Cristiano Ronaldo’s team has confirmed that the star footballer remains in Saudi Arabia, despite a flurry of rumors that began circulating on Tuesday night. Speculation about the 41-year-old Al-Nassr striker’s potential departure intensified after his luxurious private jet was reportedly spotted landing in Madrid, Spain.
According to the flight tracking website Flightradar24, the player’s $81 million Bombadier Global Express private jet was observed landing in Madrid at dawn on March 3, 2026. This sighting prompted widespread reports in several major newspapers, including The Sun, Daily Mail, and Goal, suggesting Ronaldo had left the Middle Eastern country.
However, sources from the Al Riyadiyah newspaper, quoted by local media outlets, have explicitly confirmed Ronaldo is still in Saudi Arabia. These reports indicate that the Portuguese forward has been actively training with Al-Nassr at their facility in Riyadh. While news of his private jet’s travel to Spain circulated widely, there has been no official confirmation indicating that Ronaldo or members of his family were on board the flight.
Some sources suggested that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s private jet might have flown to Spain for reasons related to heightened regional tensions. These possibilities included the need to avoid potential damage or danger from any reported attacks targeting US military bases or interests in the region, or to relocate family members to Spain for safety.
The broader region of Saudi Arabia has experienced increased geopolitical tensions. Reports of retaliatory strikes and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran and US military bases, have contributed to a sense of instability. Such developments have led many expatriates to seek safe passage out of the area, with some reportedly traveling hundreds of kilometers on desert roads to access evacuation flights in neighboring Oman.
