Religion has always played a significant role in human existence, influencing daily choices and rituals. Spirituality frequently plays a significant influence for football players as well. Many use goal celebrations or tattoos as a proud way to express their beliefs.
As they get older, some people opt to be non-religious or pick a different route, but most people start off with the faith their parents chose. Like everyone else, football players occasionally switch their faith as a result of cultural influences, changes in lifestyle, and the relative importance of different theological doctrines.
A list of ten well-known football players who converted to another religion will be presented.
1. George Weah
When players of all nationalities were allowed to win the Ballon d’Or in 1995, George Weah became the first non-European to accomplish so.
Although he was unable to replicate his club success on the international level with Liberia, he had a tremendously successful club career, representing clubs such as AC Milan, PSG, Monaco, and Chelsea with distinction.
Weah started out as a Christian but later converted to Islam. He practiced for ten years before returning to Christianity, but his message of interfaith harmony has remained consistent.
He demonstrated the unifying power of football near the conclusion of his playing career by helping to mend a divided Liberia. After retiring, he entered politics and is now the country’s president.
2. Franck Ribery
During his 12-year tenure in Bavaria, Franck Ribery—one of the greatest players of his generation—consolidated Bayern Munich’s dominance both at home and on the continent.
The former French international and Arjen Robben contributed to the reimagining of the wingers’ role, which resulted in a significant tactical change in football due to their inverted winger position.
Ribery was named UEFA Player of the Year and placed on the podium of the Ballon d’Or for his efforts in helping Bayern Munich win their first continental treble in 2013. He also established himself with the French national team, making 81 appearances and scoring 16 goals.
Due to his connection with his Algerian-born wife, Wahiba, who adopted the name Bilal following his conversion, Franck Ribery became an Islamic convert in 2002.
“I have lived a difficult life, and I have been determined to find tranquility, and eventually I found Islam,” Ribery said in reference to his conversion to Islam.
When the Bayern Munich players poured beer on themselves as part of their custom during title celebrations, Ribery warned his teammates not to do so because of his religious distaste for alcohol. Jerome Boateng then proceeded to bathe him in beer, which infuriated Ribery.
3. Eric Abidal
One of the best left-backs in the world, Abidal played for a number of elite teams during his professional career. His most successful stints were with Barcelona and Lyon, where he won 18 titles between the two teams, including two Champions League crowns with the Blaugrana.
Additionally, he established himself with the French national team, playing 67 games for Les Bleus between 2004 and 2013, until his career was disrupted by a liver tumor diagnosis in 2011 and he was forced to retire early.
He later disclosed that his buddy and teammate Dani Alves offered to give a portion of his liver, but the Brazilian turned down the offer because it would have impacted his career. He was able to successfully complete the transplant required for his total recovery, with his cousin serving as his donor.
Abidal turned to Islam as a result of marriage, just like his international colleague Franck Ribery. He took the name Bilal after converting to Islam, and his wife, Hayet Kebir, is also of Algerian descent.
4. Nicolas Anelka
A player with extraordinary talent, Nicolas Anelka won the PFA Young Player of the Year award with Arsenal in 1998. Highbury had high expectations for him, but in 1999, he controversially chose to move to Real Madrid for a large salary, which marked the beginning of his career’s decline.
Despite winning a Golden Boot and a Premier League title with the Blues, he never quite reached the heights anticipated and instead became somewhat of a journeyman, playing for teams like Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, PSG, Fenerbache, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
A highly contentious player throughout his career, Anelka declared his decision to convert to Islam in 2004, “I was sixteen when I converted to Islam, beyond the fraternal aspect, my conversion did not change my life. I was already living by the same principles — being righteous, having values. I used to fast during Ramadan because I admired the people fasting around me.”
As he discussed the reasons behind his conversion to Islam, he added, “I had that certainty that Islam was for me. I felt this relationship with God, and that enlightened my life. I had that conviction in my heart that that was my religion. I am pleased to be a Muslim, a religion of peace and I learned a lot from Islam.”
As was to be expected, after converting to Islam, he changed his name to Abdul-Salam Bilal.
5. Sammy Kuffour
At the height of his abilities, Sammy Kuffour was one of the best right-backs in the world. He made a name for himself at Bayern Munich, where everyone could see how devastated he was to lose to Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final.
In addition to the many other trophies he won with the Bavarian club, he made amends two years later when Bayern overcame Valencia.
Kuffour was also formed with Ghana’s Black Stars, where he played 54 games and advanced through the ranks to captain the West African squad.
After his daughter Godiva drowned in a swimming pool in 2003, he made the decision to convert from Islam to Christianity, claiming that the religion enabled him to move past the grief of his loss.
6. Emeka Ezeugo
Retired Nigerian international Emeka Ezeugo represented teams in India, Nigeria, Hungary, Denmark, and Peru throughout his professional career, which took him all over the world. He was also a member of the team that won Nigeria’s first World Cup in 1994.
While serving as coach of the Mohammedan Sporting Club of Bangladesh, Ezeugo turned to Islam in September 2012. He claims that the life of Prophet Muhammad served as inspiration for his conversion.
7. Emmanuel Adebayor
With 32 goals to date, retired Togolese international Emmanuel Adebayor holds the record for most goals scored by the Togo national team. He was born in Lome to Nigerian parents.
He claims that, like his tutor, he grew up admiring former Nigerian international Nwankwo Kanu. He then represented Arsenal with distinction, and his efforts earned him the 2008 CAF African Player of the Year award.
Although it is unclear if he returned to Christianity after leaving the Super Lig team, Adebayor apparently converted to Islamic religion while playing for Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir. He also represented other teams, including Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
8. Djibril Cisse
With stints at QPR, Marseille, Sunderland, Lazio, and Liverpool, Djibril Cisse established himself. With the latter, he won the FA Cup the next year and the Champions League in 2005. Oddly enough, he is regarded as one of the unluckiest soccer players.
Cisse made 41 appearances and scored nine goals for France in the 2002 and 2010 World Cup squads. He was also a member of the winning team at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The deeply tattooed Cisse, who spent the majority of his life practicing Islam, became a Christian in 2007 after marrying Jude Litter two years prior. However, the marriage ended tragically in 2012, and it is unclear if Cisse is now a Christian.
9. Danny Blum
Although Danny Blum isn’t as well-known as the other players on this list, he presently plays forward for SV Sandhausen in the German League’s third division.
His time with Bundesliga team Eintracht Frankfurt, when he placed second in the 2018 DFB Pokal, was the high point of his career to date.
Blum, who converted from Christianity to Islam in the summer of 2014, claims to consume halal meals and pray five times a day. Stating that Islam is a religion of power and optimism.
10. Thierry Henry
It is indisputable that Thierry Henry was among the top strikers of his period and is regarded by many as the best player in Arsenal’s storied past.
He earned numerous individual and team accolades with the North London Club, like as the FA Cup, Premier League, and Golden Boots, but he was unable to secure a Champions League title, which he eventually achieved at Barcelona as part of an unprecedented sextuple.
Henry was also well-established with the French national team on the international scene. He won the World Cup, European Championship, and Confederations Cup and is the record goalscorer for his nation with 51 goals from 123 games.
In an interview with a Qatari station, the former Juventus player claimed to have converted to Islam and credited colleagues Abidal and Ribery with helping him do so. He described Islam as the religion he was most connected to.
