Cristiano Ronaldo’s £61 million private jet departed Saudi Arabia overnight, flying to Madrid amid rising tensions following a drone attack on the US embassy in Riyadh.
Flight tracking data indicates the Bombardier Global Express left at 8:00 p.m. local time and landed in Spain nearly seven hours later, routing over Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Ronaldo, 41, lives in Riyadh with partner Georgina Rodriguez and their five children.
Escalating Middle East Conflict
Riyadh faces Iranian missile strikes as regional fighting reaches its fourth day. Two drones struck the US embassy overnight, while Iranian state media reports the destruction of a command building in Bahrain.
The US State Department urges Americans to leave countries east of Egypt due to security threats. Multiple flights to Riyadh divert, stranding thousands of foreign nationals desperate to escape the conflict zone.
Ronaldo’s Luxury Jet and Injury Update
Ronaldo purchased the all-black Bombardier Global Express 6500 in 2024 for £61 million, upgrading from a £16 million Gulfstream G200 bought in 2015. The jet seats up to 15 passengers and features a double bed suite, shower, and custom logos.
Rodriguez used the aircraft last week for a Milan trip, sharing an Instagram photo with her 72 million followers. Ronaldo, earning £488,000 daily at Al-Nassr, sustained a muscle injury in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Al-Fahya. Al-Nassr’s Asian Champions League Two quarter-final against Al-Wasl is postponed due to the unrest.
Broader Military Developments
Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated region-wide, killing six US service members and injuring 18. US Central Command destroyed Iranian military assets.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “The United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better – As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons. Wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies.” He noted additional stockpiles in allied nations.
Explosions rocked Dubai, Doha, Manama, and Jerusalem, with Israeli defenses intercepting missiles. US warplanes crashed in Kuwait, but pilots survived.
Evacuations and Sports Disruptions
Nearly 94,000 British citizens in the UAE registered for evacuation with the Foreign Office. Dubai celebrities described relentless blasts as the “scariest nights of our lives” while sheltering indoors.
The Asian Football Confederation postponed West Region matches in AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and AFC Challenge League until further notice, prioritizing safety. East Region fixtures proceed as planned.
