Rumors have been swirling online about a new Portuguese coin, supposedly a “Portugal 7 Euro” piece, created to honor football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. These claims have gained traction across social media and even some news outlets, suggesting that 25,000 of these coins were being released at a purchase price of €7.50, with speculation that they could eventually be worth as much as €144,000 due to their supposed rarity and Ronaldo’s global fame. However, the Banco de Portugal, the country’s central bank, has officially debunked these rumors.
In a public statement, the Banco de Portugal clarified that they have neither issued nor have any plans to issue any collector or commemorative coins dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo. They emphasized that the annual program for coin and medal production is exclusively managed and approved by the Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office, which has also publicly denied any involvement in producing a Ronaldo coin. This decisive statement from both institutions aims to put an end to the misinformation circulating online.
The online claims often include a picture of the alleged “Portugal 7 euro” coin. However, this image is not authentic; it is generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
AI-generated image depicting the fake Portugal 7 euro coin rumored to honor Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese Central Bank has denied these claims, stating no such coin exists.
Upon closer inspection, the AI-generated image of the supposed “Portugal 7 euro coin” lacks the intricate details typically found on official currency. Furthermore, the characters along the coin’s edges are nonsensical, a common characteristic of AI-generated images. This visual evidence further supports the official denials and highlights the fabricated nature of the circulating claims.
To verify the authenticity of any Portuguese commemorative coin, the official websites of both the Banco de Portugal and the Portuguese Mint are reliable resources. These websites provide comprehensive lists of collector and commemorative coins issued in recent years. For example, recent genuine commemorative coins have celebrated Portugal’s Olympic team, the Portuguese Skating Federation, and the nation’s participation in the Euro 2024 championship. A review of these official sources confirms the absence of any “Portugal 7 euro” coin dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo.
This isn’t the first time false claims about a CR7 coin have surfaced. Similar rumors circulated in September after Ronaldo’s 900th career goal during a Nations League match against Croatia. Fact-checking organizations debunked those claims at the time, demonstrating a recurring pattern of misinformation surrounding commemorative items for the football star.
While the “Portugal 7 euro” coin remains a fabrication, it’s undeniable that Portugal has honored Cristiano Ronaldo in significant ways. The airport in his hometown of Madeira is officially named after him, and statues of Ronaldo, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, are prominent features across the island. Portugal has a history of honoring notable figures on coins, such as the €5 coin issued last year for the 16th-century poet Luís de Camões. Therefore, while a Ronaldo commemorative coin is not currently in circulation, and certainly not a “portugal 7 euro” coin, the possibility of official recognition in the future cannot be entirely ruled out.
For now, however, the “Portugal 7 euro” Ronaldo coin remains a myth, fueled by online speculation and AI-generated imagery. It serves as a reminder to verify information from official sources and be wary of sensational claims circulating on social media, especially those involving currency and high-value collectibles.
