I had a bad idea to send my sons to learn music. I discovered very soon that they had inherited tone deafness from their father. But the worst thing was that they were so enthusiastic and continued to practice for hours and hours. My nerves were shattered, and I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan for help. She enlightened me with an idea of changing music lessons to soccer lessons. My sons immediately forgot about instruments and now they kick the ball in the garden all day long. I give infinite thanks.

Neboisha lost his tickets to the Montenegro—Russia game, and all his friends laughed at him. But there was a petard thrown at the goalkeeper, and the game was stopped, and the fans sat at the grandstand in vain for three hours. Neboisha’s wife thanks Holy Mary because he was instead sitting on the soft coach in front of the TV and even repaired the iron that he had been promising to repair for two years.

I thank Saint Raymond Nonnatus fro delivering us from yabbering Tila Maria Sesto’s gossips when she caught us, me and my buddy, watching soccer in underwear. She almost gave us stomach pain when we saw her, and we almost spoiled our underpants. She started to say that we were motherfuckers. But no, I went to my buddy’s house because he has such a big TV-device and a fan from the heat. I ordered to paint Melo Colli in gratitude.

Merida, Yucatan, 2009

Notes:
This retablo is not for wide audience. There are local Yucatan comedians Tila Maria Sesto and Melo Colli mentioned here. The caption also contains Yucatan expression such as:

He-lé — expression of negation or simply “no”.

Raul Gomez brings the present retablo, with great devotion, to the Child of Atocha in gratitude for helping him to win the table soccer championship.

My husband was a football fan. He used to come home and turn on the TV first thing to watch his games. He didn’t pay me any attention and never had time for the intimacy. I was so desperate, I even thought about asking for a divorce. I fervently prayed Saint Charbel, and little by little my husband’s sport fever went down. Now he’s a more loving and, above all, fulfilling husband.

Sandra Cruz — Torreon, Coahuila

The coach of the junior soccer team “Vultures” enjoyed drinking very much. The kids implored Saint John Bosco, and the coach finally gave up alcohol and has become a great team leader. They thank with this retablo for such favor.

Thanks, Virgin of Guadalupe, because on the last minute of the game I scored the goal with which we won the championship.

I thank don Diego Maradona for teaching me to enjoy soccer and the Holy Virgin of Aparecida for making me being born on 30/10, on the day of Diegito’s birthday.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for curing my father Jose. We were playing soccer and he fell hitting his head and lain like dead. Seeing this tragedy I prayed for his life. Now he’s fine and we bring this retablo together for such luck.

July 18, 1940

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because Hugo isn’t angry with me anymore because “Chivas” (“Goats”) won 8–0–0 over “Cruz Azul” (“Blue Cross”), and he returned to me, and we’ve just celebrated 6 months together. I gave him a player Kikin t-shirt because it doesn’t matter to me if he’s so irritable, I love him as he is, and I don’t care what people say.

Perla, “Goat” in heart
Mexico City — June 2, 2006

I offer this retablo to give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for looking after my daughter when she stopped going out on the streets of East LA wearing the gang colors protesting over George Floyd’s death. She changed this idea after meeting neighbor kids playing soccer. She loves playing soccer with them, so she changed her clothes and stayed playing with the kids.

June 1, 2020

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, because my surgery went well and I already can keep on playing soccer.

Americo Sanchez

Pancrasio Romero of the team “Fish Legs” brings this retablo to Saint Charbel thanking him for his help because he scored the goal that brought the victory to his team and he was applauded.

Puebla, 1950