Ronaldo Leaves Saudi Arabia as Middle East Tensions Escalate

Ronaldo Leaves Saudi Arabia as Middle East Tensions Escalate

Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly left Saudi Arabia amid rising security concerns linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Reports indicate that the Al-Nassr forward departed Riyadh overnight aboard his private jet as fears of further retaliatory strikes in the region intensified.

The 41-year-old is said to have flown to Madrid in his £61 million ($81 million) Bombardier Global Express 6500 aircraft, with the journey lasting nearly seven hours. The flight reportedly passed over Egypt and the Mediterranean before landing in the Spanish capital shortly before 1 a.m. local time.

Riyadh, where Ronaldo resides with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and their five children, has been listed among cities allegedly targeted in retaliatory actions by Iran following recent U.S. and Israeli military operations.

Iranian state media claimed that a command facility in Bahrain was destroyed, while reports also suggested that two drones struck the U.S. embassy in Riyadh overnight.

Although there has been no confirmation that Ronaldo was directly affected, heightened tensions across the region have prompted a wave of precautionary departures by foreign nationals.

The U.S. State Department has advised Americans to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, and several flights bound for Riyadh were reportedly diverted as a safety measure.

Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in a high-profile move, has been sidelined recently due to injury. He is reported to earn about £488,000 per day under his current contract.

The luxury jet used for the trip was acquired in 2024 after he sold his Gulfstream G200. The all-black Bombardier aircraft can accommodate up to 15 passengers and is said to feature a lounge area, bedroom suite, private shower and customised CR7 branding.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Ronaldo nor his representatives have issued an official statement regarding the purpose of his departure.