Few moments can rattle the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump. And Cristiano Ronaldo walking into your office just might be one of them. On November 18, 2025, the world’s most recognizable football icon visited the White House with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And Trump’s reaction said it all.

Ronaldo came to the US along with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, and he was scheduled to meet the POTUS and his son. And when he did, Trump couldn’t keep calm, despite his calm demeanor during the talks. He confessed, “You know, my son is a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. We have Ronaldo here. And Barron got to meet him. And I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you. So, I just wanna thank you both for being here. Thank you very much. It’s really an honor.”

So, why exactly was Cristiano Ronaldo slated to meet Trump? The Portuguese star has become one of the most prominent players in the Saudi Pro League. And as per reports, the Saudi Arabian teams have spent more than $3 billion to sign some of the best players for the domestic league. For Ronaldo, it was a two-and-a-half-year contract with SPL side Al Nassr for $536.3 million, right after the 2022 Qatar World Cup. 

Additionally, Ronaldo signed a two-year extension for $710 million. And that will likely keep him at Al Nassr through the 2026-27 season. It’s worth noting that this team is one of the four SPL clubs that the Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Public Investment Fund owns. And as the star player, Ronaldo scored 83 goals with 17 assists in 84 starts over four seasons with Al Nassr. No wonder he had to appear to meet his benefactor, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. And that led him to the meeting with Donald Trump and his son. 

But his visit came at a time when soccer was gaining traction through Major League Soccer. There are only six months left until the FIFA World Cup begins. This time, Ronaldo will play for Portugal for the last time and compete alongside Lionel Messi (who’ll play for Argentina). And all this action has piqued an interest in Trump. The POTUS even said, “I’m having a really great time. Tremendous sport,” as Chelsea won the 2025 Club World Cup title. 

Beyond the surreal moment at the White House, Ronaldo’s presence also highlights the shifting landscape of global soccer. Specifically, the tug-of-war between MLS and SPL.

How is MLS different from SPL?

Well, both MLS and SPL are domestic leagues that are aggressively positioning themselves as the next big global destination for soccer. However, there’s a bit of a difference. The SPL has rapidly climbed into global prominence through unprecedented financial muscle. In the 2023 summer window alone, Saudi clubs spent $957 million, the second-highest net spend in world football that year. Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the league has invested an estimated $1.5 billion in player acquisitions since 2023, pushing to transform itself into a global destination for elite talent. And Cristiano Ronaldo is at the center of it all as one of the highest-paid athletes. 

Meanwhile, MLS builds itself more modestly. In the 2025 cycle, the league recorded about $336 million in expenditures. But it surged ahead in other metrics. Take the 2024 season, for example. It witnessed a record 11.45 million fans in the stadium, making it one of the highest-attended soccer leagues in the world. And the credit goes to Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s greatest rival. However, Messi earns $20.4 million annually, a fraction of Ronaldo’s earnings at SPL. 

While the SPL leans on mind-blowing contracts and rapid expansion, MLS focuses on strengthening its foothold ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s appearance at the White House alongside the Saudi Crown Prince simply explains how deeply politics and the sport are intertwined. Of course, Ronaldo did say, “Donald Trump is one of the guys that can help to change the world,” before meeting the POTUS. 

But what do you think about ‘CR7’s meeting with Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments down below.