Cristiano Ronaldo recently flew out of Saudi Arabia late at night aboard his £61 million luxury private jet, as a barrage of missiles rained down on the US Embassy in Riyadh. The 41-year-old, his partner Georgina Rodríguez and their five children are permanent residents of the Saudi capital, though it remains unconfirmed whether his family were on board the aircraft.
According to Iranian state media, two drones launched a night-time strike on the US diplomatic headquarters in Saudi Arabia. The nation in question also announced that it had destroyed a staff accommodation facility in Bahrain. As the bloody conflict enters its fourth day, thousands of foreign nationals are being evacuated from the Middle East region.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, has spoken out about the impact of the escalating tensions, with his family based in Dubai amid the unrest.
Reporter: How have the ongoing missile strikes and rising instability across the Middle East affected you and your family in Dubai?
Rio Ferdinand: I’m terrified. My family out in Dubai have been forced into a COVID-style lockdown amid these horrific missile strikes.
According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the Real Madrid legend’s private jet flew over the Mediterranean via Egypt before touching down in Madrid.
After selling his Gulfstream G200 – purchased for £16 million in 2015 – in 2024, Ronaldo spent a staggering £61 million on this state-of-the-art private jet. The sleek, all-black aircraft can accommodate up to 15 passengers, and is fitted with multiple private cabins, including a suite with a double bed and an en-suite shower area. The cabin is decorated throughout with the player’s personal logo and silhouettes of his iconic goal celebration.
