Ronaldo Attends White House Dinner with Crown Prince
November 18, 2025, 05:32 AM ET
WASHINGTON — Soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo made an appearance at the White House on Tuesday for a lavish dinner hosted by President Donald Trump, which was held to honor Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Seated in close proximity to the president and the crown prince in the East Room, Ronaldo was among notable figures including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
During his speech, Trump acknowledged Ronaldo, mentioning that he had introduced the star athlete to his son, Barron.
Ronaldo, who joined Saudi club Al Nassr at the end of 2022 with a projected contract worth $200 million annually, has become a central figure in the Saudi soccer league.
The 40-year-old forward recently extended his contract with Al Nassr for an additional two years. The club is largely owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund led by the crown prince.
In his remarks, Trump expressed gratitude for Ronaldo’s attendance and noted that Barron, a self-proclaimed fan of the athlete, was thrilled to meet him. “Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you,” Trump stated.
This visit marks the first time Prince Mohammed has visited the White House since the diplomatic fallout surrounding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. U.S. intelligence agencies have suggested that the crown prince may have been involved, a claim he disputes.
Ronaldo’s appearance is also significant, as he has not played in the U.S. since 2014.
In 2017, allegations surfaced regarding Ronaldo making a payment of $375,000 to a woman who accused him of assault in 2009, an allegation he has consistently denied, claiming the encounter was consensual, and no charges were ever brought against him.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup, a decision confirmed by FIFA two years ago, following a quick bidding process that left no room for competitors. Ronaldo supports this bid, stating last December that “after what I see, I’m more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever.”
Next year, Ronaldo will aim to participate in a record sixth World Cup after Portugal secured qualification for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. However, he faces a likely suspension from FIFA for Portugal’s opening match after receiving his first red card last week in his 23 seasons with the national team.
Portugal’s World Cup opponents will be revealed on December 5 during the tournament draw, an event Trump plans to attend at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Trump has been a strong supporter of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, currently keeping a copy of the golden trophy displayed in the Oval Office, which was lent to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
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