'Children Of Sin': Ronaldo, Georgina's Relationship Causes Uneasy Chats In Saudi

Last Updated:August 26, 2025, 20:25 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez live openly in Riyadh, announce their engagement, and Ronaldo extends his Al Nassr contract to 2027.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez are together since 2016. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

When Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez announced their engagement this month, two things stood out: the massive diamond ring and their unmarried cohabitation in conservative Saudi Arabia.

The couple and their five children have lived in Saudi Arabia for over two years, despite laws against extramarital relationships.

Their situation highlights that while such matters are overlooked for foreigners, Saudis still need to marry before living together.

Foreign couples, including Muslims, can now live together or stay at hotels without being married, a recent development.

It’s part of a broader social transformation in Saudi Arabia, said Sebastian Sons of the German think tank CARPO. He noted that while conservative rules remain, they are applied more flexibly now.

In major cities, young Saudis can now mingle freely in public spaces after decades of gender separation, signalling the country’s liberalisation.

However, living together before marriage is still rare, mostly for the wealthy who discreetly share accommodations in upscale compounds.

Ronaldo, 40, and Rodriguez, 31, frequently post about their lavish lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, often with provocative poses in revealing clothing.

They have been largely embraced by the youthful Saudi population, two-thirds of whom are under 35, who reacted to their engagement with well-wishes, memes, and jokes.

However, some disapproved. “How could the land of the two holy mosques accept such impurity for two years?" posted Raad Mohammed on X, referring to Mecca and Medina. “Their children are children of sin," wrote another user, Asma.

It’s hard to imagine Ronaldo and Rodriguez in the Saudi Arabia of a few years ago, when religious police enforced a strict dress code and cinemas and live music were banned.

Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, much has changed as he tries to open up the country and reduce its economic dependence on oil.

Many women now forgo veils in urban centres, non-Muslim tourists are allowed, and women can legally drive since 2018.

Saudi petrodollars have attracted international stars and sports events, and new resorts and entertainment districts have emerged.

“In the past, we were strictly checking the marital status of guests," said a Riyadh-based hotel reservations manager named Al Waleed. “Now we don’t care about who stays with whom."

Ronaldo, signed by Al Nassr in early 2023, has been central to this strategy.

Since his arrival, other top players have joined him in the Saudi Pro League, and Saudi Arabia has won the 2034 World Cup hosting bid.

“Ronaldo has gained significant prominence within the Saudi football community, where he is seen as both a role model and an ideal ambassador for the government’s goal of placing Saudi Arabia on the global football map," said Sons.

Ronaldo and Rodriguez, soon to be married, will remain in Riyadh for some time. In June, after much speculation, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner extended his contract with Al-Nassr to 2027.

(With AFP Inputs)

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First Published:

August 26, 2025, 20:25 IST

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