- Cristiano Ronaldo departs Riyadh for Madrid amid regional tensions
- Private jet tracked over Egypt and the Mediterranean
- Al-Nassr forward sidelined by injury, football activities suspended
- Middle East unrest causes mass evacuations and flight disruptions
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly left Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Flight data shows his private jet departed Riyadh for Madrid on Monday evening.
Flight-tracking records indicate that Ronaldo’s £61 million Bombardier Global Express 6500 took off from Riyadh at approximately 8 p.m. and landed in Madrid around 1 a.m., travelling westward over Egypt and the Mediterranean. Madrid is where the five-time Ballon d’Or winner previously starred for Real Madrid.
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The 41-year-old forward, who currently plays for Al-Nassr, has been living in Riyadh since joining the club from Manchester United in December 2022. Reports indicate he earns around £488,000 per day under his contract. Ronaldo is currently sidelined by injury after being substituted during Al-Nassr’s 3–1 victory over Al-Fayha on Saturday and is not expected to feature in the next match.
The development comes amid a wave of evacuations by residents and expatriates from parts of the region following Iranian retaliatory strikes linked to recent attacks involving Israel and the United States. On Tuesday, the Saudi Ministry of Defence confirmed that two drones hit the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, causing a limited fire and minor damage.
As a result, Saudi football activities have been suspended, and continental fixtures in the region have been postponed. The Asian Football Confederation announced the rescheduling of AFC Champions League and AFC Challenge League matches in the West Region, while East Region fixtures will continue as planned.
Riyadh has become a key exit point for wealthy individuals and senior executives seeking to leave the region. Private security firms are arranging transport from Dubai to Riyadh, followed by chartered flights to Europe. According to Ameerh Naran, CEO of Vimana Private, private jets from Riyadh to Europe now cost up to $350,000 (₦479 million).
The sudden departure of Ronaldo highlights the growing security concerns for high-profile figures and football professionals in the region.