The Central Bank of Portugal has denied the statements circulating online and in various media that it is issuing a coin in honor of Cristiano Ronaldo, reports Tengri Life, citing Euronews.
In a press release, the Bank of Portugal stated that it has neither issued nor plans to issue any collectible or commemorative coins dedicated to the star of Portuguese football.
The financial regulator added that the annual program for the issuance of coins and medals is solely approved by the Portuguese Mint and the official printing house, which also publicly refuted the release of a coin featuring Ronaldo.
"It was claimed online that 25,000 coins with a face value of 7 euros would be put into circulation, with a purchase price of 7.50 euros. Some added that the coin could ultimately be worth 144,000 euros due to its rarity, gold content, and Ronaldo's fame," the report states.
According to the TV channel, many reports and articles feature an image of the alleged coin, but it is generated by artificial intelligence. It lacks the fine details that people would expect to see on a coin, and most of the symbols around its edges are fabricated, which is characteristic of images created by AI.
Photo Euronews
Information about the collectible and commemorative coins issued in the past year can be found on the websites of the Central Bank of Portugal and the Mint.
Among them are coins dedicated to the Portuguese Olympic team, the Federation of Speed Skating, and the country's participation in the Euro 2024 championship, but there is nothing honoring Ronaldo.
False claims about a coin featuring Ronaldo wearing the number 7 appeared as early as September, after he scored his 900th career goal during a Nations League match against Croatia. Fact-checkers debunked these claims at that time.
Meanwhile, Portugal has honored Ronaldo for many years, undoubtedly one of the most famous athletes of modern times.
The airport in his native Madeira officially bears his name, and statues of Ronaldo, whom many consider one of the greatest footballers of all time, can be seen in various locations on the island.
In the past, Portugal has also issued coins in honor of great individuals. For instance, in 2024, it released a 5-euro coin in honor of the 16th-century poet Luís de Camões, often referred to as the Portuguese answer to Shakespeare or Dante.
It is worth noting that Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo may return to his homeland after his contract ends in Saudi Arabia. Media reports suggest that the 39-year-old forward for Al-Nassr and the Portuguese national team may leave Saudi Arabia as early as the summer of 2025, with only one real candidate for a contract with Ronaldo. Read more in the article.