By Our Correspondent
Cristiano Ronaldo attended a formal dinner at the White House during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The event was hosted by United States President Donald Trump and drew global attention due to the presence of key political and business leaders.
Ronaldo was seated in the East Room alongside well known figures from the business world, including senior technology and industry executives. His presence at the front section of the dinner highlighted the significance of his growing global influence beyond football.
During the evening, President Trump mentioned that his son Barron had the chance to meet Ronaldo, adding that Barron is a strong admirer of the Portuguese star. The meeting created a lighter moment within the otherwise formal diplomatic setting.
Ronaldo currently plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, a club backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. His move to Saudi Arabia in recent years placed him at the center of Saudi sports expansion, and his contract now extends through at least the twenty twenty seven season.
The visit to Washington marked a rare appearance for Ronaldo in the United States, as he has not played professionally on American soil for more than a decade. The timing of the dinner also comes as Portugal prepares for the next World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
For Saudi Arabia, the Crown Princes visit represented a renewed effort to strengthen diplomatic ties with the United States after several years of limited direct engagement. The presence of Ronaldo at the dinner added an additional layer of international visibility to the event.
Ronaldo remains one of the most recognized athletes in the world, and his participation in a high level political gathering once again shows how his career and influence now reach far beyond sports. With the upcoming World Cup in North America and his continued partnership with Saudi football, his global profile continues to expand at an accelerated pace.
