Claim
The video shows Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo supporting Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. In the video, he is allegedly heard saying, “We know that you have been suffering a lot. I am a very famous player, but you are the true heroes. Don’t lose your hope. The world is with you. We care about you. I am with you.”
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Fact
A Google Lens search on the keyframes of the viral clip led us to a YouTube video by Arab News, dated December 23, 2016, titled “Football star Ronaldo tells the children of Syria “I am with you”“.
The video featured Ronaldo in the same attire and identical background as seen in the viral clip. On comparing both the visuals, we could conclude that the YouTube video by Arab News is actually a slightly longer version of the viral clip.
In the initial frames of the YouTube video, the football star is clearly heard saying, “…This is for children of Syria.” Adding, “We know that you have been suffering a lot. I am a very famous player, but you are the true heroes. Don’t lose your hope. The world is with you. We care about you. I am with you.”
A Daily Mail report on the video, published on December 23, 2016, stated, “ Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his anguish over the plight of children in war-shattered Syria in an uncharacteristically serious video posted to his social media.”
Adding, “Real Madrid and Portugal star Ronaldo has made a ‘generous’ donation to help fund emergency supplies in Aleppo, including food, clothing and medical care for families across Syria, Save the Children said…”
The video was posted by the official Instagram account of Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) on December 23, 2016, with the caption, “A message of hope to the children affected by the conflict in Syria.”
Ronaldo shared the same video on his other social media handles too.
Also Read: AI-Generated Video Of Protest Against ‘Marathi Imposition’ Shared As Real
Hence, the viral posts alleging to show Cristiano Ronaldo extending his support to Palestine were found to be false.
Sources
YouTube Video By Arab News, Dated December 23, 2016
Report By Daily Mail, Dated December 23, 2016
Instagram Post By @cristiano, Dated December 23, 2016
