Christian Footballers

Bradley Barcola Religion

Bradley Barcola

Active
Religion or belief Christianity
Current or last club
Liverpool
Country (nationality)
France
League or competition
Premier League
Position
Forward
How is the religion known?
Reported by reputable media
Last checked
9 October 2026

We list a player’s religion only where they have spoken about it publicly or it has been reliably reported, and we link our sources. If something is wrong, or a player’s views have changed, please tell us and we will review it.

Table of Contents

What religion is Bradley Barcola?

Bradley Barcola is a French professional footballer who is widely reported to be a Christian. While he keeps his personal life and faith relatively private, he has publicly acknowledged his beliefs and spiritual inspirations through his actions on and off the pitch. Whenever he scores, Barcola famously celebrates by pointing both of his index fingers toward the sky. In an interview, he explained the gesture, stating, “I thank God for everything He’s given to me. It’s my way of paying homage to Him every time I score.”

In early 2025, he revealed that his personal spirituality and faith are part of the core mix of inspirations behind his identity as a player and his choice of the number 29 jersey.

Bradley Barcola is best known for playing as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. He joined AS Buers when he was 6 years old, and he began his senior career with Olympique Lyonnais in 2021.

In 2023, he signed for Paris Saint-Germain for a €45 million transfer fee, where he went on to win the UEFA Champions League as part of a continental treble in 2025.

On the international stage, Barcola played for France’s under-21 team at the 2023 European Championship. He earned his first senior call-up in June 2024. He has since played for France at both UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Liverpool transfer

Following the departure of Mohamed Salah, Liverpool has identified Barcola as their undisputed primary target to reinforce their attack. But Paris Saint-Germain is refusing to sell on sentiment and has slapped a record-breaking £145 million price tag on the winger. This comes as a result of benchmarking him against inflated Premier League transfers like Elliot Anderson‘s £116 million and Morgan Rogers‘ £117 million.

Liverpool, however, has no intention of overpaying in a heavily distorted market. In contrast, Liverpool intends to structure a deal closer to the £100 million mark, with their opening valuation starting as low as £80 million. At the moment, a negotiation is now expected as Liverpool plays a patient game to force PSG’s asking price down.

Early life

Bradley Barcola was born on September 2, 2002, in Villeurbanne, France, to a Togolese father, Yves, and a French mother, and he has five siblings. Barcola began playing football in 2008 with his hometown club AS Buers Villeurbanne. He remained with the team until 2010, when he moved to the youth academy of Olympique Lyonnais.

Club career

Bradley Barcola joined Olympique Lyonnais in 2010, playing for the club’s youth academy. He did so until 2020. Meanwhile, from 2020 to 2021, he played for Lyon’s reserve team in the Championnat National 2. After that, Barcola signed a professional contract with the club and made his debut in the 2021-22 season. At the end of the next season, he and Lyon achieved major individual and team growth, as he finished the 2022-23 campaign with seven goals and ten assists in Ligue 1. The player went on to feature heavily at the start of the 2023-24 season, followed by a high-profile permanent transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023.

Paris Saint-Germain

Bradley Barcola was transferred to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of August 2023. He made his debut for the club as a substitute against his former team, Lyon, in the fourth round of Ligue 1. Barcola went on to play in the UEFA Champions League, making it to the semi-finals in his debut year. He had his breakout season in 2024–25, when he helped PSG win the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, while establishing himself as a vital forward following Kylian Mbappé’s departure.

Moreover, Barcola was named to the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He continued his success in the 2025–26 season, helping PSG retain the UEFA Champions League title for a second consecutive year alongside a Ligue 1 league trophy and the Trophée des Champions.

Barcola reached a milestone in the 2025–26 season, when he recorded a career-high 13 goals in all competitions for PSG, cementing his place as one of Europe’s most promising young wingers before becoming the subject of heavy transfer interest in the summer of 2026.

Liverpool

On 31 August 2026, after three full seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcola moved to the Premier League, signing a five-year contract with Liverpool for a reported fee of £106 million (€125 million), with a further £17 million (€20 million) in potential add-ons. Barcola will wear the No. 29 jersey, continuing with the same number he wore during his time in Paris.

International career

Bradley Barcola began his career with the France national football team at the youth level, playing for the under-20 and under-21 teams. He made his debut for the senior team in June 2024, in a pre-UEFA Euro 2024 friendly match against Luxembourg. He went on to play in three of France’s matches during their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign, where the team reached the semi-finals.

Barcola later featured prominently for his country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, appearing in all eight matches and scoring three goals, with the team ultimately securing a fourth-place finish.

Awards and honors

Bradley Barcola was named the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month in September 2024. For his breakthrough performances, he has accumulated a stellar trophy cabinet before the age of 24:

Paris Saint-Germain

  • UEFA Champions League: 2024–25, 2025–26
  • Ligue 1 Champion: 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26
  • Coupe de France: 2023–24, 2024–25
  • Trophée des Champions: 2023, 2024, 2025
  • UEFA Super Cup: 2025
  • FIFA Club World Cup: 2025

International Achievements

  • UEFA Nations League: Third-place finish (2024–25)
  • FIFA World Cup: Fourth-place finish (2026)

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