Christianity is the number 1 religion in the world that has the largest number of adherents.
There are various Christian sects spread across the globe, each one having a large followership.
It’s no surprise that you will find a good number of footballers who also profess to be Christians.
Today we will be looking at some of the famous soccer players who are Christians.
1. Alisson Becker
The Liverpool goalkeeper, apart from being a great shot-stopper, is also a devout follower of Christ.
He’s of the Pentecostal branch of Christianity. Allison regularly conducts baptisms in his house’s swimming pool.
It was once widely reported how he conducted a baptism for fellow Brazilian and Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino.
2. Ederson Santana de Moraes
Ederson is another Brazilian goalkeeper who professes the Christian faith.
The 29-year-old Manchester City number 1 has been spotted with various tattoos showcasing his beliefs.
He has a tattoo with the phrase ‘I belong to Jesus’ across his chest.
3. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is one of most popular soccer players who are Christians.
Lionel Messi, who is undoubtedly one of the best soccer players of all time, is a Catholic. The PSG forward was born in Argentina, where Christianity is the biggest religion and, 71% of the population is Catholic.
Messi usually points his fingers up after doing the cross sign after scoring a goal, which is also a popular goal celebration among Christian players.
4. Neymar Jr
Just like many South American football players, Neymar Jr is a devout Christian and regularly praises God on social media.
He had a Christian upbringing in his native Brazil.
It was once reported that Neymar was paid £5 million a year if he avoids any ‘political or religious propaganda’.
5. Joel Ward
The Crystal Palace defender is a devout Christian.
The 32-year-old defender belongs to and is heavily involved in a charity organization called Faith and Football.
Joel is always usually spotted kneeling down to pray before the commencement of a soccer match.
6. Willian Borges da Silva
The Fulham winger, just like many Brazilian footballers, is a devout Christian.
The 34-year-old credits his faith for helping him pull through a tough stage of his life following the passing of his mother.
7. Javier HernándezÂ
Chicharito, as he is fondly called, is never scared to show off his Christian faith.
Javier is usually spotted engaging in his pre-match ritual of kneeling down in the center of the pitch to pray to God.
Hernández is a devout Catholic.
8. Carlos Bacca
The former Colombian international is very passionate about his Christian faith and has often been seen in interviews giving thanks to God.
The 36-year-old striker has played for various top clubs in his career, including Sevilla, AC Milan, and Villarreal.
9. Odion Ighalo
Ighalo is another player who always openly displays his Christian faith.
The former Nigerian international is usually seen kneeling down and pointing to the sky in thanks to God whenever he scores a goal.
He also shares inspirational and biblical scripture on his social media pages from time to time.
10. Edinson Cavani
The Uruguayan striker is a devout Evangelical Christian.
The Uruguayan soccer legend has usually spoken about his faith.
The 35-year-old forward has featured for many of the world’s top clubs during his career.
11. Thiago SilvaÂ
The Brazilian national team captain is very serious about his Christian faith which he always professes by kneeling to pray before and after a match.
12. James RodrÃguezÂ
The 31-year-old attacking midfielder is known to be a devout Catholic.
The former Real Madrid player is currently on the books of the Greek side Olympiacos.
13. Marcus RashfordÂ
Marcus Rashford is known to be a devout Christian who has spoken about the role of faith in his life.
He believes that the faith he has in God is reflected in the way he treats people. Rashford has also talked about his values and how his mother has influenced him in his upbringing.
The English forward credits his mother for instilling respect and rules in him and being the leader in their family.
14. Raheem Sterling
Another popular soccer player who owes his faith to his mother is former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling.
Sterling was quoted in 2013 as saying that his belief in God is strong, but he is not completely religious.
He attributed his mother’s influence to his faith and stated that he prays regularly. Sterling also mentioned that he plans to become a full-fledged Christian when the time is right.
15. Bukayo Saka
Arguably one of the best wingers in the world right now, Bukayo Saka has cemented his status as one of the key players in North London.
Saka is a devout Christian. He once mentioned that he asks God to help him play well before every game and that he points to the sky to thank God when he scores a goal or assists a goal.
He also says that he reads the Bible every night. He said, “I feel like my faith is what gives me strength and helps me to shine on the field.”