Venezuela Baseball Stars Drop to Their Knees and Give All Glory to Jesus After Winning World Baseball Classic

Venezuelan Baseball Team Gives All Glory to Jesus After Winning First Ever World Baseball Classic Title

On March 17, 2026, the Venezuelan national team stunned the United States 3 2 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, to claim the country's first ever World Baseball Classic championship. But the victory was defined as much by faith as by skill on the diamond.

The spiritual tone was set before the tournament even began. A video of all star third baseman Eugenio Suarez leading his teammates in prayer went viral on social media, giving millions a glimpse into the team's devotion to God.

In the championship game, outfielder Wilyer Abreu opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fifth inning, putting Venezuela ahead 2 0. The United States fought back in the eighth when Bryce Harper launched a two run home run to tie the game at 2 2.

Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Suarez delivered the moment that will live forever in Venezuelan sports history. He lined a go ahead RBI double that drove in Luis Arraez with the decisive run, giving Venezuela a 3 2 lead they would not relinquish.

After the final strikeout sealed the victory, Suarez grabbed a Venezuelan flag and sprinted onto the field before dropping to his knees, looking to the sky in prayer and praise.

God is good. All the glory is for Lord Jesus. He was with us the whole time. We have to glorify. Put His name in front of everything.

Eugenio Suarez, World Baseball Classic MVP

Teammate Javier Sanoja echoed the spiritual message in his own postgame interview.

God's plans are perfect. We had to keep fighting. Thank God we kept going and got back on our feet.

Javier Sanoja

Suarez also reflected on the team's bond, saying they were not just teammates but family. "We feel the jersey. We feel our country in front of us. That's why this is a lot for us as players, as people, as human beings."

Eugenio Suarez Credits Jesus Christ After Historic World Baseball Classic Win for Venezuela

The Dominican Republic also made headlines during the tournament for their public team prayer, reinforcing how deeply faith runs through Latin American baseball culture. But it was Venezuela's unwavering testimony that captured the world's attention.

Suarez, who has consistently pointed to God throughout his MLB career, once said of his 300th career home run: "This home run was for God. I glorify God because He gives me the power." His WBC performance was no different, as he refused to take personal credit for the championship winning hit.

With gold medals around their necks, the Venezuelan players gathered in center field and sang every word of "Gloria Al Bravo Pueblo," their national anthem, many with tears streaming down their faces. Thousands of Venezuelan fans in the stands wept alongside them.

The Crusader's Opinion

This is what the world needs to see. Not athletes thanking their agents, their brand deals, or their own greatness. Eugenio Suarez dropped to his knees on the biggest stage in international baseball and told the entire planet that Jesus Christ carried his team to victory. In a culture that mocks public faith and sidelines Christians, this man grabbed a flag and grabbed his God in the same breath. That is the kind of boldness every believer should aspire to. The mainstream media will move on from this story by tomorrow, but the eternal impact of a man declaring "All the glory is for the Lord Jesus" to millions of viewers cannot be erased. May every Christian athlete take note: your platform is a pulpit. Use it.

Take Action

• Share the video of Eugenio Suarez leading his team in prayer on your social media. Let the world see what faith looks like in action.
• Pray for Venezuelan Christians who face economic hardship and political persecution daily. Support them through Open Doors or The Shepherd's Shield.
• Write to your favorite athletes and sports commentators encouraging them to acknowledge faith stories in sports coverage, not just stats and scores.
• Support ministries that serve athletes spiritually, such as Athletes in Action and the Baseball Chapel, which provide chaplaincy services across MLB.
• Talk to the young people in your life about Suarez's example. Ask them: "What would it look like to give God the glory in your own victories?"