Image from Heute
Cristiano Ronaldo attended a gala dinner at the White House last night, organised by Donald Trump in honour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to international media reports. Among the high-profile guests were global figures such as Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang (of Nvidia) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
For Cristiano, the evening carried symbolic weight: during his speech, Trump mentioned that his 19-year-old son, Barron, is “a big fan” of the player, highlighting the family’s admiration in the audience. Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, reinforced his role as a bridge between Saudi sporting culture and the global stage — especially in such a significant diplomatic context.
The press points out that the dinner forms part of a broader diplomatic strategy: Trump is hosting the Saudi prince at a moment of strengthening ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and Ronaldo’s presence, as a global football star, bolsters the notion of cultural soft power. Beyond sport, there is also a political layer, as technology figures like Musk and business leaders were present to discuss — or at least witness — the occasion.
The event sparked mixed reactions: for some, it represents a legitimate move in modern diplomacy; for others, it symbolises a powerful intersection between sport, politics and wealth.
