Cristiano Ronaldo’s $81 million private jet leaves Saudi Arabia after drone strikes hit the US embassy in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo’s luxury private jet quietly departed Saudi Arabia overnight as tensions escalated in the Middle East. Two drone strikes reportedly targeted the US embassy in Riyadh, raising fresh security fears across the region. Flight tracking data showed the Portuguese star’s $81 million aircraft leaving the Saudi capital and flying to Madrid. It remains unclear whether Ronaldo or his family were on board the plane during the late-night departure.

The incident comes amid growing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. As violence intensifies, thousands of foreign nationals are trying to leave the region. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s former teammate Rio Ferdinand has revealed how missile warnings in Dubai forced his family to take shelter.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s jet flies to Madrid as Middle East tensions rise

According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, Ronaldo’s Bombardier Global Express jet made a nearly seven-hour journey from Riyadh to Madrid. As reported by The Sun, the aircraft departed at 8pm and landed shortly before 1am local time. The route showed the jet flying over Egypt and across the Mediterranean Sea before touching down in the Spanish capital.

Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, lives in Riyadh with his partner Georgina Rodríguez and his five children. However, there has been no confirmation on whether the family was on the aircraft. The 41-year-old forward purchased the state-of-the-art jet in 2024 after selling his previous Gulfstream G200. The new plane can carry up to 15 passengers. It features a private suite with a double bed, a shower area and custom interiors decorated with Ronaldo’s logo and celebration silhouette.

The situation in the Gulf has unsettled many high-profile residents. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who now lives in Dubai, admitted he was frightened by the sounds of missile activity. Speaking on his podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, he described the past few days as deeply unsettling.

He explained that the week had been very unusual for his family. They tried to stay active together at home, almost like during Covid lockdowns. He said they had even started homeschooling the children. He described hearing missiles, jets and loud explosions overhead. He admitted they did not know exactly what was happening but said it was important to stay calm for the children. Ferdinand added that although the situation felt scary, he strangely felt protected. He revealed they were advised to move into the basement on the first night of the strikes and had been sleeping there with blankets.





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