Skillet article taken from Daily Declaration by Cody Mitchell 15th July 2026
The Bible says, people are without excuse to reject their Creator God from the evidence of intelligent design and the beauty of the Cosmos. Also, just from the incredible number of Gospel witnesses I have seen recently from people like Lionel Messi and other World Cup stars, great Christian movies, movie stars, and now the Rock Band Skillet, God is making sure that people hear the Good News of Christ.
Multi-platinum rock band Skillet has achieved major mainstream success while openly maintaining a committed Christian faith, resisting industry pressure to downplay their evangelical beliefs. Lead singer John Cooper, known for his vocal faith, has testified to the power of the gospel, which the band brings to a global audience through their music.
The multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated American band Skillet is among the most successful and bestselling rock bands of the 21st century.
As of 2024, the group had received two GRAMMY nominations, a Billboard Music Award, and achieved three Top 5 Billboard 200 album results. Securing multiplatinum, platinum, or gold RIAA certifications for twelve singles and four albums, they have sold over twenty-two million units worldwide.
Skillet’s 6x platinum hit single Monster is one of the most-streamed rock songs of all time, surpassing four billion streams and entering Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club last month. Their tracks have crossed into pop culture through syncs by WWE, Marvel, ESPN, and the NFL.
According to John Cooper (the band’s lead singer and bassist), in the early years of the band’s success, he was approached by an influential music industry businessman, who suggested that he stop talking about Jesus.
“And he kind of went through his spiel of why, and then he said, ‘Look, I’m not telling you to not be a Christian, I’m not saying to not believe in Jesus.” But then he advised him to “Stop talking about it, don’t do Christian interviews, don’t say you’re a Christian band. You need to disassociate from that because people don’t take it seriously.”
John’s response sums up the approach of the band: “I knew I could not be silent about Christ, in fact, I needed to be more vocal about Christ.”
“…if this is gonna be the new — the new world, the new culture, the new way that people are trying to kind of steer Christians into a new kind of activism into Christianity that is void of the actual gospel of Christ, I know that I need to be vocal against that move.”
John committed his life to Christ at just five years old. Reflecting on his testimony later, he spoke about how thankful he is that he never backslid or walked away from his faith.
The 38-year-old scored a hat-trick as the defending champions began their tournament campaign, with Messi netting in the 17th minute, again just after the hour mark, and completing his treble with around 15 minutes remaining.
It was another landmark night for the Argentina captain, who continues to rewrite records at the highest level, including becoming the first player of his age to score a World Cup hat-trick.
Lionel Messi thanked God after leading Argentina to a 3-0 win over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to DSPORTS Argentina after the match, he said: “I can’t ask for anything more than everything I’ve already received. As I’ve said many times, God has truly spoiled me. Everything that comes now is about enjoying it. I’m not focused on being first, second, third…,” the Argentina captain said.
Messi added that being considered among the greatest players in football history was “an incredible compliment”, saying he felt grateful for everything he has achieved in the game.
The Argentine star has previously spoken about his religious faith and the role he believes it has played in his career. In a 2024 interview, he said he believed his ability was “a gift” from God, adding: “It’s very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me.”
He added at the time that he had tried to make the most of his talent, saying: “It is a gift God gave me. I try to take advantage of it, I do everything possible to squeeze the most out of it.”
This year’s FIFA tournament is inadvertently platforming the Christian faith. World Cup head turners like Leo Messi and Felix Nmecha are part of a much broader line-up of Christian players proclaiming Soli Deo Gloria instead of bragging about scoring goals. Such as the US Men’s soccer team (USMNT), who have unashamedly taken more than one knee to shine their light before all men (Matthew 5:16).
Few salutes in soccer will hit home the way Felix Nmecha’s “crown down” gesture does. The unashamed Christian footballer’s Revelation 4:10–11 celebration went viral after he cast his crown upon scoring the sixth fastest goal so far in FIFA’s 2026 World Cup. Nmecha’s goal-scoring amplification of the gospel is being heralded as the 25-year-old’s signature celebration.
Like the legend Leo Messi, what grounds Nmecha isn’t fame. It’s faith, family and a love of the game. Talking casually with Sports World (SW) in May, the German-born, ethnic Nigerian said his upbringing and family play a big role in where he is today. Family means a lot, he asserted. They’re close and have been close from an early age. “Especially when you go through a lot of struggles and trials. When you go through them together, it just makes you even closer.”
Raised in Manchester, England, Nmecha recounted the ups and downs, telling SW, “The root and foundation is still [his] faith.” As a professional athlete, “you try and take all the positives that you can from the different things that you learn over.”
Discussing faith and how it also plays a role in his life, Nmecha said, “I grew up in a Christian household. So, we used to go to church, not every Sunday, but we used to go to church quite often.” “I always thought I was a Christian. And I’d tell people I’m a Christian. I was just following these things that you grow up with.” “But then I reached a point when I was like 14, 15 where I had a true conviction for myself to really put my faith in Jesus and not just follow a religion.” “I realised how much it is about just relationship with our creator,” Nmecha recalled. “Since taking that step, it’s been year by year,” he said, “just growing in that relationship with God and getting to know a lot of the truths and even evidence behind the faith.”
