Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly left Saudi Arabia as tension rises in the Middle East.
Reports say his private jet flew out of Riyadh late at night and landed in Madrid after a seven hour journey. Ronaldo plays for Al Nassr FC, who are based in Riyadh.
The move comes after reports of attacks in the region following rising conflict involving Iran and the United States. There were claims of a drone strike near the US Embassy in Riyadh. Iranian state media also reported damage to a building in Bahrain. Many foreign nationals have started to leave the region due to safety fears.
British newspaper Daily Mail and other outlets reported that Ronaldo’s Bombardier Global Express jet left Saudi Arabia for Europe. Data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft flew over Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea before landing in the Spanish capital shortly before 1am local time.
The US State Department has advised its citizens in parts of the Middle East to consider leaving. Reports also say thousands of British nationals are trying to exit Dubai.
Ronaldo owns a Bombardier Global Express 6500 jet which he bought in 2024 for about 61 million pounds. He had earlier sold his Gulfstream G200 to purchase the new aircraft. The jet can carry around 15 passengers and includes luxury seats, a double bed and a shower. It also carries his CR7 logo. His partner Georgina Rodríguez often travels with him on the jet.
Ronaldo is one of the highest paid players in football. He reportedly earns about 500,000 pounds per day at Al Nassr.
At the moment, he is out with a muscle injury. He suffered the problem during a recent Saudi Pro League match against Al Fayha FC. There are concerns about how serious the injury is.
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation has rescheduled some matches in the region due to the rising violence. West region games in the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 will be played at a later date. Some quarterfinal matches in other AFC tournaments have also been postponed.
Ronaldo may now be back in familiar surroundings. He spent nine years at Real Madrid CF from 2009 to 2018. He scored 450 goals and became the club’s all time top scorer. He also met Georgina during his time in Madrid. The couple announced their engagement in August 2025 and are planning to marry.
