The renowned football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, are scheduled to visit the White House, signifying Ronaldo’s return to the United States for the first time since 2014.
Donald Trump is slated to host Bin Salman at the center of American governance this Tuesday, with Ronaldo also expected to be present at a meeting scheduled for the same day.
Although Ronaldo was sidelined for Portugal’s last World Cup 2026 qualifying match, the team successfully secured their spot in the finals regardless. This has led to speculation regarding the 40-year-old’s prolonged absence from one of the nations hosting the event.
Ronaldo returns to the United States on Tuesday, several months ahead of the World Cup in 2026
Notably, the Portuguese team leader has not participated in any soccer-related activities within the United States.
According to Adam Crafton and Henry Bushnell from The Athletic, “Ronaldo’s lack of presence in the U.S. has been highlighted even more since 2017, following the publication of details in the German newspaper Der Spiegel concerning an alleged sexual assault involving Ronaldo and model Kathryn Mayorga during a vacation in Las Vegas in 2009 – allegations consistently refuted by Ronaldo, and for which no charges have ever been filed.”
“In recent months, Ronaldo has also participated in diplomatic efforts to appeal to Trump. As an example, Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council (also Portuguese), gifted the US President with a Portugal jersey autographed by Ronaldo during a Group Seven summit in Canada. The jersey was the No. 7, and it was signed by Ronaldo.”
A visit to the White House this Tuesday would potentially resolve any uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo’s readiness or capability to represent Portugal at the upcoming World Cup next summer. However, it is primarily a matter of Saudi Arabian diplomacy.
Bin Salman and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) are the owners of Al Nassr, in addition to three other Saudi Pro League teams, and they have employed Ronaldo as their main attraction since 2023.
The seasoned athlete has successfully scored 83 goals in 85 Pro League appearances for the Riyadh-based club. Furthermore, he has been actively involved in numerous promotional campaigns representing the kingdom and its royal family.
“Ronaldo, arguably recognized as the most popular football player globally, has become the prominent figure representing the Saudi Pro League. This domestic soccer league in Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars from the state to attract some of the most recognized players worldwide in recent years,” according to The Athletic.
The Portuguese team’s captain has scored 143 goals in 226 appearances at the senior level. However, he is anticipated to miss the beginning of the World Cup due to a suspension resulting from a red card received during the penultimate qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland.
Portugal successfully secured automatic qualification for the finals held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico by emerging as the winner of Group F, finishing three points ahead of Ireland.
Ronaldo, formerly a star player for Real Madrid and Manchester United, shared the title of highest scorer in the group alongside Barnabas Varga of Hungary and Troy Parrott from Ireland. Parrott scored all five of his goals over four days in the current timeframe for international matches.
