The murmurs from the international football circuit are growing louder, suggesting a match that transcends the typical friendly encounter. The United States Men`s National Team (USMNT) is reportedly in discussions to host Portugal in a high-profile friendly in late March. While any clash with a top-tier European squad is significant for the burgeoning American side, this particular fixture carries an additional layer of intrigue: the potential return of Cristiano Ronaldo to U.S. soil for the first time in a decade. This isn`t merely about football; it`s about a global icon closing a contentious chapter, all against the backdrop of the USMNT`s rigorous build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Anticipated Showdown: Atlanta`s Stage for Sporting Ambition
Should the reports materialize, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, is earmarked as the likely venue. This 71,000-seat marvel, already a designated host for a 2026 World Cup semifinal, presents an ideal testing ground for both teams. For the USMNT, it`s an opportunity to gauge their mettle against one of the world`s elite – Portugal, currently ranked sixth by FIFA and fresh off a UEFA Nations League victory. For Portugal, it’s a chance to familiarize themselves with the host nation`s infrastructure, potentially coinciding with the grand opening of U.S. Soccer`s new $200 million training facility in Fayetteville, a stone`s throw from Atlanta.
This proposed friendly is a key component of the USMNT`s strategic blueprint. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, emphasizing the value of challenging encounters, stated after a recent defeat to South Korea,
“The highest level that we face, it`s more risk because I think maybe we are going to struggle to get the result at the moment but I think we are going to learn more.”
The team aims to face almost exclusively top-30 FIFA ranked opponents in the lead-up to 2026, with other potential fixtures including Belgium, France, Japan, and Uruguay, underscoring a clear, unwavering commitment to rigorous preparation.
A Decade in the Shadows: Ronaldo`s Protracted Absence from US Pitches
For many, the last time Cristiano Ronaldo graced a football pitch in the United States was in August 2014, an exhibition match for Real Madrid against Manchester United at Michigan Stadium. It was a simpler time for the now 40-year-old superstar, a period before a significant legal entanglement cast a long shadow over any potential return. Since then, his club teams—including Juventus, a second stint at Manchester United, and Al-Nassr—have, perhaps curiously, foregone pre-season tours to the U.S. during his tenure. Portugal`s national team similarly hasn`t played in the country since earlier that same summer.
The reasons behind this decade-long hiatus are well-documented, yet their resolution has only recently paved the way for such a visit. In 2017, allegations of a 2009 sexual assault in Las Vegas, made by Kathryn Mayorga, became public. Ronaldo and his legal team consistently denied these accusations, asserting that any encounter was consensual. What followed was a protracted, complex legal battle that spanned years and courts.
The Legal Labyrinth: A Chapter Closed
Initially, an out-of-court settlement and non-disclosure agreement were reached in 2010. However, the allegations resurfaced, prompting Mayorga to seek to void the agreement. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reopened the case in 2018, even issuing a warrant for Ronaldo`s DNA, which reportedly matched evidence from the incident. Yet, despite these developments, investigators faced significant hurdles, including difficulties in verifying published documents and a lack of cooperation from British police regarding an unrelated 2005 accusation.
Ultimately, in 2019, the Clark County District Attorney`s office decided not to file charges, citing that the “allegations of sexual assault against Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” The civil case brought by Mayorga in federal court was dismissed by a judge in June 2022. Adding a concluding note to this intricate saga, Mayorga`s attorney was later ordered to pay Ronaldo over $334,000 in legal fees for using stolen documents, with the appeal against this payment finally withdrawn in May 2024. With this, a contentious legal chapter, which effectively rendered the U.S. a no-go zone for the footballing legend, has finally closed.
More Than Just a Friendly: The Symbolic Weight of a Return
If Cristiano Ronaldo does indeed step onto the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it won`t just be another friendly; it will be a symbolic moment. It represents not only his return to a country where his global celebrity status is undeniably recognized but also the public affirmation of the legal resolution. For football enthusiasts, it`s a chance to witness, possibly for the last time on American soil, one of the sport`s all-time greats in action, a player who, even at 40, remains the focal point of a formidable Portuguese squad.
The anticipation isn`t solely about Ronaldo. It`s about the bigger picture: the USMNT`s audacious journey towards the 2026 World Cup. Every friendly against a team of Portugal`s caliber serves as a vital lesson, a stepping stone. The confluence of these narratives—a superstar`s long-awaited return and a nation`s World Cup dreams—promises a truly compelling spectacle, regardless of the scoreline. It`s a reminder that sometimes, the story surrounding the game can be as captivating as the game itself, especially when a decade of silence is finally broken.
Dominic Ashworth