Cristiano Ronaldo takes selfie with Elon Musk (Image: X)
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was among the headline guests at a black-tie White House dinner Tuesday night hosted by President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the deepening ties between the U.S.
Trump introduced the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward by telling guests that his son Barron is “a big fan” of Ronaldo and joked that the meeting made his teenager “respect his father a little bit more.”
The event also served as a showcase of Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports footprint. Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in late 2022 on a contract reported at more than $200 million a year helped open the door for other stars, including Neymar Jr. and Karim Benzema, to join the Saudi Pro League. The kingdom has also bankrolled the breakaway LIV Golf tour, hosted Formula One races and stadium boxing cards, and will stage the 2034 World Cup after running unopposed for hosting rights.
A selfie from inside the East Room, apparently snapped by Ronaldo and shared by tech investor David Sacks, quickly went viral online, showing Ronaldo seated alongside Elon Musk, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and OpenAI president Greg Brockman, among others.
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