Cristiano Ronaldo Dead? Real Madrid Soccer Star Victim of Infamous Online Death Hoax, Portuguese Footballer NOT Dead in Tragic Car Crash

Another morbid celebrity death hoax recently hit the web - this time claiming the life of popular soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo. According to a bogus death report on the PRANK website Global Associated News, the Portuguese footballer died in a tragic car accident on Route 80. Untrue - Ronaldo is still indeed alive and well. Even so, several fans hit up Twitter to express their heartfelt condolences over Ronaldo's unfortunate passing. Those infamous cyber death hoaxsters strike again!

Here is the bogus Cristiano Ronaldo obit originally posted by the prank website Global Associated News earlier this week, which sent many Real Madrid fans into a mournful viral tizzy:

(Local Team News 9) Cristiano Ronaldo died in a single vehicle crash on Route 80 between Morristown and Roswell. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics responding to the vehicle accident and was identified by photo ID found on his body. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to have been a factor in this accident - March 26, 2013 (obviously the website generates false up-to-the-date deaths). 

Highway Safety Investigators have told reporters that Cristiano Ronaldo lost control while driving a friend's vehicle on Interstate 80 and rolled the vehicle several times killing him instantly.

The vehicle was believed to have been traveling at approximately 95 miles per hour in a 55mph zone at the time of the accident. 

Witnesses have stated that Cristiano Ronaldo's car crossed the double lines several times prior to the accident and hit the center lane divider causing the vehicle to flip and roll.  

Toxicology tests will be performed to determine whether he was driving under the influence, however initial findings indicate that durgs or alcohol did not contribute in any way to this accident as it was more likely to been caused by road conditions. 

Memorial services for Cristiano Ronaldo have not yet been announced. The service is expected to be a closed casket funeral due to the severe head trauma. 

Additional details and information will be forthcoming as they become available. 

But if fans continued on to the bottom of the webpage, they soon realize that the report is a total hoax. A miniature "disclaimer" states:

"About this web site. FAKE... THIS STORY IS 100% FAKE! This is an entertainment website, and this is a totally fake article based on zero truth and is a complete work of fiction for entertainment purposes! This story was dynamically generated using a generic 'template' and is not factual. Any reference to specific individuals has been 100% fabricated by web site visitors who have created fake stories by entering a name into a blank 'non-specific' template for the purpose of entertainment. For sub-domain info, name removal requests and additional use restrictions: FakeAWish.com, Copyright © 2012 FakeAWish.com. All rights reserved."

When fans click on the link for FakeAWish.com, they are taken to a site with a headline that exclaims, "Celebrity Fake News Hoax Generator." From there, anyone who has access to the web can generate a fake celebrity death hoax story. The template only carries six stories, which is why many of the same phony death reports continue circulating on the internet.

So the wise guys over at Global Associated News admit that their reports are completely bogus, but that doesn't stop the "R.I.P." hashtags from trending on Twitter...

"See what someone said Cristiano Ronaldo is dead!!!!! He died in a car crash!!"

"I think of Cristiano & all I see is speedy. RIP <3."

"Rumor or True that Cristiano Ronaldo Died in a Car crash???"

":O:'( RIP Cristiano Ronaldo :( died in a single vehicle crash on Route 80 between Morristown and Roswell."

Just to reiterate, Ronaldo is NOT dead. Several celebrities, including Adam Sandler, Shaggy, Mickey Rourke, John Waters, and Lil Wayne, have fallen victim to similar bogus death reports.

As Mstars suggested before, fans should make sure that they get all their info from credible sources before going crazy on social media... spreading fake celebrity death rumors are exactly what the hoaxsters want!

So, in honor of the soccer heartthrob still being alive...