WASHINGTON.— The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the special guests at an elegant dinner that the president of the United States, Donald Trumpoffered tonight in the White House to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
The prominent soccer player occupied a place near the stage in the East Room, where both leaders addressed messages to dignitaries and business figures such as Tim Cook y Elon Musk.
Barron Trump, fan of Cristiano Ronaldo
In fact, Trump highlighted the presence of CR7 and revealed that he introduced her to his youngest son, Barron, whom he described as “big fan” of the striker 40 years old.
“I think he respects his father a little more now,” the president joked.
Cristiano, who came accompanied by his partner, Georgina Rodriguezhas become one of the main ambassadors of the Saudi sports project since his arrival at Al-Nassr in 2022, with a contract estimated at 200 million dollars per year and recently extended for two seasons.
The club is majority owned by the sovereign wealth fund headed by the crown prince himself.
Saudi Arabia and the World Cup
The Portuguese’s presence also underlined Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in world football, especially after FIFA confirmed the country as 2034 World Cup venue.
Ronaldo publicly supported that candidacy by ensuring that it could be “the best in history.”
Portugal secured its place in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Thus, Cristiano is in the possibility of playing his sixth World Cupalthough he could lose the first game due to a suspension after receiving his first red card in 23 years with the national team.
World Cup 2026 draw
The tournament draw will be held on December 5 in Washingtonwith Trump confirmed to attend.
A few years ago, Ronaldo had already made a gesture towards the American president by giving him a signed Portugal t-shirt in recognition—as he expressed then—for his work in favor of world peace.
With information from AP and El Universal