Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo attended a high-profile White House dinner alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday evening.
Hosted by President Donald Trump, the black-tie event highlighted a convergence of global celebrity, political influence, and immense wealth. Trump opened the evening by calling it an “honour” to host Ronaldo and arranged a meeting with his son, Baron, who he described as a “big fan” of the football star. Trump also praised Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally,” emphasizing the strategic partnership between the U.S. and the kingdom.
For Ronaldo, the dinner was a significant milestone in his growing influence off the pitch. Since signing a reported $400 million contract with Saudi club Al Nassr, he has become a key figure in Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” plan to diversify its economy into sports and tourism. Ronaldo has publicly called Crown Prince Mohammed “our boss” and actively promoted Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, further solidifying his role as a central ambassador for the kingdom.
The guest list reflected the scale of global influence present at the dinner. Tech billionaire Elon Musk attended, marking his first known visit to the White House since a public feud with Trump, signaling a mending of fences. Apple CEO Tim Cook and other business leaders were also present, representing a room of immense financial and political power.
The event carried some controversy. Ronaldo’s U.S. appearances have been limited since 2016 due to past sexual assault allegations, which he denied and for which prosecutors declined charges in 2019. Additionally, Trump’s embrace of Crown Prince Mohammed comes despite the prince’s alleged role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a matter over which Trump has previously been dismissive.
Analysts note that Ronaldo’s involvement fits into Saudi Arabia’s strategy of using sports and high-profile figures to enhance its international image. Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil described the dinner as a natural pairing, saying, “The US president likes shiny things and Ronaldo is a shiny thing.” Ronaldo himself has expressed ambitions beyond football, sending a signed jersey to Trump in July with the inscription: “To President Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.”
Ultimately, the dinner illustrated how modern influence operates at the intersection of politics, finance, and celebrity, with each participant leveraging the others’ stature to advance global ambitions.
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