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Nieuws
- 3 hours ago
Cristiano Ronaldo criticised in Portugal after Donald Trump meeting
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 20 Nov 2025 08:37 CST
- 8 min read
Nieuws
Cristiano Ronaldo has received criticism in his home nation of Portugal after attending a dinner at the White House to meet President Donald Trump.
CR7 attended the dinner alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as the football superstar has become the face of Saudi Arabia's modernisation campaign, which seeks to improve its image around the world.
With criticism over human rights abuses continuing following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a campaign to improve its image via entertainment. Consequently, many of the biggest sports in the world have regular events in the country.
Whether it be high-profile boxing matches, LIV golf, or even WWE Wrestlemania, Saudi Arabia is looking to use sport to enhance its image - an act known as 'sportswashing'.
Ronaldo has received criticism previously for his relationship with the Saudis due to his status as a worldwide role model, and meeting Trump has only exacerbated the negative feelings towards the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.
At the black-tie event, Trump turned to Ronaldo during his speech and said: "My son is a big fan of Ronaldo.
"And Barron (Trump) got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you."
Following the event, Ronaldo posted on Instagram:
"Thank you Mr. President for your invitation and for the warm welcome you and the First Lady gave me and my future wife, Georgina. Each of us has something meaningful to give, and I stand ready to do my part as we inspire new generations to build a future defined by courage, responsibility and lasting peace."
Trump is rarely far from controversy himself, and a particularly sensitive issue in Portugal is the United States' supply of arms to Israel.
Ronaldo was suspended for Portugal's last qualifier for the World Cup and opted to travel to the USA to meet Trump rather than be in attendance for the match.
"Attend the last qualifying match of the national team? No, because he doesn't like to be the centre of attention," journalist Ana Garcia Martins sarcastically wrote on social media.
"Go to the White House to pat Trump's back in front of everyone? Of course, no problem."
Ronaldo criticism
CNN Portugal journalist Tiago Andre Lopes said of the event:
“Cristiano Ronaldo did not need this. He is a player with an extraordinary record, known worldwide, and he did not need to associate himself with a government accused of human rights violations. He did not need to link his name to a king, in this case the Saudi Crown Prince, who is suspected of ordering the death of a dissident, Jamal Khashoggi.
“It is hard to believe that Ronaldo was personally invited without being associated with the Saudi delegation. He has immense wealth and enjoys unanimous respect in the country of his birth. He has also projected an image of peace, often supporting humanitarian causes anonymously. He did not need to place his name in such a position. He risks aligning himself with a regime whose record on human rights leaves much to be desired.
“This visit is, above all, an attempt by Saudi Arabia to normalise its image on the international stage, and the Portuguese player has allowed himself to be used to soften the regime’s reputation. Ronaldo allowed himself to be instrumentalised. I understand that the regime is his current employer, the place where he now pursues his career, but even so, this seems to me a deeply unworthy role for a player who, until now, has remained largely apolitical.”
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