Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo attended a high-profile White House state dinner on Tuesday, joining Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), and influential guests like Elon Musk and Tim Cook.
President Donald Trump hosted the black-tie event, using the occasion to praise closer ties with Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo’s presence highlights his role as a key figure in the Kingdom’s economic diversification plan, which seeks to boost sports and tourism.
The athlete, who reportedly earns $200 million annually from his Saudi league deal, has referred to MBS as “our boss” and aims to use his influence for “world peace.”
The dinner was one of Ronaldo’s first known visits to the US since 2016, bringing renewed attention to a past sexual assault allegation, which US prosecutors declined to charge in 2019.
