The family just got bigger: Cristiano Ronaldo set to join Fast and Furious saga
Vin Diesel has hinted that football icon Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the next Fast and Furious film, set for release next year.
Image: Vin Diesel on Instagram
A recent selfie of football icon Cristiano Ronaldo and John Cena, standing in front of a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, has fuelled speculation that the former Manchester United forward could appear in the next Fast and Furious movie.
The rumours gained further traction a week earlier when actor Tyrese Gibson, who plays Roman Pearce in the franchise, posted an image of Ronaldo with the entire cast on his Instagram page. Vin Diesel also hinted that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could be joining the family.
“Everyone asked, would he be in the Fast mythology… I gotta tell you he is a real one. We wrote a role for him,” said Diesel, who portrays the invincible Dominic Toretto, in an Instagram post accompanying a photo of himself and the Portuguese great.
The 40-year-old has never acted before but has previously expressed a desire to pursue a Hollywood career once his football days are over.
"I hope I live more than 50 years more and I want to prepare to face the obstacles of a new life, to do things I don't know how to do," Ronaldo said in Dubai in 2019. “For example, to participate in a movie in Hollywood. But you need good preparation and top English to give a top performance.”
Should he feature in the next instalment, it would not be the first time Diesel has worked with a footballer. Brazilian star Neymar made a cameo in the 2017 film xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
If the rumours do prove true, Ronaldo’s arrival would be a fitting piece of franchise excess — a global sporting superstar stepping into a saga built on speed, spectacle and larger-than-life personalities.
Whether he’s behind the wheel of a muscle car or delivering a trademark celebration on screen, the mere possibility has already achieved its purpose: reminding fans that even at 40, Ronaldo still knows how to command the spotlight, and creating hype for a series that has been experiencing a wane in popularity.
The next Fast and Furious film is set to be the 11th and final instalment, with a planned 2027 release, while filming is expected to begin either in late 2025 or early 2026.
IOL Sport