BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his departure from Al-Nassr, ending his legendary soccer career in the Middle East.
with a little creativity and some legal gymnastics—Cristiano Ronaldo could lace up the skates and become the most electric walk-on in NCAA history… right here in Grand Forks.
🧠 THE PLAN: HOW RONALDO COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR NCAA HOCKEY
The NCAA has three major hurdles for eligibility:
Amateurism
Academic Standing
Age/Delayed Enrollment Rules
1️⃣ AMATEURISM: ✅ ✅ ✅
NCAA rules are sport-specific. That means:
Playing pro soccer does NOT disqualify you from playing college hockey.
Ronaldo has never:
Played pro or junior hockey
Signed a contract in hockey
Received hockey-related compensation
He’s clean. As far as hockey’s concerned, he’s an amateur.
2️⃣ HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA: ✅ (With Some Work)
This is where we get clever.
Ronaldo famously left formal schooling around the 6th grade to pursue soccer. That means:
He never actually graduated high school.
Under NCAA rules, your eligibility clock doesn’t start until you officially graduate.
Our proposal: Enroll Ronaldo in a U.S.-accredited online high school program, and have him complete a legitimate diploma (or GED equivalent) this summer.
As soon as he gets that diploma, the 2-year eligibility window for NCAA D1 hockey begins. He’d be within it.
Yes, he’s 40. Yes, it’s unorthodox. But it’s legal.
3️⃣ AGE / “TOO OLD” ARGUMENT: ✅
There’s no age limit in the NCAA rulebook. It’s rare, but not unprecedented:
Chris Weinke played QB at Florida State and won the Heisman at 28.
Military vets and LDS mission athletes have competed well into their mid-to-late 20s.
Is 40 too far? Maybe. But if Ronaldo can pass his eligibility check, pass his classes, and make the team, there is no rule that says he can’t play.
He’d be the first. And the NCAA loves a marketing opportunity.
🧭 THE ROADMAP
Summer 2025: Ronaldo enrolls in an accredited high school diploma program.
Fall 2025: Completes GED or diploma.
Winter 2025–26: Applies to UND, works with compliance for waivers.
Fall 2026: Walks on at UND Hockey as a 1st-year freshman forward.
💸 NIL & UND's Gain
Think of the attention:
ESPN cameras at Ralph Engelstad Arena
Ronaldo jerseys with the Fighting Hawks crest
Global media coverage
He wouldn’t even need a scholarship. NIL would handle that in a day.
UND has the resources. Ronaldo has the motivation. The NCAA has the wiggle room.
Thoughts?
Rare
