Superstitious football fans are convinced the Pope has become the latest victim of the 'Aaron Ramsey curse'.
The 88-year-old pontiff died on Monday morning following a two-month battle with pneumonia, with tributes today pouring in for the religious leader.
However, the timing of his death has sparked a flurry of comments on social media - with fans of the 'beautiful game' linking it to an eerie coincidence involving former Arsenal hero and Wales captain, Ramsey.
The so-called 'Aaron Ramsey curse' centres on the idea that whenever the Welshman scores a goal, a celebrity or high-profile figure is doomed to die soon after.
Over his career, the midfielder - who has also played for NottinghamForest, Juventus and Rangers - has scored 79 club goals, as well as 21 for Wales, and in the days following25 of these goals, at least one notable celebrity died.
Although Ramsey is not finding the back of the net currently, he was appointed as Cardiff City's new manager just two days before the Pope's death.
The 34-year-old took charge of his first game today against Oxford United as he seeks to save the Bluebirds from relegation as their caretaker manager.
And now believers in the bizarre Ramsey 'curse' theory are adamant that his new role in charge of Cardiff is behind the Pope's demise.
Superstitious football fans are convinced the Pope has become the latest victim of the ' Aaron Ramsey curse'. Ramsey is pictured on April 21, 2025
Fans have claimed every time the former Arsenal hero scores, a famous face dies. Although he is not netting any goals currently, football lovers say his appointment as Cardiff City's new manager two day's before Pope Francis' death could be a new chapter in the 'curse'
Football fans have taken to social media claiming the Pope is the latest 'Ramsey curse' victim
'Aaron Ramsey took over as Cardiff City Manager on Friday and now The Pope has died. The Aaron Ramsey curse strikes again,' wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
'‘Aaron Ramsey didn’t score this weekend but, he became a manager… the Pope died,’ another quipped, with a third adding: 'Aaron Ramsey's first game as manager & the Pope dies. Even in management he still has a curse.'
Ramsey's so-called 'curse' has been blamed for the deaths of celebrities Alan Rickman, Steve Jobs and even former Al-Qaeda terror boss Osama bin Laden.
The surreal superstition dates back to when Ramsey scored his first goal for Arsenal against Fenerbache on October 21, 2008. The following day, Henry V actor David Lloyd Meredith died.
In August 2009 Ramsey scored against Portsmouth and three days later Ted Kennedy was dead.
But it wasn't until May 2011 when the curse was first made public. Shortly after Ramsey had scored at the Emirates against Manchester United, number one on the United States terror watch list Osama Bin Laden was dead.
After scoring against Tottenham at home on October 2, 2011, the death of Steve Jobs was reported three days later.
When Arsene Wenger brought Ramsey on against Marseille on 77 minutes, on October 19, 2011, it did not appear that he would be on the field long enough to score. Yet, the following day, Arsenal had left the South of France with three points, and Muammar Gaddafi had met his end.
One of the first high profile victims of the curse was terror chief Osama Bin Laden, pictured, in May 2011
When Ramsey scored against Tottenham on October 2, 2011, Apple founder Steve Jobs died the following day
Later that same month, Ramsey scored again for Arsenal and this time Colonel Gaddafi was the 'victim'
Whitney Houston (pictured in May 1988) was found dead hours after Ramsey scored against Sunderland in February 2012
Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur on March 2, 2019
Ramsey has previously insisted the theory surrounding the so-called 'curse' is 'ridiculous'
After he scored against Sunderland on February 11, 2012, it appeared that another celebrity would be passing on, and Whitney Houston was the unfortunate A-lister.
On November 30, 2013, Ramsey was playing in his native Cardiff when he scored twice against his former club. That same day, Fast and Furious star Paul Walker crashed his car and died.
At the start of the 2014-15 season Ramsey scored against Manchester City in the Community Shield and the next day Robin Williams was dead.
At the start of 2016, Aaron Ramsey scored goals for Arsenal in successive games . After his goal against Sunderland on January 9, David Bowie died. He then scored against Liverpool at Anfield and the following day Alan Rickman had passed on.
Ramsey has dubbed the 'curse' ridiculous and said the deaths are just pure coincidence.
Addressing the theory in 2015 in and interview withSport Magazine, the Welshman said: 'The most ridiculous rumour I've heard is that people die after I score. There have been loads of occasions where I've scored and somebody has died.'
