Could World Cup hype and heroics spawn a 'Church of Messi'?

Argentine World Cup hero Leo Messi hasn't inspired a church -- yet

In February 2020, Lionel Messi traveled with Barcelona FC to play Napoli in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but that's not relevant for our story.

What is relevant? Bear with me. The visit was Messi's first to Naples, the "Holy Land" of Iglesia Maradoniana -- the Church of Maradona. In 1998, three friends founded the church in Rosario, Argentina -- Messi's hometown -- and committed themselves to spreading their love of soccer in the name of Argentine soccer "god" Diego Maradona. When Messi visited Naples in 2020, Hernán Amez, the sect's leader, proclaimed him to be "the living hope" of his Church and said that the only thing he needed to equal Maradona was "to bring the Argentine people to the streets for the happiness of a triumph," as Maradona had after the iconic 1986 World Cup win.

Six-and-a-half years later, Messi has delivered Argentina's third World Cup championship (2022) -- the first was in 1978 -- won the Copa América twice (2021, 2024), received two of his record eight Balon d'Or awards (2021, 2023), and broken the record for most World Cup goals (June 22). His popularity extends far beyond his home country. Cities and nations around the world are commemorating his life and career with murals and statues (like the 85-foot, 70-ton steel statue recently revealed in Cutral Co, Argentina):

Will Iglesia Maradoniana deify the increasingly accomplished Messi? Will avid supporters organize a similar organization to 'worship' their hero? I wouldn't be surprised. But I don't think Messi himself would condone such adoration, even in fun. He is a devout Roman Catholic, and credits faith for his successes.

"It's very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me," Messi told Juan Pablo Varsky on the Argentinian podcast Clank in 2023.

"It was a gift he gave me. I tried to take advantage of it, I did everything possible to squeeze the most out of it. The truth is, although I did many things, I did nothing to become the player that I already was when I was little," he added, as reported in a June 2025 Premier Christian News article heavily quoting the Clank podcast.

The legend told Varsky that, of course, he had prayed before playing the 2022 World Cup, which Argentina won 1-0 over France.

"Even more so at that moment… I didn't ask my grandmother or Diego [Maradona], but I did ask God, as always," Messi said. "I thank him every day of my life for this and for everything he has always given me. I can't ask him for anything more because thanks to him I have everything," he explained.

Messi clearly doesn't venerate Maradona as a god or some sort of soccer saint, but that doesn't mean he doesn't admire his one-time idol and former Argentina coach.

In 2010, during one of the most amazing seasons of an amazing career, Messi said he would never be as good as Maradona.

"Diego is Diego and for me he is the greatest player of all time. Even after a million years I am not even going to be close to Maradona," Messi said in an article published by The Telegraph of London. "I have no intention of comparing myself with Maradona -- I want to make my own history for something I have achieved."

That he has done, and continues to do despite turning 39 on Wednesday.

And that is a blessing to all of us who love soccer, no matter our faith.

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