Brazilian football legend and former Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos has addressed speculation that he converted to Islam, ending several days of widespread claims circulating online.
Carlos told the Saudi newspaper Okaz that reports of his conversion were false following his marriage to Moroccan businesswoman and football agent Souhaila Tahiri.
Carlos said he holds “the utmost respect for Islam”, while denying claims that he had embraced the religion.
Conversion Claims Spread Online
His comments came after reports and social media posts circulated over the past two days alleging that he had recited the Shahada and announced his conversion to Islam around the time of his marriage to Tahiri.
The rumours began spreading after reports appeared in Turkish and Brazilian media claiming that Carlos had converted to Islam around four weeks earlier.
Those reports said he had recited the Shahada during a meeting with Sheikh Jihad Hamada, a figure known within Brazil’s Muslim community.
Photographs from the wedding of Carlos and Tahiri further fuelled the speculation. The celebrations reportedly included elements associated with Islamic traditions, leading some observers to link the marriage with claims that the Brazilian football star had embraced Islam.
The story gained additional momentum after Turkish MP Ali Sahin was reported to have stated that Carlos had converted, before the claim spread more widely across social media platforms.
Marriage to Souhaila Tahiri
Carlos married Souhaila Tahiri, a Moroccan businesswoman and football agent.
Their marriage attracted considerable attention, particularly after cultural elements associated with Islam appeared during the wedding celebrations.
However, Carlos has now explicitly denied that he converted to Islam, while stressing his respect for the religion.
One of Football’s Most Famous Defenders
Roberto Carlos, 53, is regarded as one of the most prominent defenders in football history and became particularly famous during his years with Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team.
He played for Real Madrid between 1996 and 2007, making more than 500 appearances for the Spanish club.
During his time in Madrid, he won the UEFA Champions League three times, alongside numerous domestic and continental honours.
Carlos was also a key member of the Brazilian national team that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He appeared in three editions of the tournament and earned 125 international caps for Brazil.
He became renowned for his exceptional pace and powerful shooting, particularly from free kicks, which helped make him one of the most recognisable defenders of his generation.
