Ronaldo Departs Riyadh Amid Iranian Drone Strike on US Embassy

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star and captain of Saudi club Al-Nassr, departed Riyadh on his private jet Monday evening, arriving in Madrid early Tuesday amid heightened tensions from Iranian drone strikes on the U.S. embassy in the Saudi capital.

Flight tracking data indicated that Ronaldo's Bombardier Global Express, a luxury aircraft valued at around 80 million euros and customized with his CR7 branding, left Riyadh at approximately 8 p.m. local time. The nearly seven-hour journey passed over Egypt and the Mediterranean before landing shortly before 1 a.m. in Spain. While it remains unconfirmed whether Ronaldo, his partner Georgina Rodriguez, or their five children were aboard, the timing coincided with reports of the family seeking safer surroundings. Ronaldo, who has lived in Riyadh since joining Al-Nassr in early 2023, owns a mansion in Madrid's upscale La Finca neighborhood.

The departure followed an Iranian drone attack on the U.S. embassy compound in Riyadh early Tuesday, which Saudi officials described as causing a limited fire and minor material damage. No injuries were reported from the strike, which involved two drones. This incident is part of Iran's...