By: Abdulraheem Muhammed
CLAIM:
Former Dutch international and ex-Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has died.
VERDICT: False! The viral claim of Robben’s death is a hoax.
FULL TEXT:
On September 15, 2025, social media platforms were flooded with claims that Arjen Robben had died. A Facebook page posted a picture of Arjen Robben with “RIP 1984 – 2025, farewell to the glass leg goodbye Arjen Robben” written on the picture, attracting more than forty-five thousand likes within hours of posting that the Dutch winger had passed away due to chronic respiratory illness.
The post read:
“Former Netherlands and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has died following complications from a chronic respiratory illness after years of health struggles, his family announced in a heartbreaking message that stunned the football world.”
The claim immediately sparked concern among fans, with several news outlets and Chelsea’s social media page reporting on the fast-spreading rumour. However, no official statement came from Robben’s family or close associates confirming his death.
In fact, multiple credible sources, including Mediamass and Primetimer, have confirmed that the story is false. Robben’s representatives released a statement dismissing the reports:
“He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimised by this hoax. He’s still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the internet.”
VERIFICATION:
FactCheck Africa verified the claim using open-source tools and reliable news sources. The claim started on Facebook, titled “RIP Arjen Robben”, which bore the hallmarks of a typical engagement-farming scam, creating false news to attract likes and comments before reselling the page.
No reputable media outlets, Robben’s former clubs, or his national federation confirmed the death. Instead, news reports consistently described the story as unfounded and misleading.
Earlier in March 2025, Robben featured in the Beckenbauer Cup charity match. Recently, he has been active in padel competitions, including the FIP Bronze in Westerbork, alongside Werner Lootsma. Robben even spoke about following Zlatan Ibrahimović’s lead in popularising padel in the Netherlands.
These appearances prove Robben remains active in sports and alive.
CONCLUSION:
The claim that Arjen Robben died in September 2025 is false. It originated from a viral Facebook hoax page with no credible evidence. Robben remains alive and continues to engage in sporting activities. In the age of social media virality, fact-checking is essential. Not every “RIP” page reflects reality; some are created to manipulate engagement and spread misinformation.
