According to Flightradar24 flight tracking data, Ronaldo's personal plane took off from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) at around 8 pm on March 1 and landed in Madrid (Spain) at 1 am the next morning (March 2).
The flight path shows the plane moving west, flying over Egypt and the Mediterranean region before landing in the capital of Spain - where he used to play for Real Madrid for many years.
This move comes as the regional situation escalates after airstrikes and military responses between Iran, Israel and the United States. Thousands are believed to be seeking to leave the Middle East, amid many commercial airlines suspending or adjusting flights for security reasons.
On the evening of March 2nd (local time), a spokesman for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense said that the US Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by 2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), causing a small fire and insignificant material damage. However, the US Diplomatic Mission in Saudi Arabia issued an "on-the-spot shelter" order for the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran.
There is currently no official information from Ronaldo or Al-Nassr club about the purpose of the trip. However, his private jet leaving Riyadh at a time of increasing tension has attracted great attention on social networks.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United and has since lived in Riyadh. According to sports sources, his income in Saudi Arabia is about £48.8 million per day, putting him in the group of highest-paid athletes in the world.
Unlike commercial flights that are being affected by conflict, Ronaldo owns a Bombardier Global Express 6500 aircraft - a luxury long-range specialized aircraft, allowing intercontinental travel without transit. This helps him to be proactive in his schedule in the context of tightened regional airspace.
In terms of expertise, Ronaldo is currently not in the best physical condition. He had to leave the field due to injury in Al-Nassr's 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha last weekend and is likely to be absent from the next match.
The AFC Champions League quarter-final match between Al-Nassr and Al-Wasl, scheduled for March 4, has also been postponed due to regional security. This decision further fuels speculation that foreign players in Saudi Arabia may temporarily leave until the situation stabilizes.
Ronaldo once had a period of resounding success at Real Madrid, where he won many major titles and became one of the legends of the Royal Spanish team. His special plane landing in Madrid therefore made fans even more interested, although it is not clear whether this is a short-term trip or a longer plan.
In the context of widespread instability and sports tournaments being directly affected by the Middle East security situation, every move of stars of Ronaldo's stature is closely monitored. However, so far, there has been no confirmation that his flight is directly related to the developments of the conflict, except for the coincidence of the timing.
