For his critics, what was interesting was less his two goals and more what he did afterwards. After Felix Nmecha had given BVB the lead against SV Elversberg with a well-placed low shot from the edge of the penalty area, he turned towards the corner flag, got on his knees and pantomimed how he took an imaginary crown from his head and placed it on the ground in front of him.
The national player often shows this gesture after his goals. For him it symbolizes that success and fame do not belong to him, but to Jesus Christ, the King. It goes back to the religiously motivated campaign “The King’s Return”, which Nmecha supports.
After his second goal on Saturday, a brilliant long-range shot, Nmecha pointed his fingers upwards - for the evangelical Christian that was also an expression of his faith. This celebration is a commitment to the controversial Christian football initiative “Ballers in God”, which represents extremely conservative views on issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
“Faith should not be abused”
The debate as to whether Nmecha should refrain from such actions was once again given new fuel - at least among those who were informed about the background of the gestures. This probably only included a small minority of the 81,365 spectators in Dortmund. But the fan department at BVB felt compelled to issue a statement the next day criticizing Nmecha's actions and his motivation for them.
"We respect the right of every person to live and publicly profess their faith. Our criticism is directed against the devaluation and exclusion of people - even if it is based on religion. (...) Our criticism is directed against religious networks that, under the guise of faith, spread a worldview in which people are devalued or excluded because of their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their way of life or their personal decisions," it says. And both “Ballers in God” and “The King’s Return” would do that. Footballers should not use their reach to support them.
The reaction of the fan department is of significant importance, especially at this point in time. The BVB general meeting is scheduled for November 22nd. The topic only caused discussion at the last meeting. “Faith should not be abused by not recognizing the diversity of the society in which we live,” Tobias Westerfellhaus, chairman of the fan department, explained at the time.
This debate overshadows the strong development that Nmecha is going through and which reached its peak on Saturday. Without the midfielder, it would hardly have been possible for Dortmund to stay level on points with Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga. With his third and fourth goals of the season, he contributed significantly to the 2-1 (0-0) win. For BVB it was the sixth win in the ninth game of the season.
“He’s a machine,” says Klopp
"In terms of talent, his qualities and his technique, he is one of the best midfielders in the world. If he adds his qualifications, there are not many who are better," said BVB sports director Ole Book. In fact, there are few midfielders who offer a better overall package in terms of talent and physical robustness. Nmecha has strengths in both defense and offense. He can win balls, initiate attacks and become a goal threat himself. These qualities combined in one player - that's rare.
Jürgen Klopp also recognized this. "Felix is simply someone who has an incredible amount of imagination. He is a machine - incredibly physically strong and incredibly talented in terms of football," said the national coach after he nominated Nmecha for the Nations League games on November 13th in Serbia and against the Netherlands (November 16th).
Nmecha has not yet shown anything close to what he can do. “There are a few things that you can really think about: where else can this lead,” explained Klopp. In the future, the 26-year-old could also take on a leadership role in the national team.
Nmecha himself was happy about the praise, but remained humble. When asked whether BVB might even be able to become champions, he said: “We’re taking it game by game.” He was far less reserved about his goal celebrations.
