Ancelotti at carnival as AI photo sparks debate

February 20, 2026 Oliver Obel

An image circulating on social media that appeared to show Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti kissing three women during this year’s Carnival celebrations was digitally fabricated, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.

Brazilian news outlet G1 reported that the federation was contacted after the picture began spreading online. In response, the CBF described the image as “fake” and said it had been created using artificial intelligence.

The photo gained traction as Ancelotti attended Carnival events in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where he watched samba school parades from the stands at the Sambódromo do Anhembi and the Marquês de Sapucaí. Wearing Brazil’s traditional yellow and green shirt, the Italian coach was photographed by fans during the festivities.

Carnival, Brazil’s largest annual cultural celebration, routinely draws politicians, athletes and entertainers. This week, however, attention shifted quickly from the parades to the altered image.

Fabricated or manipulated images of public figures have become increasingly common online, particularly during major public events when visibility is high and content spreads rapidly.

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Sources: G1, Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF)