Cristiano Ronaldo, the globally recognized football icon, is scheduled to visit the White House on Tuesday, according to a U.S. official. This visit coincides with that of the leader of Saudi Arabia, where the Portuguese player currently competes.
The White House source has not confirmed whether Ronaldo is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s official delegation.
Ronaldo’s prominent role in the Saudi football league has positioned him as a key figure in the country’s modernization efforts, spearheaded by the Crown Prince. The Prince aims to diversify the nation’s economy beyond oil revenues, with a focus on sectors like sports and tourism.
It is believed that the footballer has not been in the United States since 2016.
In the intervening years, Ronaldo has faced an allegation of sexual assault. Kathryn Mayorga accused Ronaldo of rape in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009, an accusation he has vehemently denied.
In a statement released in 2018, Ronaldo stated: “I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.”
U.S. prosecutors stated in 2019 that Ronaldo would not face charges due to a lack of demonstrable evidence to support the claims.
In early 2023, Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League, becoming the face of the league and captain of Al Nassr, a football club owned by the sovereign wealth fund PIF, chaired by the Crown Prince.
While substantial player salaries are common in the football industry, Ronaldo’s compensation package in Saudi Arabia was exceptionally high. Reports indicate he was paid $200 million (£152 million) annually—equivalent to over half a million dollars each day.
Then, in June of this year, he signed a new two-year deal for a reported total of $400 million (£300 million) and became football’s first billionaire player, according to Bloomberg, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.
This significant financial investment comes as Ronaldo approaches the later stages of his career at 40 years old.
According to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, Saudi Arabia has made “substantial investments in high-profile events and individuals to elevate the kingdom’s profile” in the sporting and tourism sectors as part of their modernization strategy.
Ronaldo has publicly referred to Prince Mohammed as “our boss” in an interview with Piers Morgan.
Earlier in the month, he participated in a Ministry of Tourism event in Riyadh, where he promoted Saudi Arabia’s development projects and expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of the 2034 FIFA World Cup being hosted in the kingdom.
Regarding a potential meeting with Trump, Vakil commented: “The U.S. president is drawn to high-profile figures, and Ronaldo fits that description.”
The footballer reportedly has ambitious goals for the Washington meeting, specifically to foster world peace.
In July, European Council president Antonio Costa presented Trump with a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo, bearing the message: “To president Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.”
He told Morgan: “I hope to sit down with him someday because he’s one of those people I really like.
“I think he can make things happen and I respect people like that.”
The president made the comment to a female reporter while speaking to the press on Air Force One on Friday.
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Following increased US pressure on the Venezuelan government, the two sides say they are open to talks.
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But it may take a while to see the documents following Tuesday’s vote, as the Senate must also approve the resolution.