Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo made a rare public appearance in the United States on Tuesday night as he attended a White House black-tie dinner alongside Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Speaking ahead of the event, US President Donald Trump described it as an “honour” to host Ronaldo, whose prominent role in the Saudi Pro League has positioned him as one of the global faces of the kingdom’s modernisation agenda. Crown Prince Mohammed has sought to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil revenues by expanding into sectors such as sports, entertainment and tourism.
A White House official confirmed earlier in the day that Ronaldo would be present at the dinner, though his inclusion was not described as part of the crown prince’s official delegation.
Critics argue that Saudi Arabia’s investment in global sports figures and events amounts to “sportswashing” — an attempt to gain international legitimacy and divert attention from the kingdom’s human rights record and environmental impact.
During his address at the dinner, Trump praised the deepening partnership between Washington and Riyadh, calling Saudi Arabia a “major non-NATO ally”. Earlier on Tuesday, he hosted the crown prince for talks in the Oval Office. Turning to Ronaldo during the dinner, Trump noted that his son was a long-time fan of the Portuguese star.
“Baron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you,” Trump joked.
Also in attendance were prominent business leaders, including Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The event marked Musk’s first return to the White House since stepping down in April as head of the Trump administration’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge), following a very public feud between him and the president.
Ronaldo’s appearance in Washington is one of his first known visits to the US since 2016. In the years since, he faced a high-profile allegation of sexual assault in Las Vegas dating back to 2009 — a claim he strongly denied. US prosecutors later announced in 2019 that he would not face charges, stating the case could not be proven.
The footballer has become central to Saudi Arabia’s push to expand its global influence through sports. After joining Al Nassr in early 2023 on a staggering $200 million (£152 million) annual contract, Ronaldo signed a further two-year deal worth a reported $400 million (£300 million) this year. Bloomberg estimates his net worth at $1.4 billion, making him football’s first billionaire player.
Saudi Arabia’s investment in Ronaldo aligns with a broader strategy. According to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, the kingdom has “invested heavily in high-profile events and individuals to put the kingdom on the map” as part of its modernisation drive. Ronaldo has publicly praised the crown prince, referring to him as “our boss” in an interview with Piers Morgan.
Earlier this month, he appeared at a Ministry of Tourism event in Riyadh, where he highlighted the kingdom’s ambitious development projects and expressed hope that Saudi Arabia would successfully host the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
Melissa Enoch
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