WASHINGTON — Soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo graced the White House on Tuesday, where President Donald Trump hosted an extravagant dinner in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Ronaldo was seated prominently in the East Room, close to the president and the crown prince, who addressed officials and prominent business figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
During his remarks, Trump acknowledged Ronaldo, sharing that he had introduced the soccer star to his teenage son.
Since joining Saudi club Al Nassr at the end of 2022 under a reported $200 million-a-year deal, Ronaldo has become the face of the Saudi soccer league.
The 40-year-old Portuguese athlete signed a two-year contract extension with Al Nassr in June, a club largely owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund chaired by the crown prince.
Trump expressed gratitude for Ronaldo’s presence and noted that his youngest son, Barron, is a “big fan” who was thrilled to meet the soccer player. “Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little more now that I introduced you,” Trump remarked.
This marks Prince Mohammed’s first visit to the White House following a period of diplomatic isolation that began in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents inside the Istanbul consulate. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Prince Mohammed likely played a role in the operation, which he has denied.
For Ronaldo, this visit to the U.S. is particularly notable, as he has not played in the country since 2014.
In 2017, Der Spiegel, a German news magazine, reported that Ronaldo had previously paid $375,000 to a woman who accused him of raping her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. Ronaldo’s lawyers have asserted that the encounter was consensual, and no criminal charges were filed.
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, a decision aided by FIFA’s hastily arranged bidding process two years ago that eliminated any competition.
Ronaldo has shown support for this bid, stating last December, following the announcement of Saudi Arabia’s win, that he is “more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever.”
The soccer star is set to participate in what will be his record sixth World Cup next year, after Portugal qualified for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. However, he faces a likely FIFA suspension that would prevent him from participating in Portugal’s first game next June, following an unprecedented red card last week after 23 seasons with the national team.
Portugal’s World Cup opponents will be revealed on December 5 during the tournament draw, which Trump is scheduled to attend at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Additionally, Trump has closely aligned himself with the upcoming 2026 World Cup, and he has an official copy of the golden trophy gifted to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino displayed in the Oval Office.