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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Cristiano Ronaldo visited the White House connected Tuesday arsenic President Donald Trump held a high-profile meal successful honour of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The shot prima was seated adjacent the beforehand of the East Room, adjacent to the spot wherever Trump and the crown prince addressed officials from some countries and starring concern figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla laminitis Elon Musk. During his speech, Trump made definite to admit
Ronaldo
, saying helium had introduced the Portuguese subordinate to his teenage son. Ronaldo has been the starring look of the Saudi Pro League since joining Al-Nassr astatine the extremity of 2022 connected a reported declaration worthy USD 200 cardinal a year. The 40-year-old signed a two-year hold with Al-Nassr successful June. The nine is bulk owned by the Saudi sovereign wealthiness fund, which is chaired by the crown prince. Trump thanked Ronaldo for being present. He mentioned that his youngest son, Barron, is simply a “big fan” and that the 19-year-old was thrilled to conscionable him. “Barron got to conscionable him. And I deliberation helium respects his begetter a small spot much now, conscionable the information that I introduced you,” Trump said. Prince Mohammed was astatine the White House for the archetypal clip since diplomatic ties became strained successful 2018 aft Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents wrong a consulate successful Istanbul.
US quality agencies concluded that the crown prince apt ordered the operation, though helium has denied immoderate role. It was an uncommon sojourn to the United States for Ronaldo, who has not played successful the state since 2014. In 2017, German mag Der Spiegel reported that Ronaldo had antecedently paid USD 375,000 successful hush wealth to a pistillate who accused him of raping her astatine a Las Vegas edifice successful 2009. His lawyers said the brushwood was consensual and nary transgression charges were filed.
World Cup connection
Saudi Arabia volition big the 2034 World Cup aft FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, acceptable up a accelerated bidding process 2 years agone that efficaciously prevented immoderate competing bid. Ronaldo supported the bid, saying past December, erstwhile the hosting rights were confirmed, that “after what I see, I'm much convinced that 2034 volition beryllium the champion World Cup ever.” Ronaldo is expected to play astatine a grounds sixth World Cup adjacent twelvemonth aft Portugal qualified connected Sunday for the tournament, which volition beryllium hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He volition apt miss Portugal's opening lucifer adjacent June due to the fact that helium received his archetypal reddish paper for the nationalist squad past week successful his 23rd season. Portugal volition observe its World Cup radical connected December 5 during the gully astatine the Kennedy Center successful Washington, which Trump is expected to attend. Trump has powerfully aligned himself with the 2026 World Cup. In the Oval Office helium keeps a transcript of the aureate trophy, loaned to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
