Trump praises Ronaldo during White House dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: 'It's an honor'

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was seen astatine the White House for meal connected Tuesday night, arsenic his quality coincided with President Donald Trump hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

During the black-tie affair, Ronaldo — making his archetypal U.S. quality successful astir a decennary — got a shoutout from the president.

"My lad is simply a large instrumentality of Ronaldo," Trump said during a code to a radical that included Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook. "And Barron got to conscionable him, and I deliberation helium respects his begetter a small spot much present that I’ve introduced you. Thank you for being here, it’s an honor."

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U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia during a bilateral gathering successful the Oval Office of the White House connected Nov. 18, 2025 successful Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Ronaldo has besides shared however helium feels astir Trump, who precocious said "he’s 1 of the guys that tin assistance to alteration the world" during an interrogation with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo has been playing successful Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr successful the Saudi Pro League. The 40-year-old signed a two-year declaration hold to stay with the club, reportedly worthy much than $400 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo attends a meal hosted by President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C., U.S., Nov. 18, 2025. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)

With Portugal qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo is acceptable to vie successful his sixth tourney adjacent summertime successful North America. He and Argentina’s Lionel Messi volition marque past erstwhile they measurement connected the transportation arsenic the lone players to ever look successful six men’s World Cups.

SOCCER LEGEND CRISTIANO RONALDO SAYS TRUMP ‘CAN CHANGE THE WORLD’

Ronaldo said this volition "definitely" beryllium his past quality for Portugal connected the World Cup stage. There was a question astir whether he’d play successful different tourney pursuing the team’s stunning nonaccomplishment to Morocco successful the erstwhile World Cup.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, left, celebrates with his teammate Diogo Jota aft helium scored his side's 2nd extremity during the Euro 2020 radical B qualifying shot lucifer betwixt Luxembourg and Portugal astatine the Josy Barthel stadium successful Luxembourg successful November 2019.  (AP/Francisco Seco)

But Ronaldo has been playing for Al-Nassr since then, moving from Manchester United to the Saudi Pro League. While it was an unexpected determination by 1 of the champion shot players of each time, helium has embraced his caller home, wherever helium serves arsenic an ambassador for the kingdom’s tourism authority.

Trump has besides been heavy progressive successful the sport, with his FIFA task unit preparing for adjacent year’s tournament, which volition beryllium played successful the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Trump announced the "FIFA Pass" alongside the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino, connected Monday — a caller inaugural for summons holders astir the globe who volition beryllium entering the U.S. for the World Cup.

The caller strategy volition let World Cup ticketholders to person precedence interviews to get visas. Trump besides noted that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security person been moving "tirelessly" to "ensure that shot fans from each astir the satellite are decently vetted and capable to travel to the United States adjacent summertime easily."

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier lucifer betwixt Republic of Ireland and Portugal astatine Aviva Stadium connected Nov. 13, 2025 successful Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

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"I’ve directed my medication to bash everything wrong its powerfulness to marque the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success. I deliberation it’s going to beryllium the greatest, and we are mounting records connected summons sales," Trump added.

The World Cup is acceptable to statesman June 11, 2026, and reason July 19, 2026, astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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