Fact Check: Viral Photo Of Argentinian Footballer Lionel Messi With Indian Cricketers Is AI-Generated
Vishvas News’ investigation proved that the picture of Lionel Messi, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni is AI-generated.
- By: Ashish Maharishi
- Published: Dec 18, 2025 at 02:04 PM
- Updated: Dec 18, 2025 at 02:07 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News). A photograph of Argentine football star Lionel Messi alongside Indian cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni is circulating widely on social media. Many users are sharing this picture, believing it to be real.
Vishvas News, in its investigation, found that the viral claim is false. The viral picture is not real, but AI-generated.
What is going viral?
Facebook user ‘Saddam Gaddi’ (Archive Link) shared the viral picture on December 14, 2025, with the caption, “Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Lionel Messi, MS Dhoni together.”
Investigation
To verify the authenticity of the image, Vishvas News searched it using the Google Lens tool, and we did not find this picture on any reliable news website.
For further investigation, we used Google DeepMind’s forensic tools Synth ID and Backstory. The analysis confirmed ‘sufficient evidence’ that the image was synthesised using Artificial Intelligence.
Continuing our investigation, we searched the photo using the AI detection tool ‘Hive Moderation’, which indicated a 99.9% probability that the photo was AI-generated.
Vishvas News contacted AI expert SK Sahid for more information. He pointed out clear visual ‘hallucinations’ typical of AI, such as noticeable irregularities and blurring around the facial features and limbs of the players. He also noticed repetitive patterns, such as all five athletes are wearing nearly identical white sneakers, a common shortcut taken by AI image generators.
Lastly, we scanned the account of the user who shared the AI image as real. The user is from Madhubani, Bihar and has over 5000 followers.
Conclusion: Vishvas News’ investigation proved that the picture of Lionel Messi, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni is AI-generated.
- Claim Review : Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Lionel Messi, and MS Dhoni together
- Claimed By : FB User Saddam Gaddi
- Fact Check : False
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