DUBAI: Argentine model and reality TV star Georgina Rodriguez’s move to Riyadh after her long-time partner Cristiano Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabian football team Al-Nasr has attracted worldwide attention.
As the spotlight shifted from the football field to their family life, Rodriguez’s experiences in Riyadh became the subject of international interest, with fans from around the world flocking to her Instagram account to follow the family’s trips to the Saudi capital.
Since her arrival in Saudi Arabia in January, Rodriguez has shared snaps of her walks around the city, exploring the desert area surrounding Riyadh, and moments spent with Ronaldo and their children in the Kingdom.
Her first appearance in Riyadh came during Ronaldo’s signing ceremony with Al Nasr, when she caused a stir on social media as fans from Saudi Arabia and beyond rushed to copy her style on TikTok and Instagram.
Amassing millions of views, beauty fans online shared their thoughts on Rodriguez’s rosy makeup look, which featured rosy cheeks and a brown glazed lip that was trendy in January.
“Thank you so much to Saudi Arabia for such an amazing welcome,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “We are very excited about this new adventure with @alnassr_fc and would like to say thank you to everyone who made this possible.”
Once settled, the couple and their children began exploring Riyadh. Rodriguez and Ronaldo have two children, and Rodriguez is the stepmother of three other children.
Family activities they have enjoyed include going to the cinema, visiting shopping malls and visiting Boulevard World in Riyadh in January.
The entertainment zone, which was part of Riyadh’s seasonal celebrations, was filled with rides and entertainment for visitors of all ages, including zip lines, rides, carnival games and obstacle courses. The model took to Instagram to share a series of photos taken during the fun day, with the caption: “Riyadh, how beautiful you are.”
One photo shows her holding large stuffed animals while standing in front of the Sky Loop ride, which at 43m is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest portable roller coaster in the world.
That same week, the couple went on a romantic date to French fine-dining restaurant Le Maschou.
Rodriguez also closed the red carpet at the 2023 Joy Awards. The 29-year-old wore a navy velvet dress by Dubai-based Tunisian designer Ali Karoui, gold shoes from Italian luxury shoe maker Le Silla and jewelry from jewelry house Baharaini Kooheji.
Ronaldo also celebrated Rodriguez’s birthday in the Kingdom in the evening at the Armenian restaurant Lavash on the boulevard.
She was greeted with a three-tiered birthday cake with a floral design and “Happy Birthday” written in gold in Portuguese.
Rodriguez also surprised Ronaldo on his birthday and celebrated the special day in February with family and close friends at an intimate gathering.
Ronaldo took to Instagram to share a few snaps from the day, captioning the post: “Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes. Grateful to have spent this day with family and friends.”
In the photos, the football superstar can be seen posing in front of a table laden with birthday cakes. Another photo shows Ronaldo taking advantage of the winter weather during a trip to the Saudi desert, complete with blazing fires and traditional tents.
Rodriguez and Ronaldo, who have been in a relationship since 2016, celebrated their first Valentine’s Day in Saudi Arabia with a romantic dinner at Clap Riyadh restaurant.
On her Instagram page, Rodriguez posted a photo of their table in a Japanese restaurant, decorated with rose petals.
The photo’s caption read: “With my husband,” although the couple, who have been together for about seven years, are not married.
The Netflix star and her children supported Ronaldo during his matches against Al-Nasr, wearing team jerseys and cheering him on the pitch in almost every game.
On Friday, Rodriguez took her children to Ronaldo’s match against Al Nasr. He played against Al Ahly.
“How lucky we are,” Rodriguez wrote on her Instagram Stories, sharing a video of her children running around the soccer field.
While in Saudi Arabia, Rodriguez starred in several campaigns for Arab brands.
Rodriguez collaborated with Saudi label Laverne and answered questions about her time in the Kingdom in a clip in which the brand shared the perfume.
Rodriguez, from Riyadh, said: “I feel very safe in this country and really appreciate its family values” in a video posted on social media in August.
“I was very happy to be able to connect with this paradise on Earth. The power and magic of the Saudi desert is incredible,” she said when asked what she thought about visiting the desert region of the country earlier this year.
The model shared her excitement about Ramadan in Saudi Arabia.
She was also named an ambassador for Arabic lens brand Amara.
The family left the country for the summer holidays but returned to Riyadh in August.
When they returned, Rodriguez posted a carousel of images, captioning the post “Home” and heart emoji.
As Rodriguez continues to live in Saudi Arabia with Ronaldo, her trip to Riyadh promises to be a constant source of delight for fans around the world. With her enthusiasm for culture and active presence on social media, fans can look forward to more of her adventures and experiences in the heart of the Kingdom.