“Finding it out for myself and doing research on it as well has helped a lot to strengthen the faith; to know that it’s not just a blind thing that I’m following and putting my whole life into.” “I’d say obviously my faith is my main source of joy in my relationship with God but also just relationship.”
God, Joy and Sport
Expanding on this, Nmecha credited the Church and sound friendships with stability, stating, “I’m so grateful for a church that I’m able to go to and in so many different places as well.” “It’s not always easy to find the right one for you, but when you do, it’s such a blessing.”
On the sports world’s daily grind, Nmecha affirmed a love for the game that many lose. “I think it can be easy in football because it for some people becomes just like a job.” “I’m grateful that I still have that joy and I don’t just see it as my job. I see it as a blessing that I’m able to do something that I love every day.” The money is a gift, not the goal, he asserted. Nmecha said his greater goal is “to really honour and glorify Christ. It’s so much more than just like being a footballer.” “I think if you’re tied to that, and it is everything that you are and who you are, [just being a footballer] can be very dangerous.” “What happens when your career finishes?” “So, I always try and speak on the fact of not having your identity in football.” As great as soccer is, and as great as being able to play professionally is, Nmecha said, it “shouldn’t be your basis for who you are.”
Providing a blunter take on his faith, Nmecha recalled the reset in his relationship with Jesus Christ, telling the Football with Vision project that he signed his first contract at the age of 17. After an injury set him back, Nmecha fought off the temptation to wallow and brood. He instead chose to “use the time to invest in his relationship with God.”
He now considers the injury downtime as a blessing. Nmecha said, “I grew spiritually like never before. I also grew mentally.” “I was always trying to stay focused in school,” he explained. And “in football, of course sometimes you mess about, but I saw myself as a good person, a good son.” Nmecha recalled learning that “I wasn’t good and was actually in need of a Saviour.” This “brought me to Jesus, and just through that time I realised that by my own works, in my own strength, it wasn’t possible to be saved.” “It’s not possible to have eternal life at the end of the day. I realised,” he added, “that my works will not be good enough because God’s standard is perfect.” “None of us are perfect,” Nmecha continued. “I had a good friend. He was also born again. We were always encouraging each other as we were growing and learning.”
“A big part was realising that football is a huge blessing, but it would never give you the fulfilment that you think it does.” Nmecha then testified that he came to realise only Jesus could provide that fulfilment. Understanding this, he said, “has helped him so much because it’s made him see that when his joy and his peace are in Christ, then his life can be constant.” “I can promise people,” Nmecha stated, “that when you get to know Jesus, you will be fulfilled.”
“It doesn’t mean that when someone comes to Christ all the hardship is going to stop; it means you know God is with you through it.” Sharing the gospel, and leaning on John 3:16–17, the rising soccer star proclaimed: “What Jesus did on that cross, he died for us so that we could have this relationship with him.” This is also so “that we could know actually who he’s created us to be. There’s so much peace, joy and just truth in Jesus.” “Once you experience this, your life will never be the same. That’s how I came to Christ.”
As Nmecha told Football with Vision, “I was lost. I thought I was a Christian. I thought I was good, but I was self-righteous and prideful, and God, Jesus saved me.”
Casting His Crown
Nmecha putting his crown down wasn’t without controversy. The gratitude gesture was misconstrued by some oddball commentators who tried to represent Nmecha’s actions as him “crowning himself” (see here and here). Correcting the misconception, X accounts like Ballers for God, Christhlete, and X’s own community notes, explained that “after scoring, Nmecha was symbolically laying down his crown.” This was “a reminder that every gift, every victory and every moment of glory ultimately belong to Jesus.”
The greatest soccer player of all time, Lionel Messi, scored all three of Argentina’s goals against Algeria in its World Cup opener. But it’s what he said after the game that has caught believers’ attention. And Messi isn’t the only athlete praising God on the world’s biggest stage. In the video Stephen Briggs mentions other players that have give glory to God.
An estimated five billion are likely to be watching this year’s Federation International (FIFA) World Cup. At least 69,000 witnessed the unapologetic Argentinian’s faith-filled performance, which led to Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria. More would have tuned in to hear one of the top goal scorers in the world give all the credit to God.
As highlighted by the Christian Broadcasting Network, Messi, who is worshipped as a god by many of his fans, said, “I can’t ask for more than what I received. As I’ve said many times, thank God that he has given me so much and everything that comes now is a blessing.” “I don’t look at [being] first, second, third; I think it’s an incredible compliment.”
CBN were responding to a video of Messi posted online by faith-based Instagram channel Ballers in God. Considered The Goat (exceptional at what he does), Messi is renowned for pushing the limelight back onto his team. He also avoids bathing in the glory. Instead, he chooses to express gratitude for the grace of God. Providing scale and significance as far as Messi’s impact goes, even the previous Pope was a fan. Albeit with sound theological caveats, Pope Francis joked about the size of Latin America’s admiration for the man, quipping, “he’s great to watch, but he is not God.’
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 