The soccer superstar made a surprise appearance with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and President Trump thanked Ronaldo.
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the surprise guests at a lavish White House dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump for visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The famous soccer player was one of the last guests seated before Crown Prince Mohammed, known as MBS, took his place at the table on Tuesday.
Here’s what you need to know about his presence in the White House.
Why did Ronaldo attend the White House dinner?
Ronaldo signed with Al Nasr of the Saudi Professional League after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he continues to play.
He played for European clubs for 20 years and signed a two-year extension with Al Nasr in June. The 40-year-old has indicated he is ready to retire soon, making Saudi Arabia the final destination of his illustrious career.
Over four seasons with Al Nasr, Ronaldo started 84 games and scored 83 goals and provided 17 assists.
Since signing with the Riyadh-based club – majority owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, of which the crown prince is chairman – in 2023, Ronaldo has been the face of the Saudi league and even appeared in a promotional video for the Saudi Tourism Board.
In a recent interview, Ronaldo called MBS “our boss (in Saudi Arabia).”
Ronaldo was seated near the front of the East Room, not far from where the president and crown prince, along with key business leaders including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk, addressed officials from both countries.
He also took a selfie at the White House.
What a great night! pic.twitter.com/XfdC9bJqP4
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) November 19, 2025
What did President Trump say about Ronaldo at the dinner?
President Trump emphasized in his speech that he had introduced Ronaldo to his teenage son.
President Trump thanked the athlete for his attendance. His youngest son, Baron, is a “huge fan” of Ronaldo, and the 19-year-old said he was impressed to have met the player.
“I think just the fact that I introduced you gave him a little bit more respect for his father,” the president said.
What does Ronaldo say about Trump?
Ronaldo recently said of President Trump, “He is one of the people who can help change the world.”
“[Trump]is one of the players I want to meet. I think he can make things happen and I like people like that,” the soccer icon said in an interview with media host Piers Morgan.
But Ronaldo quickly boasted that he was more famous than Trump.
“People know me better than he does. There’s no one more famous in the world than me.”
No, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has previously appeared at events with President Trump, was also among the guests.
Infantino met with President Trump at President Trump’s official residence two days ago, and then appeared again at the White House ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.
The FIFA chief is also scheduled to attend the World Cup draw that the United States will hold at Washington’s Kennedy Center on December 5, where President Trump is likely to oversee the tournament.
Will Ronaldo play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in America?
Ronaldo said earlier this month that the next World Cup would be his last.
He has not played in the United States since August 2014, when he came on as a substitute for Real Madrid in an exhibition match against Manchester United in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
