Was God on the Side of the Argentinians? Internet Debates Catholic Dominance in Football

The internet is buzzing with speculation about a supposed Catholic hegemony in football, particularly in light of Argentina's potential World Cup success. This trend has revived discussions around historical events like Diego Maradona's infamous 1986 'Hand of God' goal against England.

While Maradona himself only admitted to using his hand nearly 20 years later, the online discourse in 2026 presents a different narrative. Social media users and podcasters are emphasizing the shared Catholic faith and Spanish-speaking heritage of Argentina and its final opponent, Spain. This has fueled a broader theory about Catholic-dominated nations performing well in the World Cup.

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Brazil's players were better when they were still womanizers, drinkers, and somewhat out of shape. In other words: when they behaved like Catholics.

An account named 'Institute for Hispano Studies' has advanced this thesis, attributing the failure of record champions Brazil to a shift away from their 'Catholic' roots. The account humorously suggests that Brazilian players performed better when they were more 'womanizers, drinkers, and out of shape', essentially, behaving more like 'Catholics.' It controversially blames the rise of 'evangelical Protestantism' for 'flattening their balls' and 'ruining the samba.'

These claims, though likely intended humorously by some, have been widely shared and liked online. The article notes that countries like Austria and Italy, despite being staunchly Catholic, have not reached the finals, and Italy, a four-time winner, failed to qualify this year, offering a counterpoint to the simplistic religious determinism.

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Their balls flattened and ruined the samba.