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The rumor began circulating several weeks ago. Social media and several international media outlets suddenly reported that Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos had converted to Islam. But what is the truth? After weeks of speculation, Roberto Carlos himself has spoken out about the matter. The legendary left-back has categorically denied the claim, calling the reports completely baseless and untrue.
How the Rumor Started : Several international media outlets claimed that Carlos had met Sheikh Jihad Hamada, an influential figure in Brazil’s Muslim community, a few weeks ago. At the same time, photos circulated online showing a wedding ceremony being conducted according to Islamic traditions in the presence of a qazi, with Roberto Carlos also present. These images fueled speculation that Carlos had converted to Islam and married a woman according to Islamic customs.
What Actually Happened: One of the greatest left-backs in football history, Carlos recently married Moroccan businesswoman Sohaila Tahiri. After photos from the ceremony circulated on social media, it was easy for some people to assume that Carlos had also converted to Islam to follow his wife’s faith.
However, to clear up the confusion, Roberto Carlos recently spoke to Saudi daily ‘Okaz’.
In an interview with the Jeddah-based newspaper, Carlos said, “I have the utmost respect for Islam. Watching my wife pray is truly a wonderful experience. However, the rumors circulating that I have converted to Islam are not true.”
The 2002 World Cup-winning left-back explained that his wedding to Sohaila Tahiri included multiple traditions to respect the religious and cultural diversity of their families and social circles.
“My family members are Catholic. Out of respect for their faith, that tradition was included in the arrangements. At the same time, considering the background of my Moroccan wife and her Muslim friends, those religious traditions were also incorporated,” he said.
Essentially, the inclusion of Islamic traditions at the wedding, out of respect for his wife and her friends, created the confusion. Carlos made it clear that participating in his wife’s religious ceremonies does not mean that he has changed his own religion.
How Roberto Carlos met his Moroccan wife: In the interview, Roberto Carlos also shared the story of how he first met Sohaila Tahiri.
The couple first met during a business meeting related to football. Carlos said Sohaila is a highly successful businesswoman. They have been in a relationship for two years, and during that time, their understanding of each other has grown significantly, both personally and professionally.
Their marriage has attracted considerable interest in both Morocco and Brazil. Sohaila’s Moroccan identity and Carlos’s global fame as one of football’s most recognizable figures have made their wedding a topic of international interest.
How many times has Carlos been Married? Officially, this is the 53-year-old Carlos’s third marriage.
He divorced his first wife, Alexandra Pinheiro, in 2003. They have three children together.
In June 2009, he married his second wife, Mariana Luccon. After more than 15 years of marriage, the couple divorced in early 2025. They have two daughters together.
Overall, Carlos has 11 children with seven women. He also became a grandfather in October 2017 when his daughter Giovana gave birth to a son.