The talk about how good BYU's program has become got me thinking. Anyone know if there are any former men's BYU soccer players or LDS soccer players in general that have reached the upper echelon's of the sport?

Has an LDS soccer player ever been capped for his national team or played in the World Cup?

Are there any LDS players in the top European leagues or even the MLS? Has an LDS player ever suited up for a UEFA Champions League match?

There are plenty of BYU/LDS athletes who have won Olympic medals or have reached the top levels in the NFL, NBA, or MLB. I don't know of any for soccer, so I'm checking to see if anyone else knows.

kitic77 wrote:

The only one I ever heard of being Mormon was Jorge Campo a long time goalkeeper for Mexico.

if jorge campo really was mormon, then that is a pretty famous mormon for back in the late 90's, he also came and played in the mls for the galaxy i'm pretty sure.

I know a current byu player has gotten past offers to play in the mls but stayed in school and is still there.

kitic77 wrote:

The only one I ever heard of being Mormon was Jorge Campo a long time goalkeeper for Mexico.

Are you serious? Jorge Campos? This sounds like a Steve Marin-type mormon legend.

Jorge Campos? Nah, he is not LDS. He is pretty catholic, he used to cross himself at the beginning of every game. I am a big fan of soccer, and as far as I know, there are no members playing at elite levels. But I could be wrong.

I know that Tita (pronounced Chi-ta) is LDS. He is a convert and married a Mormon gal (Brazilian). His real name is Milton Queiroz da Paixao.

Tita grew up in Rio de Janeiro and still has strong ties to that area. He, his wife, and their children live in Rio when he doesn't have a gig somewhere else in the world.

Tita played for Flamengo and played on Brazil's national team in 1990. That team didn't do so well, and Brazil was eliminated in the second round by arch-rival Argentina (1-0).

Tita also played professionally in Europe and ended his playing career in the Mexican league.

I knew Tita because I served as a missionary in his ward (Barra da Tijuca) for about 9 months from late 2000 through the mid part of 2001. I know Tita was the Young Men's President at some point prior to my arrival in that area. I never got to each lunch (dinner for you grengos) at Paixao's home. However, he appeared to be a nice man in the few times I had chance to speak with him.

Tita is know trying to get his career going as a coach.