Catholic Players Score with Faith During FIFA World Cup

What an exciting five weeks the world has witnessed. From the Meadowlands to Los Angeles, Toronto to Mexico City, and other cities far and in between, fans got to witness the first FIFA in the West since 1994. It brought the world together as it has since its inception in 1930.

It also marked the end of an extraordinary run for Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Manuel Neuer (Germany), and Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico). Each player announced their intention to retire following the competition. There are also rumors that Lionel Messi (Argentina) may follow others into the sunset of their dominant career.

The tournament began with 48 nations. In the end, Spain emerged victorious and captured their first FIFA crown since 2010.

FIFA also had many players display their Catholicism in extraordinary ways that will resonate for years to come. ChurchPop profiled eleven different players who competed during the World Cup.

Here are some other players and coaches who weren’t afraid to score a goal for Jesus during the global event.

Ferran Torres

The hero for Spain and Superior Player, crowned during the final match played in the Meadowlands, shared his faith in unique ways. Days before the final match, Torres shared,“I have a cross and an image of the Virgin Mary; ultimately, I think having such strong faith gives me great support — it is something very important to me.” Torres overcame so much criticism leading up to the big game.

“Thank God, He always gives me the strength to keep going, and in the end — as I always say — God grants things to those who deserve them most,” the forward emphasized.

Luis de la Fuente- Coach for Spain

Helping Spain end a 16-year drought was Coach De La Fuente. De la Fuente reflected on his faith that he prays, “every day, but not because I am at a World Cup or in order to get a result.”

“I give thanks every day — every day I wake up and find myself well, I look at myself and say: ‘Another day I can enjoy life.’ I give thanks for those little things. I pray—because I do pray every day— not to ask for more help,” the coach explained.

Zlatko Dalic (Croatia)

The manager of Croatia has been one of the most vocal Catholic figures in international sports. Dalic is famous for always keeping a rosary in his pocket during matches. He noted that during high-pressure moments on the pitch, he reaches into his pocket to hold onto it for peace and guidance. He also held Mass for the team.

Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil)

Carlo Ancelotti is considered one of the most decorated club managers in soccer.

Upon officially accepting the Brazilian managerial position, one of his first actions was visiting the Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary in Rio de Janeiro. There, he received a formal blessing and a rosary from the sanctuary's rector before starting his World Cup campaign. He also has a devotion to Padre Pio.

Ben Gannon-Doak

The Scottish player credits his return to the Catholic faith following a knee injury that required surgery. He believes that his Catholic faith shaped both his career and character.

“People, they think it’s all luxury. It’s not. It’s actually quite boring,” he said, summing up the repetitive isolation of life away from home: “Wake up, train, go home. Wake up, train, go home.” For a teenager living alone so young, that routine could become lonely, and he admitted, “I just felt God calling me.”

Doak also shared his devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. 

“It’s the Archangel St. Michael, the Archangel of Protection. Basically, it keeps all evil away from you.”

As the FIFA World Cup comes to an end, the experience many of these Catholics had on the world stage will never be forgotten. These players may not have won or gone deep enough. Yet, what brought them together was their love for God and a community of men who are striving for greatness through the Catholic faith.

Let’s pray for more Catholic athletes to never be afraid or ashamed of living out the faith God is calling them to practice every day for an audience of one.