Cristiano Ronaldo Attends White House dinner, making the high-profile gathering a spectacular event on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the formal black-tie dinner. The soccer superstar joined officials from both nations and major business leaders. Guests included Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also attended the glitzy East Room dinner.
Cristiano Ronaldo sat near the front of the room. This placement was close to where the President and Crown Prince delivered their remarks. Furthermore, Trump made a point of recognizing the Portuguese athlete during his speech. Trump called the legendary CR7 the greatest footballer of all time. Moreover, the President revealed he introduced the star to his youngest son, Barron. Trump thanked the athlete for attending the event. He said Barron respects his father “a little bit more, now.” This high praise highlighted the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence.
Cristiano Ronaldo currently represents the face of the Saudi soccer league. He plays for the Saudi club Al Nassr. The club is majority-owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The Crown Prince chairs this powerful fund. Coincidentally, Prince Mohammed visited the White House for the first time since 2018. That visit followed a period of diplomatic isolation. The state dinner honored the Prince amid diplomatic talks. These discussions focused on strengthening U.S.-Saudi economic ties. They specifically included sports investments and other ventures.
In addition, Cristiano Ronaldo promoted the Saudi bid for the 2034 World Cup. He previously confirmed his support. He stated his conviction that the 2034 tournament will be the best ever staged. The White House dinner marked a rare U.S. visit for the 40-year-old Portuguese star. He has not played a match in the country since 2014. However, he is set to play in the next World Cup. Portugal qualified for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Trump has closely aligned himself with the 2026 World Cup. The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo attended the White House dinner underscored the growing ties between global sports and politics.
Source: Reuters