Soccer players and Religion

[soccer krazy]

Does anybody know what some of the soccer players religions are, im interested in knowing about their beliefs.
I know kaka is christian and i just saw this article on legrotagglie
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=480721

[Hargo]

To start off, name a few players you're interested in, otherwise this could be a really long thread if every player was named :D

[soccer krazy]

Well the most famous ones first like
Cristiano ronaldo
wayne rooney
ronaldinho
henry
messi
trezeguet and so on

[Quaker]

I read an article on devoted Christians during last year's World Cup. I recall there was some Dutch site that had a poll where you could vote for "The Christian Footballer of the World Cup" from a selection of players. (I don't think this was the article, but you can read about it here (http://www.allgodspeople.com/madison/content/view/7410/16/).) Anyway, here are some of the players mentioned in that context:

Kaka, Lucio, Ze Roberto (Brazil)
Brian McBride, Tim Howard (USA)
Sammy Kuffour (Ghana)
Andranik Teymourian (Iran)
Dirk Kuyt, Kew Jaliens (Netherlands)
Gerald Asamoah, Arne Friedrich (Germany)
Lee Young Pyo, Song Chong-Gug (South Korea)

[soccer krazy]

I read an article on devoted Christians during last year's World Cup. I recall there was some Dutch site that had a poll where you could vote for "The Christian Footballer of the World Cup" from a selection of players. (I don't think this was the article, but you can read about it here (http://www.allgodspeople.com/madison/content/view/7410/16/).) Anyway, here are some of the players mentioned in that context:

Kaka, Lucio, Ze Roberto (Brazil)
Brian McBride, Tim Howard (USA)
Sammy Kuffour (Ghana)
Andranik Teymourian (Iran)
Dirk Kuyt, Kew Jaliens (Netherlands)
Gerald Asamoah, Arne Friedrich (Germany)
Lee Young Pyo, Song Chong-Gug (South Korea)

Great article thanks!

[CyphaPSU]

Andranik Teymourian's situation is interesting being the only Christian on the Iranian squad.

[Excape Goat]

Carlos Roa, the Argentinian keeper during the WC 1998, is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was on his way to Arsenal or Man Utd after strong performance at WC 1998. Instead, he took a year off for a religious retreat. I heard of Mormon American football players who refused NFL because it played on Sunday, but I believed Roa was the only soccer that actually left the game for religious reasons.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Andranik Teymourian's situation is interesting being the only Christian on the Iranian squad.

It's because Teymourian is an ethnic Armenian. There are no troubles with him on the Iran squad.

Arne Friedrich is a very devout Christian as has already been said. I think Nakamura Shinsuke is also Christian as well.

[pikka22]

I know a guy who was actually forced to leave his club because of his religious beliefs and certain tattoo's he had about it. Religion can play a big part in todays game with alot of players.

[Cassano]

It's safe to say that most of the Italian stars are Roman Catholic.

Of course everyone knows that Roberto Baggio converted to Buddhism.

Recently Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey converted to Buddhism as well and he said it changed his life.

[solost22]

i know it may be a stretch from the topic but aftre the 94 World Cup i remember there being a big fuss in Italy because Roberto Baggio was Budhist where as the rest of the team and most of Italy is Roman Catholic

[Lovefutball]

Zidane's Muslim, which is surprising to some.

[Excape Goat]

Zidane's Muslim, which is surprising to some.

Zidane was born a Muslim, but he stated many times that he is a non-practicing Muslim. His religious beliefs had been discussed many times. He is probably a Muslim, but not a regligious. When Real Madrid visited the Pope, he was the only player who did not kiss the Pope's hand. Ribery is a much more devoted Muslim than Zidane, which should be more surprising. Robin van Perise is supposed to be a Muslim convert too. He is married to a Moroccan girl.

[CACuzcatlan]

I remember hearing before the World Cup that some Cote d'Ivoire players are Muslim, not sure if Drogba is one of them.

[Lovefutball]

Zidane was born a Muslim, but he stated many times that he is a non-practicing Muslim. His religious beliefs had been discussed many times. He is probably a Muslim, but not a regligious. When Real Madrid visited the Pope, he was the only player who did not kiss the Pope's hand. Ribery is a much more devoted Muslim than Zidane, which should be more surprising. Robin van Perise is supposed to be a Muslim convert too. He is married to a Moroccan girl.

Yeah, I know hes not practicing. Ribery? Wow, I didn't know that, cool. Persie too? Intresting

[Yid_Army99]

ribery prays with his palms to the sky before every game I think... Seen him do it once or twice

[ForeverRed]

It's safe to say that most of the Italian stars are Roman Catholic.

Of course everyone knows that Roberto Baggio converted to Buddhism.

Recently Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey converted to Buddhism as well and he said it changed his life.

I'd love to see Frey wear a "I belong to Buddha" t-shirt or have that written on his cleets. :D

[Lovefutball]

ribery prays with his palms to the sky before every game I think... Seen him do it once or twice

Yeah you're right

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-anfnhlUotc

[Excape Goat]

Yeah, I know hes not practicing. Ribery? Wow, I didn't know that, cool. Persie too? Intresting

Someone already mentioned. He prayed before every game. He was married to a French Moroccan girl and converted to Islam.

Van Persie... I admitted that I am not sure, but it was written all over the internet.

[Auriaprottu]

Carlos Roa, the Argentinian keeper during the WC 1998, is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was on his way to Arsenal or Man Utd after strong performance at WC 1998. Instead, he took a year off for a religious retreat.

I remember asking a few years ago about what happened to him. I was told that he initially decided that the Saturday-keepers faith he joined forbade him from working on their day of worship. Story I got is that he ended up at Mallorca after finally figuring out that ravens weren't going to claw his eyes out because he played football on Saturday.

I heard of Mormon American football players who refused NFL because it played on Sunday,

There were some Mormons who did not refuse. Steve Young (IIRC, a direct descendant of Brigham Young- IMO, if he plays, it's cool for any Mormon to play) played for several years in the NFL and won a Super Bowl following the 1994 season. I think the Detmer brothers (Ty and Koy) and Mormons.

I haven't heard of any who left the game because of their faith, but I wouldn't be surprised if some had used their faith as an excuse not to apply for a draft they wouldn't have been taken in anyhow.