Al-Nassr is majority-owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund that Prince Mohammed chairs. The dinner was a rare US visit for Ronaldo, who has not played in the country since 2014. He is set to compete in a record sixth World Cup next year after Portugal qualified on Sunday for the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. However, he faces a likely ban for Portugal’s opening match after receiving his first red card in 23 seasons of international play.
Prince Mohammed’s Washington visit ends years of strained relations following the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul. US intelligence agencies concluded at the time the crown prince likely approved the operation, though he has denied involvement. The incident led to a diplomatic cooling of relations that lasted until this renewed engagement under Trump’s administration. During Tuesday’s meetings, Trump dismissed questions about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the Khashoggi case, calling one reporter “fake news” for raising the topic.
