Social media users have been sharing an online quote about Brazilian football legend, Ricardo Kaká, speaking glowingly about the recently-concluded 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar.
CLAIM:
TOP MEDIA reports that the three-paragraph statement was pro-Islam and critical of the West.
Perception Of Qatar 2022
This year’s World Cup in Qatar has been dubbed “the best ever” by watchers and stakeholders, including the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.
Amid this rating and the West’s apparent resentment that the prestigious tournament was in Qatar, personal social media pages of some Muslim users and WhatsApp platforms have also circulated the alleged quotes by Kaká.
“Muslims Are Peaceful, Kind, Generous
& Hospitable And Do Not Attack Anyone.
“Europe & The West Are Lying &
Using Fake news & Propaganda
“This Is The Best Edition Of The World
Cup I Have Attended In My Life In Terms Of Organization And Reception,” it reads.
On a blog, ESohna – Network, this particular quote has garnered over 17, 000 reactions, 1,200+ comments, and over 6, 500 shares.
We fact-check the quote.
Who is Kaká?
Kaká was one of the finest players of his generation. He collected a FIFA World Cup winners’ medal at the age of 20 when he was part of the Brazil squad at the 2002 tournament in Japan and Korea Republic. He went on to play at two more FIFA World Cup finals, in 2006 and 2010, and won the UEFA Champions League in 2007. The 40-year-old was also voted FIFA’s World Player of the Year in 2007.
THE FACT:
The Kaká quote which has been in cyberspace since at least December 16, is popular but completely untrue.
Even though it was shared widely on social media, including WhatsApp, there is no record of Kaká granting an interview to any media outlet where he said the words. Also, this media outlet checked Kaká’s social media pages, including his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and we found no such statement.
VERDICT: The claim that Kaká praised Muslims, criticised the West, and hailed Qatar 2022 as “the best edition of the World Cup I have attended in my life”, is false.
