Cristiano Ronaldo, the renowned football star, is scheduled to make a visit to the White House on Tuesday, as confirmed by a US official – coinciding with the presence of the Saudi leader, where the Portuguese currently plays.
The White House representative did not indicate that Ronaldo was a member of the official delegation accompanying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Nonetheless, his prominent involvement in the Saudi football league has positioned him as a symbol of the nation’s modernization efforts led by the crown prince, the effective ruler, who aims to mitigate reliance on oil income by branching into sectors like sports and tourism.
The football star is not thought to have visited the US since 2016.
During this time, he has dealt with a sexual assault allegation. Kathryn Mayorga claimed that Ronaldo assaulted her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009, a claim he has refuted.
“I categorically deny the allegations against me. Rape is a horrific crime that contradicts everything I stand for,” he stated in a 2018 announcement.
In 2019, US prosecutors determined that Ronaldo would not face charges due to insufficient evidence.
In early 2023, Ronaldo transitioned to Saudi Arabia, becoming the face of the Saudi Pro League and captain of Al Nassr – the football club backed by the sovereign wealth fund PIF, chaired by the crown prince.
In an industry where players earn astonishing sums, Ronaldo’s contract with Saudi Arabia was remarkable. He was reportedly compensated $200m (£152m) annually – translating to over half a million dollars daily.
Then in June of this year, he secured a new two-year contract valued at $400m (£300m) and became the first billionaire player in football, as reported by Bloomberg, with a net worth of $1.4bn.
That’s a significant amount for a 40-year-old athlete in the latter stages of his career.
However, according to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, Saudi Arabia has “invested significantly in high-profile events and figures to establish the kingdom’s presence” in the context of sports and tourism as part of its modernization aspirations.
Ronaldo has referred to Prince Mohammed as “our boss” during an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan.
Earlier this month, he attended a Ministry of Tourism event in Riyadh where he praised the kingdom’s development initiatives and expressed hopes for the 2034 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
Regarding his meeting with Trump, Vakil remarked: “The US president is drawn to glittering figures, and Ronaldo is one of them.”
Yet, the footballer’s aspirations for their Washington encounter extend beyond that – aiming for world peace.
In July, European Council president Antonio Costa gifted Trump a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo that read: “To president Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.”
He told Morgan: “I hope to have a conversation with him someday because he’s someone I truly admire.
“I believe he has the power to make changes happen, and I respect individuals like that.”
President Trump has previously welcomed the Saudi crown prince in the Oval Office, and their upcoming meeting will occur at an extravagant black-tie gala dinner in the East Room of the White House – which Ronaldo is expected to attend.
The White House has yet to disclose the guest list but it is rumored to also feature CEOs of major US corporations, many of whom maintain business connections with Saudi Arabia.
