Roberto Carlos has rejected claims that he converted to Islam, while his wife, Moroccan-born football agent Souhaila Tahiri, has called for an end to what she described as baseless rumours circulating on social media.
The former Brazil and Real Madrid defender said reports about his religion were “not true” and stressed that he held Islam in the highest regard.
“I have the utmost respect for Islam, and it is wonderful to see my wife praying, but the rumours circulating about my conversion to Islam are not true,” Roberto Carlos told Saudi newspaper Okaz on Wednesday.
He also addressed speculation surrounding the couple’s wedding, which had led some people to believe he had adopted Islam.
“The celebration was held in more than one format. We made sure to organise ceremonies that suited the beliefs of members of the family, who are Catholic, as well as other ceremonies suited to my wife and her Muslim friends,” he said.
The rumours followed reports in the Turkish media claiming that Roberto Carlos, aged 53 in the accounts, had converted around four weeks earlier. The story alleged that he had recited the Shahada – the Islamic declaration of faith – during a meeting with Sheikh Jihad Hammadeh, a prominent figure among Brazil’s Muslim community.
The claims gained wider attention after Ali Sahin, a Turkish member of parliament from the Justice and Development Party, posted about a meeting with representatives of Brazil’s Muslim community.
Writing on X, Sahin said he had met Sheikh Jihad Hammadeh, who lives in Sao Paulo, during a visit to the Brazilian Islamic Charity for Youth. He described Hammadeh as one of the 500 most influential figures in the Muslim world.
Sahin’s post claimed Hammadeh had told him that Roberto Carlos, whom he described as a Brazil and world football legend and a former Fenerbahce player, had been in contact with him for a long time. It alleged that the former defender visited Hammadeh four weeks earlier, recited the Shahada and chose Islam.
Roberto Carlos responded within hours, denying the report.
Tahiri also rejected the story in an interview with Moroccan network Hesport, saying: “I want to clearly and explicitly confirm that my husband did not convert to Islam, and what was circulated about this on social media is not true.”
She urged people to treat claims about religion with particular care.
“I believe religious matters are sensitive, which is why it is essential not to publish information without verifying it, and to respect every person’s beliefs and privacy,” she said.
Tahiri denied that Roberto Carlos had previously announced a conversion, adding: “No, because it did not happen in the first place. Roberto Carlos has not made any official announcement on this matter, and there is no reliable incident proving what was circulated.”
She said the reports should no longer be treated as fact.
Tahiri also dismissed a separate account claiming that Roberto Carlos had been involved in an accident and that a cleric named Jihad Hammadeh had visited him in hospital.
“That story is also untrue. No sheikh or preacher named Jihad came to visit him or recite the Quran to him, and we do not know this person in this context,” she said.
“I do not know how this story appeared, but it is unfortunate that a story with such details should spread without any basis.”
Asked whether Roberto Carlos had discussed Islam or the Quran with her, Tahiri declined to reveal details of private conversations. She said that speaking about another religion or culture did not necessarily mean adopting it.
“Respecting different cultures and religions is normal, especially when people from different backgrounds meet. But I do not want to reveal private conversations,” she said.
“All I can confirm is that any conversation or discussion about Islam or the Quran does not mean that a person has converted to another religion.”
Tahiri said she met Roberto Carlos through the football world but preferred not to disclose details of their first meeting.
“I met Roberto Carlos through the football world. I prefer to keep the details of our first meeting to myself, because I believe there are aspects of a person’s life that should remain private,” she said.
She added that their connection began through the professional field in which she works and that she valued his character and extensive football experience.
Addressing their relationship, Tahiri said privacy remained important to her, particularly because of Roberto Carlos’ international profile.
“I prefer to keep the details of our relationship away from the media. For me, privacy is very important, especially when it concerns people who are known internationally,” she said.
“What I can say is that there is mutual respect, and that I appreciate his experience and career, but I do not want our private lives to become material for speculation or inaccurate news.”
