12 Famous Soccer Players Who Are Christians
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 Hernández
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 Silva
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 RodrÃguez
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.
