The Ring of Power. No, it’s not just your everyday Lord of the Rings analogy. It’s the coming together of three of the most influential people in the world. When Cristiano Ronaldo walked into the office of Donald Trump, it wasn’t just a casual stroll. No one saw it coming, but Ronaldo wasn’t alone. His visit had more significance that we know not of, but if the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is also in the mix, then it’s something worth taking notice of. And Trump’s reaction spoke louder than words.

Barron Trump’s fascination with Ronaldo, if it wasn’t common knowledge before, it’s now a highlight. The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, and Ronaldo met the POTUS and his son on November 18 at the White House. Trump couldn’t barely contain his excitement, 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.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and his wife, Georgina, were in Washington, D.C. while Portugal had their qualifying final against Armenia for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. If you’re wondering why Ronaldo would shirk his official duties, he didn’t. A red card during Portugal’s match against Ireland took him off the field. So, he had time on his hands, or at least he made time. This ‘sightseeing’ trip after 7 years wasn’t exactly off the cards. If you recall, Ronaldo made a comment about Donald Trump’s prowess just a couple of weeks earlier in a high-profile interview with Piers Morgan – “Donald Trump is one of the guys that can help to change the world.”

Doesn’t look too much like coincidence, does it? The visit has drawn intrigue, but the timing of Ronaldo’s visit cannot be entirely ignored. With the U.S. playing host along with Mexico and Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it looks like Ronaldo is testing the waters or fields, as he enters his sixth World Cup representing Portugal. Is this enough to draw attention to the tournament? It seemingly has, since all eyes are now inquisitively looking for answers as to the intent of the meeting.

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 probably 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. Accompanying his benefactor, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is a given.

Trump himself has been vocally advocating for soccer – remember his appearance at the Club World Cup Finals? The POTUS even said, “I’m having a really great time. Tremendous sport,” as Chelsea won the 2025 Club World Cup title. Cristiano Ronaldo has landed on U.S. soil at a time when some of the biggest names in soccer are currently active in the MLS, Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, to name a few. If you have any fleeting thought about Ronaldo joining the MLS, it’s a good dream. The MLS is still establishing itself at the forefront of American sports. 

The significance and recognition of the MLS is still a work in progress, on the other hand, the Saudi Premiere League has some of the most lucrative contracts for a domestic league. How far apart are these two leagues?

How does the MLS differ from Cristiano Ronaldo’s SPL?

Well, both the 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 signals to a seismic shift, maybe in paper or in reality , but it certainly has given the rumor mills fodder to churn.

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.