Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, according to multiple media reports.
Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner who helped lead Portugal to the 2016 European Championship, has become the most prominent player in the Saudi Pro League. Saudi Arabia teams have invested over $3 billion into signing some of the best players in the world to bring the domestic league to prominence.
Ronaldo, 40, signed a 2 1/2-year contract for a reported $536.3 million to join SPL side Al Nassr shortly after the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He signed a two-year extension over the summer for a reported $710 million which will keep him with Al Nassr through at least the 2026-27 season.
Al Nassr is one of four SPL clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth PIF (Public Investment Fund).
Over four seasons with Al Nassr, Ronaldo has scored 83 goals with 17 assists in 84 starts.
Ronaldo said earlier this month that the 2025 World Cup, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be his last. He hasn’t played in the U.S. since August of 2014 when he was a substitute for Real Madrid in its exhibition match against Manchester United in Ann Arbor, Mich.
This will be the Saudi Crown Prince’s first visit to the U.S. in seven years.
–Field Level Media
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