Luiz's 'healing hands' are no gimmick: Brazilian's faith runs deeper than helping Torres

Fernando Torres' two goals for Chelsea in the Champions League may have been attributed to a strange pre-match ritual from David Luiz, but the Brazilian defender takes his religious faith more seriously than cheap gimmicks to help team-mates score.
The Blues strolled to a  5-0 win over Belgian side Genk in midweek, aided by two goals from the misfiring Spaniard and it was revealed that Luiz may have asked for some divine intervention.
Luiz is proud of his his Christian beliefs and has links with the Atletas de Cristo (Athletes of Christ) – a non-profit organisation that is made up of sportsmen and which was started in Brazil in 1984, according to Sportsmail's Game in Spain columnist Pete Jenson, writing in the Independent.

Coincidence? Torres bagged two goals during the game against Genk

The movement and counts Real Madrid's Kaka and Inter Milan's Lucio among its many devotees.

Luiz speaks highly of Kaka, who he says inspires him 'both on and off the pitch', and when asked about his future while still at the Portuguese club, Luiz said: 'Everything in life belongs to God. Our purpose has already been mapped out.

                                  

                              Inspired: Kaka and Lucio follow the same evangelical movement

'My faith gives me the belief that I can go out and perform and improve as a player. It gives me strength and inspiration,' Luiz said last season.
And while at Benfica he drove a van to training with religious stickers adorning it – one saying 'Christ is life' and the other 'God is Faith'.

Brace yourself: Torres fired two inside half an hour against Genk