These Athletes Lead Colombia’s World Cup Charge with Faith First

Published: July 8, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Columbian soccer stars, defender Daniel Muñoz and midfielder Jhon Arias, lead their team with faith.

Colombia secured seven points as they finished first in Group K, and so far, Muñoz has also scored twice this World Cup — once during the team’s victory over Uzbekistan and then during their match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he scored in the 76th minute.

¡COLOMBIA POR FIN ROMPE EL CERO!

Tras un buen pase de Juanfer Quintero, Daniel Muñoz fue recompensado con una gran anotación, luego de tanto insistir. pic.twitter.com/Kl3AGPxWBW

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 24, 2026

Arias followed suit during the team’s round of 32 match against Ghana. He scored in the 14th minute to take an early lead for Colombia.

When Arias scored, he pointed all the glory to God.

The defender knelt and then acted like he took a crown off of his head and laid it at the feet of Jesus. Lastly, he pointed up to heaven to thank God for the goal.

“God of promises, to You always be the glory,” Arias shared in a post on Instagram after the game.

Muñoz also gave God the glory when he said on Instagram, “Our greatest victory is in Christ Jesus, for everyone who believes all things are possible.”

In Muñoz’s post, he included a photo of himself leading his team in prayer after the match against Ghana.

View this post on Instagram

After Muñoz scored in Colombia’s match against Uzbekistan, he dropped to his knees in prayer while he thanked God for an opportunity of a lifetime. He did the same after he scored against the DR Congo.

Muñoz currently plays professional soccer for Crystal Palace of the English Premier League. He calls himself as a “Follower of God,” according to his Instagram bio.

In one of his pinned posts on Instagram, Muñoz showed off a trophy and medal while wearing a headband that read “100% Jesus” and a shirt that said “The glory belongs to God” in Spanish.

He quoted Romans 9:16, which he accidentally cited as Romans 8:16, in the caption: “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

As Colombia advances deeper into the tournament, the impact of players like Muñoz and Arias extends far beyond the stat sheets. While their tactical brilliance and clutch goal-scoring have transformed Los Cafeteros into a genuine World Cup threat, it is their shared spiritual conviction that anchors the team’s identity.

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