AI-generated images of footballers circulate on social media

Artificial intelligence-generated images featuring footballers have recently circulated on social media platforms, leading to various reactions from users and the athletes involved.

In one instance, an AI-created image depicted the son of former Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu holding the Ballon d'Or trophy. The fabricated image prompted enthusiastic congratulations from some supporters on social media, despite the content being clearly artificial.

Separately, a TikTok image used AI to depict footballers Tavi Popescu and David Miculescu alongside the Ballon d'Or trophy. Following widespread mockery from internet users, Popescu responded via Instagram, stating, “Report! This account does not belong to me,” to clarify that the account spreading the image was not his.