Is Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best football players in the history of the game, considering converting to Islam? Former Al Nassr Saudi goalkeeper Walid Abdullah claims the answer is yes.
Abdullah, who played with the Portuguese star last year, spoke on a Saudi Arabian TV program and said: "I really think Ronaldo wants to convert to Islam. I talked to him about it and he expressed interest. There was already one time when he prostrated on the field. He always encouraged other players to pray and follow Islamic commandments."
The 38-year-old goalkeeper added: "Every time there was training and the call to prayer was heard, Ronaldo would ask to stop the training and only resume it after the call to prayer ended." Abdullah further stated: "I was close to Cristiano in the beginning when he wasn't familiar with the customs. But he was very interested and asked questions."
Last year, there were already reports circulating that Ronaldo was considering converting to Islam and had even consulted on the matter with his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, who also moved to play in the Saudi Arabian league.
So what does Ronaldo really think about the Israel-Gaza War?
Well, a comprehensive investigation has revealed that several widely circulated claims about Cristiano Ronaldo's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict are fabricated. Let's examine the facts:
Latest Fabricated Quote
A viral quote allegedly from Ronaldo stating "If I say I love Israel like other football players do, I would be chosen as the best player in the world every year..." has been proven false. This fabrication, which first appeared in 2014, has resurfaced multiple times, most recently in July 2024.
There have been a whole host of other misattributions.
Multiple fact-checking organizations including Factcheck.kz and Vox Ukraine have debunked various claims attributed to Ronaldo regarding the conflict:
1. Jersey Exchange Refusal: False claims about Ronaldo refusing to exchange jerseys with Israeli players
2. Golden Boot Donation: Debunked story about donating auction proceeds to Palestinian children
3. Israeli PM Meeting: Incorrect claims about refusing to meet Israeli officials
Setting the Record Straight
- Ronaldo's representatives have officially denied the Golden Boot donation story
- The footballer has actually met with several Israeli ministers
- He gifted his jersey to former Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz
Doctored Media
A widely shared photo of Ronaldo supposedly holding a pro-Palestinian poster was revealed to be edited. The original 2018 photo showed him holding a "Forza Lorca" sign supporting the earthquake-affected Spanish city.
Video Misinformation
Recent fact-checks by Reuters and AFP have exposed several misleading videos:
- A clip claiming to show Ronaldo refusing to shake hands with Israel's president was actually footage with former UEFA President Michel Platini
- Another video purportedly showing Ronaldo with a Palestinian flag actually featured Moroccan player Jawad El Yamiq
- A supposed message supporting Palestinians was actually about Syrian children affected by conflict
If we compare this to Messi, it's evident where he stands on the conflict.
In fact, just two weeks after the Argentinian wrote in a Facebook post that he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of young lives with a photo of an injured Palestinian boy, a 4 year old Israeli boy named Daniel Tragerman was murdered by a mortar fired from Gaza Soccer, and he happened to be a Messi fan star, Messi was asked to comment.
Here's how he responded on Facebook: "As a father and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, I am terribly saddened by the images coming from the conflict between Israel and Palestine, where violence has already claimed so many young lives and to injure countless children."
It's an unfavorable comparison, where Ronaldo comes out looking neutral.
But with the news of his desire to convert, it makes us wonder what he really feels about the conflict.
