Claim: A viral video shared on Threads via Facebook claims to show Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodríguez, at the Kaaba in Mecca, embracing Islam.
Verdict: False. The video is an AI-generated deepfake. Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez have not converted to Islam. Furthermore, official regulations strictly prohibit non-Muslims from entering the holy city of Mecca.
Full Text
A video went viral on Threads (a Meta platform connected to Facebook), appearing to show Al-Nassr football star Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodríguez, standing next to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
In the footage, the couple is seen leaning against each other while dressed in traditional white Islamic pilgrim attire (Ihram). A voice-over mimicking the couple says:
“As-salamu alaykum, guys. Today we are in the Kaaba, Ma sha Allah, very beautiful, thanks to Allah. In sha Allah, you will be here soon. Allahu Akbar.”
At the time of this investigation, the post had garnered significant engagement, pulling in over 38,000 likes, 842 comments, 386 shares, and 1,100 reposts.
The video circulated just a week after the annual Hajj pilgrimage concluded.
Because it sparked widespread curiosity regarding whether the famous couple had converted to Islam, DUBAWA conducted a fact-check to verify its authenticity.
The Kaaba, located at the centre of the Masjid al-Haram (The Grand Mosque) in Mecca, is the holiest site in Islam.
Verification
DUBAWA began its investigation by verifying the couple’s religious status and checking for any official announcements regarding a conversion.
Religious status and public record
Cristiano Ronaldo is a practising Roman Catholic. He frequently displays his faith openly, such as making the sign of the cross when entering the football pitch.
Since his high-profile transfer to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, rumours regarding a potential conversion to Islam have frequently surfaced online.
While teammates and close associates have noted Ronaldo’s deep respect for Islamic culture, local traditions, and his Muslim colleagues, there is no public record or statement from Ronaldo or his representatives indicating he has converted.
DUBAWA subjected the video to visual scrutiny and deepfake detection assessment.
The analysis revealed clear discrepancies, notably a lack of lip-synchronisation between the audio track and the facial movements of the subjects.
The unnatural facial borders and digital artefacts are classic indicators of an AI-generated deepfake.
By law, the government of Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits non-Muslims from entering the holy city of Mecca and the precincts of the Grand Mosque.
As non-Muslims, Ronaldo and Rodríguez would not be permitted access to the site depicted in the video.
A review of credible international and sports news outlets yielded no reports of the couple converting or of an official visit to Mecca.
An event of this magnitude involving one of the world’s most recognisable athletes would have received global media coverage.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez embracing Islam at the Kaaba is completely false. Technical indicators confirm the footage is a deepfake, and the claims contradict both the couple’s documented religious affiliations and the access laws of the holy site.