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football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo Will be at the White House on Tuesday, where the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia will be mohammed bin salman meeting the US President donald trump For a journey full of pomp and show.
Details of Ronaldo’s involvement were first reported by MS Now and confirmed to The Associated Press by two people familiar with the incident. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans were confidential.
Ronaldo has been the face of the Saudi Football League since joining Saudi club Al-Nassr on a contract reportedly worth $200 million a year at the end of 2022.
The 40-year-old Portuguese star signed a two-year extension in June with Al-Nassr, which is majority-owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which is chaired by the Crown Prince.
Visiting the White House for the first time since a period of diplomatic isolation began in 2018 following the assassination of Prince Mohammed Washington Journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s capture by Saudi agents at a consulate office in Istanbul. US intelligence agencies determined that Prince Mohammed likely directed the operation. He has denied any involvement in the murder.
It will also be a rare US visit for Ronaldo, who has not played in the country since 2014.
In 2017, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Ronaldo had several years earlier paid $375,000 to a woman who had accused him of raping her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. Ronaldo’s lawyers said the sex was consensual and no criminal charges were ever filed.
world cup connection
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup after this fifa And its chairman Gianni Infantino shaped a fast-track bidding process two years ago, helping to ensure there were no rival bids.
Ronaldo promoted that bid last December when Saudi victory was confirmed, “After what I saw, I am even more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever.”
Ronaldo is set to play in a record sixth edition of the World Cup next year after Portugal qualified for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico on Sunday. However, he is likely to be banned by FIFA for Portugal’s first game next June after receiving his first red card last week in 23 seasons playing for the national team.
Portugal will find out its World Cup opponents at the draw for the tournament on December 5, which Trump is scheduled to attend at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Trump has closely associated himself with the 2026 World Cup. In the Oval Office he has a copy of the golden trophy lent to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Trump and Prince Mohammed are expected to seal defense and trade deals worth billions of dollars.
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Dunbar contributed from Geneva
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer