Former Liverpool and Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino has announced his ordination as an evangelical priest at the age of 32.
The Brazilian footballer revealed the news on his social media pages, indicating a huge change in his life.
Firmino and his wife were ordained as pastors at their church, which they formed three years ago.
The dedication ceremony was held on Sunday in his birthplace of Maceio.
In a heartfelt message, Firmino disclosed that becoming a pastor was not an initial goal but a mission that emerged after his encounter with Christ.
“Since our encounter with Christ, a longing burns in our hearts… that people may know this love that has reached us. Now we have another responsibility. To be pastors according to the heart of God and to cooperate with the kingdom,” Firmino stated.
He also expressed gratitude to pastors Jairo and Keila for their faith and support in his spiritual path.
Firmino had a successful career at Liverpool from 2015 until 2023, winning seven major titles, including the 2019–20 Premier League and the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League.
One of his most memorable moments was scoring the winning goal in the 2019 Club World Cup final, which secured the title for the Reds.
Firmino played 34 games for Al-Ahli last season and scored nine goals. He also represented the Brazilian national team in the 2018 World Cup.
He currently plays with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, where he played 34 matches in all competitions last season, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists.
