Ronaldo, 40, plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Next year’s World Cup is likely to be his last appearance at the tournament.
WASHINGTON — Cristiano Ronaldo attended an exclusive dinner at the White House on Tuesday night with President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a list of elite guests.
“This room is loaded up with the biggest leaders in the world, business, sports. You know, my son is a big fan of Ronaldo,” Trump said at the dinner.
He added, “Ronaldo is here and Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now.”
Ronaldo, 40, plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Next year’s World Cup, hosted jointly by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, will likely be his last appearance at the tournament.
After a storied European career, Ronaldo’s Manchester United contract ended in November 2022 amid tensions between him and the club; he signed with Al-Nassr that December. The contract was reportedly worth over $200 million a year.
In June, Ronaldo re-signed with Al-Nassr for two more years. His decision to join the Saudi Pro League seemingly set the stage for other stars to follow suit, as Brazil’s Neymar and France’s Karim Benzema also joined the league in 2023.
Saudi Arabia has expanded its foothold in global sports over the last few years, launching LIV Golf in 2022, as well as hosting Formula One races and high-profile boxing matches. Last year, FIFA named the country the host of the 2034 World Cup.