A star-studded selfie taken by Cristiano Ronaldo inside the White House has taken the internet by storm, showcasing an incredible gathering of global elites. However, in typical internet fashion, some netizens couldn't resist adding their own twist to the viral moment by digitally replacing the Portuguese football icon with his legendary rival, Lionel Messi.
The Viral Selfie That Broke The Internet
The original photograph, which has amassed over 2 million likes and thousands of comments, features an impressive lineup of high-profile personalities. Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who snapped the selfie, the image includes FIFA President Gianni Infantino, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and his wife Allison, as well as Ronaldo's partner Georgina Rodriguez.
Following the exclusive event, South African entrepreneur David Sacks shared the now-viral selfie on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption "Great night!" The post quickly gained massive traction across social media platforms.
Internet's Hilarious Reaction: The Messi Twist
While the original photo received overwhelming attention, creative netizens decided to put their own spin on the moment. One user posted an edited version of the photo with Ronaldo replaced by Lionel Messi, captioning it simply "fixed it." The humorous edit sparked a wave of reactions, with many others jokingly asking "Who did this?" in the comments.
This digital switcheroo highlights the ongoing friendly rivalry between the two football legends that continues to capture the imagination of fans worldwide, even in the most unexpected settings.
Trump's Lavish Dinner For Saudi Crown Prince
The gathering took place during a lavish dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) in honor of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This marked MBS's first visit to the US in seven years, following the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi that had sparked global outrage.
The prestigious event attracted prominent names from various fields across the globe. Among the distinguished guests were tech titans including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Tesla boss Elon Musk, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, along with sports stars like golfer Bryson DeChambeau and soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to reports, guests were treated to an exquisite menu featuring pistachio-crusted rack of lamb followed by a delicate pear dessert layered in rich couverture mousse.
Trump's Personal Connection With Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo received special recognition during the event, being seated near the front of the East Room, just a short distance from where President Trump and the crown prince delivered their addresses to officials from both nations.
In his speech, President Trump made a point of acknowledging the Portuguese star, revealing that he had introduced Ronaldo to his teenage son Barron. "Barron got to meet him. And I think he respects his father a little bit more, now, just the fact that I introduced you," Trump said during his address.
The US President thanked Ronaldo for attending the dinner and noted that his 19-year-old son Barron is a "big fan" of the football legend and was clearly impressed by the meeting.
Ronaldo's presence at such high-profile events underscores his global stature beyond football. The Al-Nassr star has been the face of the Saudi soccer league since joining the Saudi club at the end of 2022 on a reported $200 million-a-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
