a new version of the promotional draw poster, the order must have come from high society. This new poster of course shows Cristiano Ronaldo, but in a rather remote position, deep in the first row: just below, in the center of the image and in much greater relief, the image of a Lionel Messi is beaming hosting the World Cup.
Curious, the facts are right below Robert Lewandowskia star who is of course very important but who is part of the national team, the Polish team, which must win two European play-off matches to participate in the North American World Cup. The presence of the eternal Luka Modric or Harry Kane is not too controversial but there are advantages to certain playersAlbicelesteBesides thattotal absence Italian national team player.
In short, a job is certainly not done perfectly but, if nothing else, has the benefit of having finished it a barrage of negative posts and the controversy that the North American world championships would be happy to do.
