Rabat – Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos has denied reports claiming that he recently converted to Islam following his marriage to Moroccan businesswoman Souheila Tahiri.
Speaking exclusively to Saudi newspaper Okaz on Wednesday, the former Real Madrid defender addressed the rumors surrounding his religion and said the reports were untrue.
“I have the utmost respect for Islam, and it is wonderful to see my wife praying, but the rumors circulating about my conversion to Islam are not true,” Carlos said.
The clarification came after reports circulated on social media and in several media outlets claiming that the 53-year-old had embraced Islam around four weeks ago.
Some reports alleged that Carlos had recited the Shahada during a meeting with Sheikh Jihad Hamada, a prominent figure in Brazil’s Muslim community. Images also circulated online purporting to show the couple holding an Islamic wedding ceremony in the presence of a religious official.
Carlos, however, rejected those claims and explained that the couple’s wedding celebrations included different ceremonies to respect the beliefs of their families and friends.
A Muslim wedding?
The former Brazil international explained that the wedding was held in more than one format.
Carlos said the couple wanted to accommodate members of his family, who are Catholic, while also holding ceremonies that reflected the background of his Moroccan wife and her Muslim friends.
The different elements of the celebrations appear to have contributed to speculation about Carlos’ religious beliefs and fueled reports that he had converted to Islam.
His comments, however, make clear that participating in or attending ceremonies connected to his wife’s faith did not represent a change in his own religious beliefs.
How did he meet his Moroccan wife?
Carlos also revealed details about the beginning of his relationship with Tahiri.
According to the Brazilian legend, the couple first met during a business meeting related to football. He described Tahiri as a successful businesswoman and said their relationship has continued for around two years.
Their relationship has developed both personally and professionally, according to Carlos.
The marriage has attracted attention in Morocco and Brazil, particularly because of Tahiri’s Moroccan background and Carlos’ status as one of the most recognizable figures in world football.
Carlos, who enjoyed a legendary career with Real Madrid and Brazil, is widely regarded as one of the greatest attacking left-backs in football history.
His latest comments put an end to the speculation surrounding his religion while highlighting the couple’s efforts to respect the different cultural and religious traditions within their families.
