Time and time again, professional sports teams and leagues try to force players to represent things that go against their beliefs.
In Major League Baseball (MLB), for example, pitchers for the San Francisco Giants have been reprimanded for altering or refusing to wear their team's "Pride Night" caps. The league has admitted it was wrong in its treatment of the players, but a letter from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) was necessary to help them reach that conclusion.
According to The Christian Post, baseball players are not the only athletes who are taking a stand for their faith in Jesus Christ. The Christian digital news provider lists five soccer players who are using the FIFA World Cup to point people to Christ.
Christian Pulisic (pictured above), the face of U.S Men's Soccer, has frequently spoken about his dependence on God throughout his career, including in a postgame interview of a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League match in 2021.
"As always, I just reach out to God, and He gives me strength," he said. "With that behind me, nothing can stop me, really."
Two English players, Bukayo Saka and Marc Guehi, are also mentioned. Guehi made waves when he was reprimanded for writing "Jesus Loves U" on a rainbow pride captain's armband for a game in the Premier League.
Brazilian Allison Becker and the D.R Congo's Noah Sadiki also made the list for writing and speaking to the press openly about their faith in Jesus Christ.
Tom Joyce of NewBostonPost commends them for taking the opportunity to spread God's Word on the global stage.
"I think it's just such a powerful message of love and compassion and decency, and I think the world needs more of that these days," he tells AFN.
He says Christianity is a universal faith, one where everyone, regardless of cultural or ethnic background, can come to know the Lord.
