Cristiano Ronaldo’s Upcoming White House Visit Amid Saudi Relations

Cristiano Ronaldo, the acclaimed football superstar, is scheduled to visit the White House on Tuesday, as confirmed by a U.S. official. This visit coincides with the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, under whom Ronaldo currently plays.

While the White House has not indicated that Ronaldo is part of the Saudi delegation, his prominent role in the Saudi football league has positioned him as a key figure in the nation’s modernization initiative. The crown prince aims to reduce Saudi Arabia’s reliance on oil revenues by diversifying into sectors such as sports and tourism.

Ronaldo has not visited the United States since 2016. During this period, he faced serious allegations of sexual assault, which he has categorically denied. In a statement released in 2018, he asserted, “I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.” In 2019, U.S. prosecutors determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

In early 2023, Ronaldo transitioned to the Saudi Pro League, becoming the captain of Al Nassr, a club owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, chaired by the crown prince. His financial agreement in Saudi Arabia has been monumental, reportedly earning him $200 million (£152 million) annually—equivalent to more than half a million dollars daily. Subsequently, in June, he signed a new two-year contract valued at approximately $400 million (£300 million), making him football’s first billionaire player, according to Bloomberg, with a net worth of $1.4 billion.

Despite being in the latter stages of his career at age 40, Ronaldo’s compensation remains extraordinary. As noted by Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, Saudi Arabia has significantly invested in high-profile events and figures to elevate its global standing in sports and tourism.

In a recent interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, Ronaldo referred to Prince Mohammed as “our boss.” Earlier this month, he participated in a Ministry of Tourism event in Riyadh, promoting the kingdom’s development projects and expressing hopes for Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Regarding his meeting with President Trump, Vakil remarked, “The U.S. president likes shiny things, and Ronaldo is a shiny thing.” However, Ronaldo harbors higher aspirations for the encounter, which he desires to center around world peace. In July, European Council President Antonio Costa presented Trump with a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo, which bore the message: “To President Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.”

Ronaldo expressed his admiration for Trump, stating, “I hope to sit down with him someday because he’s one of those people I really like. I think he can make things happen, and I respect people like that.”

President Trump has previously hosted the Saudi crown prince in the Oval Office, and their next meeting is anticipated to take place at a lavish gala dinner in the White House’s East Room, which Ronaldo is reportedly set to attend. While the White House has not disclosed the guest list, it is expected to include executives from significant U.S. companies, many of which maintain business ties with Saudi Arabia.