Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday, a US official has confirmed. This visit is set to occur on the same day as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de-facto leader of Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo currently plays professional football.
Association with Saudi Arabia
Ronaldo transferred to Saudi Arabia in early 2023, joining the Saudi Pro League as captain of Al Nassr. This club is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by the Crown Prince. Ronaldo has become a public figure associated with Saudi Arabia's modernization initiatives, which aim to diversify the national economy beyond oil revenue, incorporating sectors like sports and tourism. In an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, Ronaldo referred to Prince Mohammed as "our boss."
Earlier this month, Ronaldo attended a Ministry of Tourism event in Riyadh, where he discussed Saudi Arabia's development projects and its aspirations to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Financial Engagements
Reports indicate Ronaldo's initial pay deal with Saudi Arabia was approximately $200 million (£152 million) annually. In June of the same year, he reportedly signed a new two-year agreement for a total of $400 million (£300 million), leading Bloomberg to report him as the first billionaire player in football, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.
Past Allegations
Ronaldo has faced allegations of sexual assault. In 2009, Kathryn Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel room. Ronaldo publicly denied these accusations in 2018, stating, "I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in." In 2019, US prosecutors announced that Ronaldo would not face charges, citing insufficient evidence to prove the claims. The footballer is not believed to have visited the US since 2016, when he was in Las Vegas.
White House Visit Context
The White House official did not confirm if Ronaldo is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's official delegation. Ronaldo has previously expressed an interest in meeting former US President Donald J. Trump. In an interview with Piers Morgan, he stated, "I hope to sit down with him someday because he's one of those people I really like. I think he can make things happen and I respect people like that." In July, European Council president Antonio Costa presented then-President Donald J. Trump with a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo, bearing the inscription: "To president Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace."