Sports · Full coverage
Cristiano Ronaldo's Alleged Arabic Prayer Before Penalty Sparks Viral Rumors
How 4 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
100% center
Center 4
First reported by Walla · 8 hours ago
What happened
Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty celebration was misinterpreted as an Arabic prayer, sparking viral rumors in the Arab world. The actual phrase was Portuguese, aligning with his Catholic faith and dismissing claims he prayed in Arabic.
- 01Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty for Portugal in their 2-1 win over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.
- 02A viral video showed Ronaldo mouthing words mistaken for the Arabic phrase "Bismillah."
- 03Ronaldo actually said "Vais Marcar," Portuguese for "We will score."
- 04Ronaldo is a devout Catholic, making the Arabic prayer claim inaccurate.
- 05The confusion arose due to similar lip movements between Portuguese and Arabic phrases.
- 06The incident highlights how cultural misunderstandings can fuel viral misinformation in sports.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 4 outlets
The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.
Related stories
False Ronaldo Quote Sparks Social Media Storm in PortugalJun 22, 2026Cristiano Ronaldo Addresses Portugal Future After World Cup Win Over Croatia18 hours agoCristiano Ronaldo Addresses Portugal Future After World Cup Win Over Croatia18 hours agoRonaldo’s Complaint to Diogo Costa Sparks Debate After Portugal ConcedesJun 18, 2026Ronaldo Under Fire After Portugal’s Final Warmup WinJun 11, 2026Portugal Rejects Claims It Must Play Through Cristiano RonaldoJun 22, 2026