Roberto Carlos dismisses conversion claim as wife says family ‘do not know’ Sheikh Jihad

Roberto Carlos has denied reports that he converted to Islam, while his wife, Moroccan-born players’ agent Suheila al-Tahiri, has called for an end to what she described as unfounded rumours about the former Brazil and Real Madrid defender’s beliefs.

Al-Tahiri categorically rejected claims circulating on social media that Roberto Carlos had changed his religion, saying the story had no basis in fact. She also urged people to treat reports about religious beliefs with particular caution and not share unverified information that could affect an individual’s privacy and personal life.

The claims followed reports in the Turkish press suggesting that the 53-year-old had embraced Islam after his marriage to Al-Tahiri. According to the version circulated online, Roberto Carlos had converted about four weeks earlier after reciting the shahada during a meeting with Sheikh Jihad Hammadeh, a prominent figure in Brazil’s Muslim community.

The story gained further attention after a post by Turkish Justice and Development Party MP Ali Sahin. He said on X that he had met representatives of Brazil’s Muslim community during a visit to the Brazilian Islamic Youth Charity Federation.

Sahin said he had met Sheikh Jihad Hammadeh, who lives in Sao Paulo, and described him as one of the 500 most influential figures in the Muslim world.

In his post, Sahin added that Hammadeh had told him Roberto Carlos had been in contact with the cleric for some time. He claimed the former player, whom he described as a legend of Brazilian and world football and a former Fenerbahce player, had visited Hammadeh four weeks earlier, recited the shahada and chosen Islam.

Roberto Carlos rejected the report within hours. Speaking to Saudi newspaper Okaz on Wednesday, the former Brazil international said: “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.”

He also addressed speculation surrounding his wedding ceremony, which some reports had cited as evidence of a conversion.

“The celebration was held in more than one format,” he said. “We wanted to have ceremonies that suited the beliefs of members of the family, as they are Catholic, alongside other ceremonies that suited my wife and her Muslim friends.”

Al-Tahiri gave a similar denial in an interview with Moroccan outlet H-Sport.

“I want to make it clear and explicit that my husband did not convert to Islam, and what has been circulated about this on social media is not true,” she said.

“Religious matters are sensitive, so it is essential not to publish information without checking it, and to respect every person’s beliefs and privacy.”

She also denied that Roberto Carlos had previously announced a conversion.

“No, because it did not happen in the first place,” Al-Tahiri said. “Roberto Carlos has not made any official announcement on this matter, and there is no reliable incident proving what has been circulated.”

She added: “It is therefore better to put an end to these reports and not treat them as fact.”

Al-Tahiri further rejected a separate account claiming Roberto Carlos had been involved in an accident and had been visited in hospital by a cleric named Jihad Hammadeh.

“This story is also untrue,” she said. “No sheikh or preacher called Jihad came to visit him or recite the Quran over him, and we do not know this person in this context.”

“I do not know how this story emerged, but it is unfortunate that a story containing these details has spread without any basis.”

Asked whether Roberto Carlos had spoken to her about Islam or the Quran, Al-Tahiri declined to reveal private conversations. She said that discussing another religion or culture did not necessarily mean that someone had adopted it.

“Respect for different cultures and religions is natural, especially when people from different backgrounds meet,” she said. “But I do not want to disclose private conversations.”

“I can only confirm that any conversation or discussion about Islam or the Quran does not mean that a person has converted to another religion.”

Al-Tahiri said she met Roberto Carlos through the football world but chose not to disclose details of their first meeting.

“I met Roberto Carlos through the football world,” she said. “I prefer to keep the details of our first meeting to myself because I believe some aspects of a person’s life should remain private.”

She said their acquaintance developed within the professional field in which she works and that she valued his personality and extensive football experience.

On their current relationship, Al-Tahiri again stressed the importance of privacy.

“I prefer to keep the details of our relationship away from the media,” she said. “For me, privacy is very important, especially when it concerns people who are internationally known.”

“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 reports.”