It was in a television interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, a longtime friend of Donald Trump, that Cristiano Ronaldo asked Morgan for a favor.
–He (Trump) is one of those who can change or help change the world. And that is my goal: to meet Trump and talk about world peace. Can you arrange it?, Ronaldo said in the interview according to British media.
Two Saudi meetings
It seems that Morgan took him at his word, because now there will be a meeting, reports media from the White House in Washington. It also takes place on the same day that Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is expected to buy fighter jets from the United States. Ronaldo plays for the Saudi team al-Nassr.
In addition to the Saudi connection, the football star and the Saudi crown prince have in common that they have also been criminal suspects in the United States and have not visited the country – officially, at least – for many years, so as not to risk being arrested. US intelligence concluded that it was Mohammed bin Salman who gave the green light to murder the Saudi regime critic Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Accused of rape
Ronaldo was accused of rape by an American woman in 2009. She was reportedly paid the equivalent of 3.7 million kronor to not report the soccer star, but later sued Ronaldo. The judge dismissed the case in 2022. Ronaldo has denied the allegations.
According to reports in The Athletic and several American media outlets, Portugal will face the United States in an international match in Atlanta in March next year, most likely with Cristiano Ronaldo on the field. This is in preparation for the World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico next summer.
