Soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo attended a grand White House banquet held in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During his opening remarks, US President Donald Trump publicly praised the Portuguese superstar, even sharing a lighthearted family moment. Trump revealed that his youngest son, Barron, is a huge Ronaldo admirer, joking,
“Now that he’s met you, I think Barron respects me a bit more!”
Cristiano, accompanied by fiancée Georgina Rodriguez, was among several high-profile guests at the event. At one point during the evening, Ronaldo and Georgina posed for a selfie with Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk, creating one of the most talked-about moments of the night. The dinner hosted a mix of world-renowned figures from sports, technology, business, and global leadership.
Trump’s Warm Praise and Ronaldo’s Growing Diplomatic Role
The White House reportedly arranged the dinner to strengthen US-Saudi relations, with notable attendees including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and some of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs. This marked Ronaldo’s first public appearance in the United States since 2016.
Ronaldo, currently playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, is widely viewed as an informal ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s global sports and diplomatic outreach. His presence was part of the official Saudi delegation. Addressing the football star, Trump said,
“It’s an honor to have you here. My son is your biggest fan.”
Recently, Cristiano gifted Trump a signed jersey with the message “Playing for peace.” The Portuguese forward has also expressed interest in having a longer discussion with Trump at a future date.
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