Claim: A viral social media post claims that Lionel Messi raised the Senegal flag and celebrated with it after scoring a goal, expressing admiration for the country and calling Senegal the 2025 AFCON champions.
Verdict: False. The image is not real. Findings show it is AI-generated, and there is no credible evidence that Messi has ever held or raised Senegal’s flag during a match.
Full Text
A widely circulated Facebook image from Ora TV shows Lionel Messi in an Inter Miami kit, kneeling on the pitch and holding the Senegalese flag during what appears to be a goal celebration. The image is accompanied by a caption claiming that Messi publicly expressed love for Senegal and acknowledged them as African champions.
The post has attracted significant engagement, with many users praising Messi for showing solidarity with an African nation. Given Messi’s global influence and the emotional appeal of such a gesture, the claim quickly gained traction online.
However, due to the increasing spread of manipulated sports images posted here, DUBAWA subjected the claim to verification.
Verification
There are no reports from reputable sports media, official club platforms, or verified match footage showing Messi holding Senegal’s flag. A moment of this nature involving a high-profile player like Messi would have been widely reported by global outlets.
Neither Inter Miami CF nor major football governing bodies, such as FIFA, have published any images or statements confirming such an event. This further raises doubts about the claim’s authenticity.
An AI image-detection tool indicates a 72% likelihood that the image is AI-generated, further reinforcing suspicions that it is not authentic.
There is no credible evidence that Messi made the statement attributed to him in the post. The caption appears to be fabricated to increase engagement and mislead audiences.
Conclusion
The claim that Lionel Messi raised Senegal’s flag during a goal celebration is misleading. Evidence shows that the image is AI-generated.