Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
A photograph showing Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo sitting in the stands is going viral on social media platforms. Those who shared the picture claim it shows Ronaldo watching the FIFA World Cup Final match between Argentina and France in Qatar on Sunday which concluded with the Lionel Mess-led team lifting the trophy. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. The photograph is over four years old and was captured during a UEFA Champions League match in Italy.
Several Facebook users shared the viral photograph with the caption, “Ronaldo watching Argentina vs France in Qatar.”
Links to such posts can be found here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Ronaldo’s Thumbs Up For Messi? No, Viral Image Is Edited
Fact Check/Verification
A Google reverse image search on the viral photograph of the Portuguese footballer led us to a report by Vanity Fair, dated December 29, 2018, titled (translated from Italian) ‘Cristiano Ronaldo: I bully myself.’
The report carried 22 pictures featuring Ronaldo including the viral photograph, indicating that the image predates the FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France.
The search also yielded a Pinterest post displaying the viral photograph with the description, “Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo look during the Group H match of the UEFA Champions League between Juventus and BSC Young Boys at Allianz Stadium on October 2, 2018 in Turin, Italy.”
The post credited the image to Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images.
Furthermore, we found the viral photograph of CR7 on the Getty Images website with the caption, “Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo look during the Group H match of the UEFA Champions League between Juventus and BSC Young Boys at Allianz Stadium on October 2, 2018 in Turin, Italy.” (same as in the Pinterest post). The same can be seen here.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral posts claiming to show Cristinao Ronaldo watching the FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France in Qatar are false. The viral photograph dates back to 2018, and shows the Portuguese footballer at UEFA Champions League in Italy.
Result: False
Sources
Report By Vanity Fair, Dated December 29, 2018
Getty Images Website
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
