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.
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.