As the world’s attention turns to the imminent World Cup, Christian footballers from across the globe have already been unashamedly expressing their faith. Tim Bechervaise rounds up some of the Christian players, teams and stories to watch
Stunning goals, tense penalty shoot-outs, controversial VAR decisions, wild celebrations, tears, Ronaldo v Messi, political drama, heartbreak for England…
These are some of the things we’ll see over the coming weeks in Mexico, the USA and Canada at what will be the biggest ever men’s World Cup, with 48 nations now competing for football’s biggest prize. It all kicks off tomorrow when Mexico take on South Africa.
But there’s something else we can fully expect to see and that’s footballers proudly expressing their Christian faith – particularly given what we’ve seen in the build-up to the tournament.
Curaçao celebrates God
I think football fans worldwide will quickly grow fond of Curaçao, the tiny Dutch Caribbean island making their first-ever appearance in the tournament.
In an unconventional pre-tournament move, the Curaçao squad gathered for prayer and worship in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. During it, Kenji Goore gave his testimony, sharing how John Bostock of Ballers in God introduced him to Jesus. “The love of God goes deeper, and that’s where I heard the true gospel of Jesus dying for my sins,” he shared.
If this is how they prepare for the tournament, then just imagine what they might do if things go well for them once it kicks off!
Brazil’s “baptism”
Talking of pre-tournament preparations, Brazil have also been up to something unusual.
Prior to departure, the $150 million plane carrying the team was “baptised” by water from two fire engines. It’s traditionally done in Brazil before important flights, like a plane taking to the air for the first time.
It’s rather apt for a team featuring players who, in recent years, have been associated with personal baptism (aka a real baptism!), including goalkeeper Allison, who witnessed the baptism of his then-Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino. Real Madrid’s Endrick was baptised with his wife in 2024.
@ballersingod Hallelujah. Another Baller another Baptism! It’s beautiful to see Real Madrid’s Endrick follow Jesus’s command and example in being baptised, what makes it even more special is the fact that he was baptised alongside his wife! Type ‘Amen’ if you love to see it! “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 #BallersinGod #endrick #realmadridfc ♬ original sound - BallersinGod
Also on the plane was Igor Thiago, who will play in his first World Cup. In a recent press conference, the Brentford striker gave glory to God, saying he had faith “to cling to God, knowing that I live under a promise”.
“It’s Bible time”
As co-hosts, much focus will be on USMNT (US Men’s National Team), which features several players who’ve been open about their faith.
In a fascinating interview with the Sports Spectrum podcast released last week, Toulouse defender Mark McKenzie talked about his Christian upbringing, discipleship and how he loves telling others about Jesus, even carrying a Bible with him in the dressing room to prompt conversations. “God is my everything… He is the one I depend on for everything. He is the one who knows, knew all, yet still gives his all for me and requires so little,” he shared.
McKenzie is not the only Christian in the US team. Among others are Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, Juventus’ Weston McKennie and New York City’s Matt Freese, as well as Christian Pulisic of AC Milan who, thumbing through the scriptures in his nine-part docuseries PULISIC, says “It’s Bible time.”
Faith foundations
Elsewhere, Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha, who plays for Borussia Dortmund, recently started a new series on his YouTube channel called ‘The Pursuit’, which explores the chase for identity, purpose, success and truth. In the first episode, he interviews John Bostock, who shares his testimony and how Ballers in God was birthed. Reflecting the importance of faith in his own life, Nmecha’s Instagram bio says, “Football is my passion, Jesus is my foundation.”
One of the most exciting players in the Premier League last season was Man City’s Jeremy Doku, who will play for Belgium. His rising prominence on the football pitch coincides with a rising openness about faith off it. To mark his 24th birthday last month, he praised God on Instagram, saying: “Thank You for my salvation… Your greatest gift was opening my eyes and allowing me to encounter You in a way that completely changed my life.”
Meanwhile, West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville thanked God in a speech to his teammates after winning his first cap for the Netherlands in their friendly with Algeria. While it wasn’t such good news for Jurrien Timber – the Dutchman known as “Pastor Timber” at Arsenal – after being ruled out of the tournament through injury, he could still say, “I trust that God has a plan greater than the one I can see right now.”
And featuring for Scotland is Bournemouth’s Ben Gannon-Doak, who recently opened up to BBC Scotland about his return to faith. “God just keeps you grounded, keeps you humble. I heavily rely on God to not fall into doing the wrong things,” he said.
My Christian “Fantasy XI”
Amazingly, there are so many Christian footballers at the World Cup that there are more than enough to make a “Fantasy XI” of them. Here’s my selection (a risky 3-4-3 formation), which I’ll return at the end of the tournament to report on how they did on the pitch as well as off it…
Goalkeeper: Allison (Liverpool and Brazil)
Defenders: Marc Guehi (Man City and England); Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace and France); Emmanuel Agbadou (Besiktas and Côte d’Ivoire)
Midfielders: Eberechi Eze (Arsenal and England); Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund and Germany); Christian Pulisic (AC Milan and USMNT); Weston McKennie (Juventus and USMNT)
Forwards: Jeremy Doku (Man City and Belgium); Igor Thiago (Brentford and Brazil); Antoine Semenyo (Man City and Ghana)
No comments yet