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IS RONALDO REALLY COMING TO GOA?
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IS RONALDO REALLY COMING TO GOA?

Uncategorized September 20, 2025 , by

By Franky Gracias

IT’S the million-dollar question on every fan’s mind, not just in Goa, but across India. Can FC Goa stop Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, when the two sides clash in the Gaurs’ second home fixture of the AFC Champions League 2, on October 22, 2025? The buzz is electric, the mood in the team camp is upbeat, and the anticipation is sending pulses racing as Goa braces for a historic showdown.
In a pre-match press conference before their first home game against Iraq’s Al-Zawraa, FC Goa midfielder, Sahil Tavora, acknowledged the growing buzz around a potential clash with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. “Of course, Ronaldo’s likely appearance is spoken about a lot in the dressing room. He’s someone we all grew up idolizing,” Tavora said.
“I’m 29 years old, and he, at 40, is still playing at the highest level. We are looking forward to this game at home as well as in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Thinking about it is motivating in itself,” he added.
HOSTING a star of Ronaldo’s stature automatically brings in a lot of logistical and security issues that have to be dealt with in advance, given his celebrity status and fan base across the globe, including in Goa and India.
The Portuguese football legend’s presence in India would carry wider significance for the sport, according to Derrick Pereira, former India international and current technical director of Gokulam Kerala FC. “There are many football lovers in Goa who have deep ties with Portugal and follow world football passionately. If Ronaldo plays here, it will create massive excitement and could influence the growth of football in Goa and in India,” Pereira observed.
Besides Ronaldo, there are other stars like Sadio Mane of Senegal and Joao Felix, also from Portugal, but will they choose to come to Goa? “Ronaldo’s appearance in Goa is doubtful. Let’s be frank, this footballer is bigger than the team. He owns around 20% stake in Al-Nassr, and he is such a global figure that if he decides to sit out a match, even the head coach can’t really overrule him,” said FC Goa Director Ravi Puskur.
However, Puskur is optimistic Sadio Mane will come and went on to add, “There’s no two ways about it.” But when it comes to Ronaldo, he pointed to the clause that exempts him from these matches. It will ultimately be his personal choice, he said, and added, “The two markers are: one, whether he is registered (and yes, he is registered), and two, whether he sits on that flight to Goa. That’s something we will only know closer to the time.”
“We’re sending a delegation to speak to him directly. If Ronaldo isn’t coming, we’ll be upfront about it. We don’t want to mislead anyone. But if he does come and tickets are already sold out, then fans who took that chance will have struck gold. They will get to watch, possibly, the greatest footballer ever to walk the planet. After all, a clash with Al Nassr, one of Saudi Arabia’s top clubs, is an event in itself,” Puskur stated.
The prospect of Ronaldo setting foot on Goan soil is being seen as a dose of medicine for Goa’s ailing football culture. “Ronaldo’s appearance will undoubtedly inspire youngsters to see football in a new light,” said Anthony Pango, vice president of the Goa Football Association. “His visit to Goa could well be the spark we need to refocus on grassroots development and nurture the sport from its infancy,” he added.
Former president of the Goa Football Association, Elvis Gomes, opined that the buzz around Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible appearance in Goa goes beyond the football pitch.
“See, there are two aspects to this. One is the symbolic appearance, whether he comes, sits on the bench, or just makes a presence. The other is his actual participation on the field. That decision finally rests with the team management. But in Ronaldo’s case, since he also holds a stake in the club, the marketing dynamics are different. His presence alone can overshadow the game itself,” Gomes explained.
He noted that such a visit would have massive crowd-pulling potential. “If it’s declared that Ronaldo is coming, you will have capacity crowds and people lining up just to get a glimpse of him. This is not about tactics or team performance anymore, it’s about brand value, marketing appeal, and the attention his name brings. That’s why the club will have to declare sooner rather than later, because unless they do, the police and organisers can’t prepare for the logistics and security arrangements,” Gomes said.
AT the same time, he cautioned that Ronaldo’s travel patterns are unpredictable. “From what I know, he usually doesn’t travel for away games. He takes that call himself. So at this stage, it’s too early to say whether he will come to Goa or not. But if he does, it will be one of the biggest sporting spectacles Goa has ever seen,” he added.
Even as FC Goa prepares for the glamour and intensity of continental football away from home, coach Manolo Marquez struck a pragmatic note about the bigger picture. “For me, the most important thing is not only to play well now but to qualify for Asia every season,” he emphasized.
“That is how a club grows. We can’t just play one good Champions League and then be forgotten. The Super Cup, for example, is also crucial because it gives us qualification again.” In this remark lies FC Goa’s future.
Whether Ronaldo is coming or not, the buzz surrounding his visit is already propelling FC Goa to sharpen their tactics and put on a fight on October 22. On September 17, they put up a spirited performance against a strong Al-Zawraa side from Iraq, though they failed to score despite dominating the second half.
Coach Marquez, visibly disappointed by the result, still took positives from the match. “Now we have very good games ahead. We will try our best, and I think we will have possibilities in every game. This is what every club needs: to play matches at this level,” he said.
While the challenge for the club is to deliver good performances on the pitch, fans who have bought tickets for the big showdown are desperate for clarity, organizers are on edge and the buzz has taken a life of its own. But, as of now, there is no official confirmation of Ronaldo’s visit.

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