Cristiano Ronaldo's Alleged Arabic Prayer Before Penalty Sparks Viral Rumors

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a decisive penalty for Portugal in their 2-1 knockout win over Croatia, securing a spot against Spain in the World Cup round of 16. During the penalty moment, footage appeared to show Ronaldo mouthing words that some interpreted as "Bismillah," an Islamic phrase meaning "In the name of Allah." This sparked widespread speculation and viral rumors in the Arab world, especially given Ronaldo's current tenure at Saudi club Al-Nassr.

However, Ronaldo is a devout Catholic since childhood and has baptized his children, making the claim that he prayed in Arabic inconsistent with his known faith. The phrase he actually mouthed was "Vais Marcar," Portuguese for "We will score." The confusion arose from the similarity in lip movements between the Portuguese phrase and the Arabic prayer.

This incident highlights how cultural and linguistic misunderstandings can fuel viral misinformation, particularly in the context of global sports events like the World Cup. The story was reported by Sport 5 on July 3, 2026, clarifying the truth behind the viral clip.