Rico Lewis: Faith, Football, and a Mission to Help Manchester's Homeless

Jul 10, 2026 3 min read 7 views

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Manchester City midfielder Rico Lewis has spoken about how his Christian faith transformed his life and inspired him to tackle homelessness in his hom...

A Journey of Faith

Rico Lewis has always been a curious soul. The Manchester City midfielder, who announced his marriage to Ameliia this week, has opened up about the profound impact his Christian faith has had on his life and career.

"I've always loved history and one day something clicked," Lewis told BBC Sport. "I thought, why don't I learn about Jesus? Why don't I find out about the Bible?"

"I started reading from a place of curiosity, to investigate and as soon as I did, I think God touched my heart. It changed my life and ever since I've not looked back."

He added: "My wife was brought up believing in Jesus, but we have both increased our practice of our faith – more than we would have otherwise – because I didn't believe before. But leaning on each other, with the same end goal, is all that matters. It has helped us a lot in our life and in our relationship."

A Heart for the Homeless

Since embracing his faith, Lewis has become more aware of the suffering around him. Walking through Manchester, he noticed the city's severe homelessness crisis. A report by Shelter in December found that nearly 10,000 people in Manchester are homeless and living in temporary accommodation – one in every 61 residents.

"I walk through Manchester, realising how many people are struggling with homelessness. It's impossible to know why each person is in the situation they're in, but I've always wanted to help those who are helpless," he said.

Teaming up with local rapper Nemzzz, Lewis decided to host a charity football tournament to raise funds and awareness for homelessness charities in Manchester.

A Star-Studded Charity Tournament

On 28 June, Lewis assembled a galaxy of football stars at Manchester's National Speedway Stadium for a seven-a-side event. His Manchester City teammate Phil Foden – the former PFA Footballer of the Year – captained a side that bowed out in the semi-finals. Manchester United's Shea Lacey impressed with his dribbling, while Shea Charles of Southampton and his brother Pierce Charles reached the final, only to lose on penalties.

City academy talents Kaden Braithwaite and Lewis' younger sister Sacha, a defender in the Manchester City women's setup, also participated, making it a true family and community affair.

"I was going to do something to help anyway – a donation or a food delivery service – but bringing football and charity together felt the best way to accomplish our goal," Lewis explained. The event was a resounding success, and Lewis hopes to make it an annual fixture.

Key Takeaways

Rico Lewis has credited his Christian faith with positively transforming his life and marriage to wife Ameliia.
Inspired by his faith, Lewis became determined to address the homelessness crisis in Manchester, where nearly 10,000 people are living in temporary accommodation.
He organized a charity seven-a-side tournament featuring stars like Phil Foden, Shea Lacey, and Shea Charles to raise funds and awareness.
The event was a triumph, uniting the city's football community and raising significant money for local homelessness charities.
Lewis hopes to turn the tournament into an annual tradition to continue his off-pitch impact.