Is Cristiano Ronaldo converting to Islam?

Former Al-Nassr keeper confirms long-standing rumour's that Ronaldo has expressed a desire to convert to Islam

Waleed Abdullah, former goalkeeper of Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr, has made headlines with revelations about Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's potential conversion to islam and his deepening integration into Saudi culture.

Appearing as a guest on an Arab TV programme, Abdullah confirmed long-standing rumours that Ronaldo has expressed a desire to convert to Islam, citing the star’s strong connection to local customs and practices.

“Ronaldo genuinely wants to convert to Islam. I spoke to him about it, and he expressed interest,” Abdullah said. “He has already prostrated on the field after scoring, and he always encourages the players to pray and follow Islamic religious practices.”

The former goalkeeper explained that Ronaldo has taken considerable interest in learning about Islamic traditions to connect with his Muslim teammates and also ensures his colleagues have time to pray between training sessions.

“When the call to prayer sounds during training, Ronaldo asks the coach to pause the session until it's finished,” he added, underlining the footballer’s sensitivity to local religious customs.

Abdullah revealed that when Ronaldo first arrived in Saudi Arabia, he was keen to learn about the country’s culture.

“In the beginning, I was close to Cristiano because he wasn’t familiar with the country’s culture, the club, or other aspects. He was curious and often asked me questions about certain details,” he said.

The former goalkeeper also mentioned previous attempts by Ronaldo’s former teammates at Real Madrid, including Mesut Özil and Karim Benzema, to encourage him to consider converting to Islam.

A particularly striking moment, he noted, occurred when Ronaldo prostrated after scoring, prompting all the players to shout "Allahu Akbar" in unison.

Despite the speculations surrounding Ronaldo's potential conversion, Abdullah emphasised the player's dedication and professionalism and said that he is an extremely disciplined and dedicated player that’s what has brought him to this position.

Additionally, Abdullah praised Ronaldo's humility, describing both the footballer and his son as warm and simple in their interactions with others, further endearing them to the Saudi community.