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When photographs of Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos at a wedding held in the Islamic tradition began circulating in late July 2026, viral posts indicated that one of football’s greatest defenders had recited the Shahada and embraced Islam after marrying his Moroccan-Lebanese wife. However, Roberto Carlos himself rejected the claims of converting to Islam as false.
Social Media Posts :
Fact-Check :
How the Reports Began Circulating
Roberto Carlos, the renowned former Brazilian footballer and a Roman Catholic, married Souhaila El Tahiri, a Moroccan-Lebanese sports-management executive and football agent, and afterwards reports spread across the internet claiming that he had embraced Islam.
Reports indicated that Roberto Carlos had converted to Islam about four weeks earlier, after reciting the Shahada at a meeting attributed to Sheikh Jihad Hamada, a well-known figure in Brazil’s Muslim community.
The claims gained further momentum when photographs showing Carlos and El Tahiri at a wedding ceremony conducted in the Islamic tradition circulated on social media.
The couple had held a private wedding ceremony on July 25, attended only by family members and close friends.
Carlos said their wedding was conducted with several kinds of religious rituals in order to honour the religious traditions of both families.“The ceremony was not held in only one way,” he said, explaining that different celebrations were arranged to suit his Catholic family as well as his wife and her Muslim friends.
Turkish member of parliament Ali Şahin publicly congratulated Carlos after Sheikh Jihad Hamada reportedly told him that Carlos had recited the Shahada (the declaration of embracing Islam) and become a Muslim, and with that the news spread rapidly through Turkish media and social networks.
Carlos Denies the Claim in International Media
In an interview with the Saudi newspaper Okaz, Carlos completely rejected these reports. He said he holds “great respect” for Islam and values watching his wife pray, but clearly stated that he had not converted to it. Several other international media had reported the news of Carlos rejecting the claims of converting to Muslim. The Saudi Gazette website reported that Roberto Carlos had denied the reports claiming he embraced Islam. Likewise, the Gulf News website reported that Carlos told the Okaz newspaper: “I have great respect for Islam, and watching my wife pray is a very beautiful experience, but the rumours that I have embraced Islam are not true.”
Roberto Carlos Issues a Clarification on Instagram
On August 20, Carlos made the following statement through an Instagram Story:
“I would like to clarify the speculation that has recently appeared in the media. I have not embraced Islam. I have the highest respect for the Muslim community, and I hold that same respect for people of all other religions and beliefs.”
Carlos’s wife, Souhaila El Tahiri, also publicly rejected the reports. She stated clearly that her husband had not converted to Islam, described the account of a visit by a preacher named Jihad as untrue, and said the couple did not know any such person. She added that religious matters are sensitive and should not be published without verification.
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Conclusion :
Therefore, according to our investigation, the claim that Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos embraced Islam is false. Although his wedding was held in keeping with the religious customs of his wife, who is Muslim, both Carlos and Souhaila El Tahiri clearly denied that he had converted or changed his religion.
Carlos rejected the rumour in his interview with the Okaz newspaper and in his August 20 Instagram statement, and international outlets including Gulf News and the Saudi Gazette reported his denial.
Title: Did Brazilian football superstar Roberto Carlos convert to Islam?
Fact Check By: Pavithra Sandamali
Result: False
