Ronaldo Attends White House Dinner With Saudi Crown Prince

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo made a rare U.S. appearance as he joined U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a high-profile White House dinner. Seated among global business leaders like Tim Cook and Elon Musk, Ronaldo received a special mention from Trump, who said his son Barron was excited to meet the Al-Nassr forward. Ronaldo, the face of Saudi football since 2022, recently extended his contract and continues to play a key role in promoting Saudi Arabia’s global sporting ambitions.

The crown prince’s visit marked his first return to Washington since tensions rose in 2018 over the Jamal Khashoggi killing. For Ronaldo, the event added to his growing involvement in Saudi geopolitics and global football influence. As he gears up to play a record sixth World Cup next year, Ronaldo remains central to Saudi Arabia’s preparations for hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, despite facing a likely suspension for Portugal’s opening match.