Cristiano Ronaldo's attempt to dribble past a $1 billion lawsuit has been thwarted. A judge recently denied his motion to dismiss the case accusing him of misleading investors in his NFT promotion with Binance.

The whistle was blown last November when a group of investors filed a class-action lawsuit against the football star. They claim Ronaldo's enthusiastic promotion of his "CR7" NFT collection on Binance enticed them into making "deceptive and unlawful" investment decisions.

The lawsuit alleges that Ronaldo's social media posts, which showcased him hobnobbing with other Binance-sponsored athletes and bragging about "meeting and training" with rare NFT holders, painted an unrealistic picture of the NFT market.

Investors point to the slump in the NFT market since early 2022, with Ethereum-based NFT mints and trading volume dropping significantly alongside floor prices. This decline, they argue, contradicts the rosy future Ronaldo implied through his promotions.

Ronaldo, however, hoped to take the case off the field and into arbitration, a private dispute resolution process. But the judge wasn't having it. He denied Ronaldo's motion to dismiss and put the lawsuit on hold until a separate arbitration case is settled.

This decision keeps Ronaldo tethered to the lawsuit, potentially facing a billion-dollar penalty if the court ultimately rules in favor of the investors. It serves as a cautionary tale for celebrities venturing into the crypto space, highlighting the importance of responsible promotion and the legal risks associated with volatile markets like NFTs.