Fact-Check: Did Ronaldo Embrace Islam by ‘Shahada’ Before King Salman of Saudi Arabia?

Fact-Check: Did Ronaldo Embrace Islam by ‘Shahada’ Before King Salman of Saudi Arabia?

A video circulating online claims that Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro has accepted Islam by reciting the ‘Shahada’ before King Salman of Saudi Arabia. The footage shows ‘Ronaldo’ alongside Arab Muslims, dressed in traditional Islamic attire and appearing to read from what looks like the Holy Quran.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, currently plays as captain for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. He joined the club after leaving English giants Manchester United on December 30, 2022, following a fallout with former coach Erik ten Hag. Ronaldo made his debut for Al Nassr on January 22, 2023.

Ronaldo also serves as captain of the Portuguese national team, setting numerous records in his illustrious career, which includes five Ballon d’Or awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards, four European Golden Shoes, and recognition as FIFA’s Best Player five times—the most by any European player. Over his career, he has won 33 trophies, including seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, the UEFA European Championship, and the UEFA Nations League. He holds records for numerous milestones, including most Champions League appearances (183), goals (140), assists (42), and international goals. 

Verification:

To verify the authenticity of the claim regarding Ronaldo’s conversion to Islam, PRNigeria fact-checked the fundamental criteria for a non-Muslim to convert: the recitation of the Shahada, which is a declaration of faith in Arabic in the midst of witnesses.

However, in the video making the rounds, there is no clear evidence of Ronaldo’s voice or gestures indicating that he took the ‘Shahada’ in front of witnesses, as required. A thorough search of various short videos did not reveal any footage where Ronaldo is heard or seen taking the ‘Shahada.’ 

While the claim included that Ronaldo was reciting the Quran with a “heart-touching” voice, there is again no evidence of this in the video. It is highly unlikely that a new convert would be able to recite the Quran fluently, let alone with emotional resonance, without significant time dedicated to learning it.

Further diligence led to investigations through reputable sports media outlets such as Sky Sports, DZN, and Al Jazeera, none of which reported on Ronaldo’s alleged conversion. 

Additionally, a reverse image search revealed that the original video had been posted by a TikTok user named Bewar on July 20, 2021, with the caption “Eat Mubarek???? (sic).” Bewar, an Iraqi national residing in Birmingham, U.K., bears a remarkable resemblance to Ronaldo and has previously stated that his similar looks have garnered him fame and attention.

In statements to the New York Post, Bewar mentioned that people frequently approach him for photos and videos, often shouting “Ronaldo!” His likeness has drawn invitations to events, including children’s birthday parties, leading to considerable earnings.

According to The Sun, one post – which racked up 4.3 million views and 120,000 likes – Bewar poses with a Ronaldo face mask covering his own, before pulling it down and revealing himself. His incredible likeness to the football star has led to people believing the real Ronaldo is behind the popular clips.

The original TikTok post, which has garnered millions of views and likes, features Bewar wearing a Ronaldo face mask, revealing himself underneath. This further blurs the line of understanding between the two individuals in viral video clips. 

The original video of Bewar Abdullah, who  is likened to Ronaldo, was posted by an X user, Mohammed Omar Hussein reading the Quran on July 20, 2021.

A detailed examination of the viral clip alleging that Ronaldo is reciting the Quran reveals that it has been edited to splice together footage of Ronaldo with that of Bewar Abdullah to create a misleading narrative. Sequences of Ronaldo in Arabian attire during Saudi National Day celebrations and interacting with Turki Al Sheikh are intercut with footage of Bewar reading the Quran, creating confusion about their identities. 

It is important to note that while Bewar has not impersonated Ronaldo, his striking resemblance has led to public curiosity and attention from mostly football fans

Conclusion: 

Based on the evidence presented and fact-checked by PRNigeria, we conclude that the claim regarding Ronaldo’s conversion to Islam is unfounded and based on digitally altered images. There is no public record of Ronaldo officially taking the Shahada but that of his look-like Bewar, an Iraqi residing in UK. 

PRNigeria concludes that the claim that Ronaldo has accepted Islam by taking the ‘Shahada’ before King Salman of Saudi Arabia is FALSE. 

By PRNigeria