Latter-day Saint Life

"God Is My Strength": Professional Soccer Player Makes Headlines for Leaving Career to Serve Mission

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A famous European soccer manager is attributed with saying, “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. … I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

Peruvian Latter-day Saint Paulo Gallardo would respectfully disagree.

Make no mistake, the 18-year-old convert loves soccer — and he’s very, very good. Just a few months ago he scored his maiden goal for Club Sporting Cristal, one of Peru’s “Big Three” professional clubs.

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Paulo Gallardo y su debut goleador en Primera División | Junio 2019

But it wasn’t Gallardo’s goal that’s been trending across South America and beyond in recent days. Pro soccer fans were instead digesting this headline: 

Paulo Gallardo, de 18 anos, se retiro del futbol por motivos religiosos.

Translation: 18-year-old Paulo Gallardo leaves soccer for religious reasons.

Story by Jason Swenson, Church News; Lead image: Instagram photo/Club Sporting Cristal
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