The White House was the scene of a major diplomatic and star-studded event on Tuesday night, as US President Donald Trump hosted a lavish dinner for Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Among the most talked-about guests was global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, whose presence signaled his return to the United States after an absence of over a decade.
Ronaldo, who captains the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr (majority-owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund chaired by MBS), was seated prominently in the East Room alongside figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk, blending the worlds of global sport, business, and diplomacy.
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President Trump personally acknowledged the star, noting that he had introduced the Portuguese player to his teenage son, Barron, calling him “a big fan.”
Years of Absence and the Mayorga Case
Ronaldo’s appearance in Washington is highly significant, as it marks his first visit to the United States since 2014. For years, the player and his clubs (Juventus and Manchester United) avoided matches on US soil due to ongoing legal concerns related to a 2009 rape allegation.
History of the Case:
- 2009 Allegation: During a visit to Las Vegas, Ronaldo met Kathryn Mayorga at a nightclub. Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo raped her in his hotel suite. She reported the incident the next day but did not initially name Ronaldo.
- 2010 Settlement: An out-of-court settlement was reached where Ronaldo’s team paid Mayorga $375,000 in exchange for a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Ronaldo has consistently maintained that the encounter was completely consensual.
- Case Resurfaces (2017-2018): The case was thrust back into the public eye in 2017 following details published by Der Spiegel from the “Football Leaks” hack. Mayorga waived her anonymity and filed a civil complaint seeking to void the original settlement, claiming she was coerced into signing the NDA.
- Criminal Investigation: Las Vegas police reopened the investigation in 2018 but announced in July 2019 that no criminal charges would be pursued due to a lack of evidence.
- Civil Suit Dismissed (2022): The civil lawsuit was definitively dismissed with prejudice by a US District Judge in June 2022. The judge ruled that Mayorga’s attorney was guilty of misconduct for using “purloined” confidential documents, determining that the severity of the misconduct prevented Ronaldo from receiving a fair trial. The case was finalized in favor of Ronaldo in late 2023 when a US appeals court rejected Mayorga’s final attempt to revive the suit.
The legal closure of the matter effectively removed the risk of detention or judicial involvement, paving the way for the superstar’s high-profile return to the United States. Ronaldo’s presence at the dinner underscores his close association with the Saudi Crown Prince, who chairs the Public Investment Fund (PIF) that backs his football club.