Portugal's soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was a high-profile guest at a White House meeting and lavish dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump for Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Tuesday.
The visit, which included major U.S. business figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk, was part of MBS's effort to rehabilitate his global image, which has been severely tarnished since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Ronaldo's attendance underscores his deep connection to the Kingdom's economic and public relations initiatives. He is currently contracted to play for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr until 2027. Al-Nassr is majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In a previous interview, Ronaldo had referred to MBS as "our boss."
President Trump gave a specific shout-out to the football legend during the event, thanking him for attending. Trump mentioned that his youngest son, Barron (age 19), is a "big fan" and was reportedly thrilled to meet the soccer star.
Ronaldo's presence at the high-profile event is seen as a strategic move to promote the growing relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, as well as to showcase the success and global appeal of the Saudi Pro League, which Ronaldo has spearheaded since his arrival in late 2022. The event, marked by significant political and economic discussions, used the global celebrity's presence to add a layer of soft power diplomacy to the crown prince's first White House visit in over seven years.
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