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Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted at the White House for dinner on Tuesday night, as his appearance coincided with President Donald Trump hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
During the black-tie affair, Ronaldo – who was making his first American appearance in nearly a decade – got a shout-out from the president.
“My son is a big fan of Ronaldo,” Trump said during a speech to a group that included Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook. “And Barron got to meet him and I think he respects his dad a little more now that I’ve introduced you. Thank you for being here, it’s an honor.”
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US President Donald Trump (R) meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Ronaldo has also shared how he feels about Trump, who recently said “he’s one of the guys who can help change the world” during an interview with Piers Morgan.
Ronaldo has played in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. The 40-year-old signed a two-year contract extension to remain at the club, reportedly worth more than $400 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo attends a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in Washington, DC, USA on November 18, 2025. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)
With Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo is set to compete in his sixth tournament next summer in North America. He and Argentina’s Lionel Messi will make history when they take to the pitch as the only players ever to appear in six men’s World Cups.
FOOTBALL LEGEND CRISTIANO RONALDO SAYS TRUMP ‘CAN CHANGE THE WORLD’
Ronaldo said this will “definitely” be his last appearance for Portugal on the World Cup stage. There was a question about whether he would play in another tournament after the team’s stunning loss to Morocco in the previous World Cup.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, left, celebrates with his teammate Diogo Jota after scoring his team’s second goal during the Euro 2020 Group B qualifying soccer match between Luxembourg and Portugal at the Josy Barthel stadium in Luxembourg in November 2019. (AP/Francisco Seco)
But Ronaldo has been playing for Al-Nassr since then, moving from Manchester United to the Saudi Pro League. Although it was an unexpected move from one of the greatest footballers of all time, he has embraced his new home, where he serves as an ambassador for the kingdom’s tourism authority.
Trump has also been heavily involved in the sport, with his FIFA task force preparing for next year’s tournament, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Trump announced the “FIFA Pass” along with the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino, on Monday – a new initiative for ticket holders around the globe entering the United States for the World Cup.
The new system will allow World Cup ticket holders to receive priority interviews to obtain visas. Trump also noted that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have worked “tirelessly” to “ensure that soccer fans from around the world are properly vetted and can easily come to the United States next summer.”
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying match between Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium on November 13, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
“I have directed my administration to do everything in its power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success. I think it will be the biggest and we will set records in ticket sales,” Trump added.
The World Cup begins on June 11, 2026 and ends on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
