The US president welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo to Washington D.C. this week
Cristiano Ronaldo’s go to to the White Home on Tuesday reignited one in all soccer’s most acquainted debates, after an official publish from the White Home’s X account referred to the Portuguese star and Donald Trump as “Two GOATs.”
The publish instantly drew consideration, not solely as a result of Ronaldo was seated prominently throughout Trump’s dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, however as a result of Lionel Messi now performs his membership soccer in america with Inter Miami and was not talked about in any respect.
Ronaldo was among the many high-profile company at a glitzy East Room gathering that additionally included enterprise leaders similar to Apple’s Tim Cook dinner and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
Trump highlighted Ronaldo throughout his remarks, recalling that he had launched the 40-year-old ahead to his son Barron.
The president joked that the assembly made his son “respect his father a bit bit extra.” The White Home then amplified the second on-line with its “Two GOATs” caption.
Messi, now the face of MLS, is arguably essentially the most seen footballer in america and stays one of many sport’s greatest world figures.
Many followers questioned why the administration selected to publicly label Ronaldo as a GOAT whereas overlooking Messi, particularly with the 2026 World Cup approaching and US soccer authorities closely invested in selling the Argentine’s presence within the nation.
Others identified the inconsistency that Trump, in a earlier interview, named Pele as his private biggest participant of all time reasonably than Ronaldo or Messi.
Ronaldo’s look additionally carried diplomatic weight. He has turn out to be a central determine in Saudi Arabia’s soccer challenge since becoming a member of Al Nassr on a large contract on the finish of 2022, later signing an extension with a membership majority-owned by the dominion’s sovereign wealth fund.
His presence at a White Home occasion honouring the Crown Prince symbolised the more and more intertwined political, monetary and sporting hyperlinks between america and Saudi Arabia.
It was additionally a uncommon go to to the US for Ronaldo, who final performed within the nation a decade in the past.
