Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo made an appearance at the White House on Tuesday as President Donald Trump hosted an elaborate dinner in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Ronaldo was seated near the front of the East Room, close to where Trump and the crown prince addressed senior officials from both countries and prominent business figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
During his remarks, Trump noted Ronaldo’s presence and mentioned that he had once introduced the superstar to his teenage son.
Ronaldo has been a major face of Saudi football since joining Al-Nassr in late 2022 on a contract reportedly worth $200 million per year. Now 40, the Portuguese forward signed a two-year extension with the club in June. Al-Nassr is largely owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which is chaired by the crown prince.
Expressing appreciation for Ronaldo’s attendance, Trump said his youngest son, Barron, is a “big fan” and was thrilled to meet the athlete. “Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just because I introduced you,” Trump joked.
The crown prince’s visit marked his return to the White House since diplomatic tensions erupted in 2018 following the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence concluded that Prince Mohammed likely approved the operation, a claim he denies.
Ronaldo’s trip was also notable because he has rarely visited the U.S. in recent years. He last played in the country in 2014.
Ronaldo hints at retirement in “probably one or two years”
In 2017, German outlet Der Spiegel reported that Ronaldo had previously paid $375,000 in hush money to a woman who accused him of rape at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. His legal team insisted the encounter was consensual, and no criminal charges were ever brought.
World Cup links
Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup, following a fast-tracked FIFA bidding process that effectively eliminated competition. Ronaldo supported the bid and said last December that he believed the 2034 tournament would be “the best World Cup ever.”
He is expected to appear in a record sixth World Cup next year after Portugal qualified on Sunday for the event co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. However, Ronaldo will likely miss Portugal’s opening match after receiving his first red card in 23 years of international play.
Portugal’s group-stage opponents will be determined on Dec. 5 during the World Cup draw, an event Trump plans to attend at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Trump has also shown strong support for the 2026 World Cup, displaying in the Oval Office a replica of the trophy loaned by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Source: AP