Ronaldo at the White House dinner, Washington, DC, US on 18/11. Photo: Reuters

Ronaldo garnered attention at the state dinner hosted by President Trump at the White House on 18/11, honoring Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. This marked the Portuguese superstar's first public appearance in the US since 2016.

Approximately 200 guests attended the formal event in the East Room, the largest room in the White House. Attendees included prominent business leaders, politicians, and global influencers, such as Elon Musk and members of the Trump family. Many US and Saudi Arabian businesspeople were also present, advancing bilateral economic agreements. The two nations are also seeking to strengthen defense cooperation, including plans to sell F-35 aircraft to Riyadh.

Dressed in a black tuxedo and bow tie, Ronaldo quickly captured everyone's attention. During his opening remarks, President Trump specifically highlighted the 40-year-old superstar. He shared that his son, Barron, is a huge fan of Ronaldo and was "overwhelmed" to meet his idol in person. The 79-year-old President joked that his son "might respect his father more" simply because he met Ronaldo at the White House.

Ronaldo last played in the US in August 2014, coming on as a substitute in a match between Real Madrid and Man Utd before over 109,000 spectators in Michigan. In 2016, Ronaldo also visited the US after winning the Euro championship with the Portuguese national team. Media reports suggest Portugal might play a friendly match against the US in March 2026.

Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr, now in his fourth season in the Saudi Pro League. Despite not yet leading the team to a domestic championship, he maintains an average of one goal per game at 40 years old. He also holds the record for scoring over 100 goals for four different clubs. The Portuguese captain is also the most followed person on Instagram, with over 668 million followers.

By Hoang An (via USA Today, Reuters)