President Trump hosted a black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday night, welcoming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and featuring soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo among the guests. During his speech, Trump noted that his son Barron is a fan of Ronaldo and had met him earlier in the evening. “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo,” Trump said. “And Barron got to meet him and I think he respects his father a little bit more now that I’ve introduced you. Thank you for being here, it’s an honor.” Ronaldo expressed admiration for Trump, stating that the American president is “one of the guys who can help change the world.” The 40-year-old Portugal captain will represent his country in next summer’s World Cup in North America, becoming the first player to participate in six men’s World Cups alongside Lionel Messi. Ronaldo currently plays club soccer for Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr and has become a prominent ambassador for the kingdom’s tourism authority since joining from Manchester United in 2023. Earlier this month, Ronaldo shared his admiration for Trump in an interview with Piers Morgan, discussing a personalized football shirt he gifted him. “If the world is at peace, that’s our goal,” Ronaldo said. “And that’s my main objective: to meet Trump and talk about world peace.” He added, “I really like Trump and wish one day to meet him, suggesting that [Trump] can make things happen.” The event included notable attendees such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook.