For one glorious month, America is becoming a soccer country.
Fans from every corner of the world are pouring into the United States, introducing us to new chants, new rivalries and, in some cases, entirely new levels of emotional investment in a sport we’ve mostly treated as background noise between Olympics.
That’s part of what makes the World Cup fun. Every tournament introduces millions of viewers to players they might never have watched before. Some become household names. Some become villains. And a surprising number of them also happen to be outspoken Christians.
So while you’re figuring out which team to adopt and pretending you’ve always known who Cody Gakpo is, here’s a look at 12 World Cup players who aren’t shy about their Christian faith.
Neymar (Brazil)
Long before athletes were posting devotional content on Instagram, Neymar was making his faith part of his public identity. The Brazilian superstar has worn headbands reading “100% Jesus,” regularly shares Bible verses and often points toward heaven after scoring. His personal motto — “1% chance, 99% faith” — became almost as recognizable as his goal celebrations. Throughout his career, Neymar has consistently credited God for helping him navigate injuries, criticism and the immense pressure that comes with carrying Brazil’s World Cup hopes.
Endrick (Brazil)
Brazil’s teenage sensation has quickly become one of soccer’s most promising young stars, but Endrick has been just as vocal about his faith as he has about his ambitions. The Real Madrid forward frequently references God in interviews and social media posts, often thanking God after major milestones in his career. As his profile has exploded, Endrick has repeatedly said that prayer and faith help keep him grounded amid the attention surrounding one of soccer’s brightest young talents.
Alisson Becker (Brazil)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is one of the most openly Christian players in world soccer. His social media bio famously reads “Belong to Jesus,” and he has helped baptize fellow players, including former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino. After the tragic death of his father in 2021, Alisson spoke publicly about how faith sustained him through grief. In one interview, he explained, “I’m not religious, I’m a follower of Christ,” describing Christianity as a relationship rather than simply a set of traditions.
Lucas Paquetá (Brazil)
Paquetá frequently references his faith on social media and often celebrates goals with gestures of prayer. Throughout his career, he has spoken about trusting God’s timing during difficult stretches, including periods when his club future seemed uncertain. For Paquetá, faith appears less like a public platform and more like a source of stability amid soccer’s constant ups and downs.
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
When Cody Gakpo emerged as one of the breakout stars of the 2022 World Cup, many fans were introduced to another important part of his identity: his Christian faith. The Liverpool forward has spoken about reading Scripture regularly and maintaining spiritual disciplines despite the demands of elite football. Raised in a Christian household, Gakpo has said his faith gives him perspective in a sport where success and failure can change week to week.
Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
Semenyo’s journey to the World Cup wasn’t a straight line. The Ghanaian forward worked his way through England’s lower divisions before reaching the Premier League and international soccer. Along the way, he has repeatedly credited God for opening doors and providing opportunities. His social media accounts frequently feature expressions of gratitude to God, and he has described prayer as an important part of his daily routine.
Bukayo Saka (England)
Few players have spoken more openly about their faith than Bukayo Saka. Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, the Arsenal star revealed that he reads his Bible every night and said his relationship with God helps him deal with pressure on soccer’s biggest stage.
“For me, it’s really important to have the presence of God in me all the time,” Saka said. “God’s plan is perfect so I can go on the pitch and know that God has my back.” He added, “I just choose to put my faith in God.”
The comments carried particular weight given that Saka was still dealing with the aftermath of the racist abuse he received after missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final.
Eberechi Eze (England)
Eze’s faith story is closely tied to perseverance. Before becoming one of England’s most exciting attacking players, he was released by multiple academies and faced years of uncertainty about his future. Eze has repeatedly credited God with sustaining him through those setbacks, often speaking about trusting God’s timing rather than his own. His journey from rejection to the World Cup has become one of the more compelling faith stories in English soccer.
Christian Pulisic (United States)
The captain of the U.S. men’s national team has never hidden where he gets his confidence. Pulisic has frequently spoken about prayer, Scripture and relying on God during injuries and setbacks.
“God’s given me so many opportunities within this game and within my career,” Pulisic said during an appearance on Sports Spectrum. He has also described faith as something that continually motivates and guides his career. More recently, his openness has helped make Christianity a visible part of the culture surrounding the U.S. national team.
Dodi Lukébakio (Belgium)
The Belgian winger regularly thanks God after matches and frequently references faith on social media. While he tends to be more private than some players on this list, Lukébakio has consistently spoken about gratitude, prayer and trusting God’s plan throughout his professional career.
Jérémy Doku (Belgium)
One of the fastest and most electrifying players in the tournament, Doku has often referenced his Christian upbringing when discussing his success. He regularly thanks God for opportunities in interviews and on social media, viewing his talent as a gift rather than simply the result of personal achievement. As his profile has risen at Manchester City and with Belgium, faith has remained a recurring theme in how he talks about his career.
Felix Nmecha (Germany)
If there’s a player on this list who treats social media like a ministry platform, it’s Felix Nmecha. The German midfielder regularly shares Scripture, sermon clips, worship music and reflections about Jesus with his followers. While many athletes mention faith occasionally, Nmecha has made Christianity central to his public identity. His posts frequently encourage followers to read the Bible, pray and pursue a relationship with Christ, making him one of the most openly evangelical players at the World Cup.
