When Felix Nmecha scored Germany’s opening goal against Curaçao, he knelt down, gestured to heaven, and then motioned as if he was removing a crown from his head and placing it at his feet for Jesus. It stood out because so often players will celebrate themselves: thumping their chests, motioning that they’re number one, and standing in front of their fans as if to soak in the glory.
Then at the end of the match, he and teammate Jonathan Tah joined a group of Curaçao players who were huddled in prayer at the centre circle and prayed with them. When asked about it, he said, “In the game we are opponents, but after the match we are all Christians and brothers.” It stood out because top-level soccer has sometimes been marred by incidents of head-butting, spitting, and even biting.
I’m often curious about the backstory of people whose lives seem to be so different than the people around them. This is what I’ve learned about Felix Nmecha’s.
Doing Christian things didn’t make him a Christian
Nmecha grew up going to church and doing Christian things, but he thought that doing those things made him a Christian. He described himself as “self-righteous and prideful.” It’s the temptation for anyone who is disciplined and committed. You can start to look down on other people who don’t keep the rules the way you do.
As a teenager, he was impacted by a friend who had a living relationship with God. Speaking with him and seeing his life made Nmecha realize he wasn’t a Christian at all. He had been trying to find eternal life through his own works and his own strength, and he thought God must be pleased with him because of the things that he did. As he saw how he fell short of God’s perfect standard, he realized his own need for the salvation Jesus died on the cross to provide. As a 15-year-old, he saw for the first time that he was a sinner and looked to Jesus for forgiveness.
His biggest setback was his greatest blessing
Nmecha signed his first professional contract with Manchester City when he was 17 years old. You can imagine the excitement. But just a year into his professional career, he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him and threatened his future. He saw many of the players he had grown up with continuing to progress while he felt stuck. He should have been devastated, but he said that it was the best thing that could have happened to him. He took the time to invest in his relationship with the Lord, and he grew spiritually as never before. Like Moses in the desert and Joseph in Egypt, so often setbacks can be opportunities to grow in character and deepen our faith.
He learned to deal with the pressure of football by finding something greater than football
When people talk about those who achieve greatness, they usually talk about all that they sacrifice to achieve what they have. They credit their success to their singular focus. Nmecha is different. While he obviously trains at the highest levels and has sacrificed much for his success, football doesn’t define him. He says, “Football is a huge blessing, but it will never give you the fulfillment that you think it does.” One win only leaves you craving the next—the satisfaction never lasts.
Nmecha has found that satisfaction in Jesus. He says, “Realizing that only Jesus can fulfill me has helped me so much because it’s made me realize that when my joy and peace can be in him, then my joy can be constant.” He’s quick to add that constant joy doesn’t mean a lack of problems. But there’s peace even in the problems because Jesus is with you in them.
I love the way he refers to himself as “a Christian who plays football” rather than “a footballer who is a Christian.” That order speaks to his priority and the contentment it has given him.
Extraordinary lives are built in ordinary ways
Sometimes, we think that superstars must live completely different lives and need completely different strategies to grow and develop. By contrast, the ordinary things that Nmecha does stand out. He takes time to pray. He gives glory to God. He’s organized team Bible studies throughout his career. And as he stepped off the team bus before the opening World Cup match, he could be seen with a Bible in his hand. It’s a reminder that soccer stars grow the same way that all Christians do: by prayer, fellowship, and study of the Word of God.
Hear Felix Nmecha share his faith here: testimony
If you’ve been measuring yourself by achievement, success, or discipline, Nmecha’s story is a reminder that lasting joy isn’t found in what you accomplish but in the Saviour who accomplished everything for you.
In awe of Him,
Paul
