Kaka Outshines Ronaldo Nazario in EA Sports FC Showmatch at Esports World Cup 2025

By Eppe Franklyne

Football legends and former Brazil teammates, Kaka and Ronaldo Nazario, brought star power and nostalgia to the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, captivating fans in an entertaining EA Sports FC exhibition match on Sunday.

The best-of-three series kicked off with a classic mode showdown, where Kaka edged Ronaldo 3-2 in a tense opener. The 2007 Ballon d’Or winner then took full control in the second round’s Mystery Ball mode, racing to an 11-6 victory and sealing the overall contest.

Ronaldo, a two-time Ballon d’Or holder, mounted a spirited fightback in the final Survival Mode match but fell short once again, losing 3-2 to his compatriot.

“I had a blast at the Esports World Cup Showmatch in Saudi Arabia! It was an incredible experience, and I’m so happy I got to share it with Ronaldo. All those hours of training with Luca [Kaka’s son] definitely paid off,” Kaka posted on social media after the win.

Despite the defeat, Ronaldo showed his trademark humour, suggesting a change of battlefield for their next encounter: “Next time, next year, we play Warzone,” he said with a grin.

Both stars were key members of Brazil’s 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning squad and later played under Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan. While Kaka became a Rossoneri icon, Ronaldo’s club career spanned elite teams including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, and Corinthians.

Ronaldo remains one of just ten players to win the Ballon d’Or more than once (1997, 2002), while Kaka is the last Brazilian to claim the coveted prize, in 2007.