Why did Ronaldo stay away from the US for 10 years due to sexual assault allegations?

Cristiano Ronaldo avoided traveling to the United States for over a decade due to the case of Kathryn Mayorga, who accused him of sexual assault in Las Vegas in 2009.

According to Lent.az, citing foreign media, Ronaldo has always denied these allegations, but the case was reopened, closed, and reopened several times in the US, threatening him with additional interrogations and court proceedings.

There was no official entry ban, but the risk of being investigated was real. Therefore, he did not travel even for commercial projects, and his last game on American soil was in 2014.

Everything changed in 2023 - the case was finally closed, with the court deeming it inadmissible due to errors in the accusation. It was then that the green light was given for his safe return.

Why now?

The trip was far from just a social visit. Ronaldo attended an official White House dinner and was invited along with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This was a political and media gesture: strengthening US-Saudi relations, highlighting Ronaldo's role as a global ambassador for Saudi football and a global soft power figure.

Moreover, the 2026 World Cup in North America is approaching. Ronaldo's return to the US after a long hiatus is not just about a closed case, but also preparation for a new global era in which America will once again become a key part of his public profile.