Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has sparked curiosity among fans about his religious beliefs following a recent social media interaction.
Recently a fan urged Balde to make sure Barcelona wins the Champions League this season, to which he responded, “Inshallah.”
This Arabic phrase, meaning “God willing” in Islam, is commonly used by Muslims to express hope for a favorable outcome.
Last year, Balde also commented “Mashallah” — meaning “God has willed it,” often used to express gratitude or admiration — on teammate Lamine Yamal’s Instagram post.
These remarks have led fans to question whether the 21-year-old is Muslim.
Balde, born in Barcelona on October 18, 2003, to a Bissau-Guinean father, Saliu, and a Dominican mother, Gledys, has a multicultural background.
His father’s Guinea-Bissau heritage, where Islam is the majority religion, fuels speculation about a possible Muslim connection.
However, there is no definitive evidence confirming Balde’s religion.
There’s a chance he could be Christian too, but Balde has not publicly addressed his faith.
His use of Islamic phrases could reflect cultural exposure, possibly influenced by Muslim teammates like Yamal, who is known to be Muslim.
Despite a hamstring injury sidelining him since 12th April, Balde has been an important figure for Barcelona in the 2024/25 season under coach Hansi Flick. The German manager has praised Balde’s gameplay, which allows Raphinha to roam freely while Balde dominates the left flank.
His recovery is targeted for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Inter Milan on April 30.
