The football world erupted with the announcement: Portugal will face the United States in March 2026 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, marking Cristiano Ronaldo’s first appearance on U.S. soil in nearly 12 years.
His last game in the country dates back to August 2014, when he featured for Real Madrid against Manchester United in front of 109,318 fans at Michigan Stadium.
After that day… nothing. No U.S. tours with Juventus, no pre-season with Manchester United, no friendly matches with Portugal — and no promotional events either.
The reason wasn’t football. It was legal.
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of sexual assault by Kathryn Mayorga, who claimed the incident occurred in a Las Vegas hotel. Ronaldo always denied the accusation, calling it false and defamatory, but the case instantly became an international media storm.
While the lawsuit remained active, entering the United States carried a serious risk:
he could be detained, questioned, or legally compelled to participate in the case.
To avoid that scenario, Ronaldo chose not to enter the U.S. at all, even as his clubs toured the country regularly.
“Everything that has been published is false. They are fake news. They want to promote themselves using my name.”
Still, the case loomed over him for years.
The situation finally changed in 2023, when the court handling the case decided to dismiss the lawsuit entirely.
In a 42-page ruling, the judge declared that the plaintiff “loses her opportunity to pursue this case,” effectively closing the matter once and for all.
According to The Athletic, Mayorga’s lawyer was ordered to pay Ronaldo $334,000 in compensation, confirming that the footballer's record was legally and reputationally restored.
With the case dismissed and no legal obstacles remaining, Cristiano was finally free to return to U.S. territory.
Now, with all legal barriers removed, Cristiano Ronaldo will step onto American soil again — this time leading Portugal in a marquee World Cup-build-up match.
Twelve years after his last appearance, the United States opens its doors to him once more.
No shadows. No legal risks. Just football — and a global spotlight.
