Bafana Bafana striker Lyle Foster has been praised for publicly displaying his Christian faith after South Africa's World Cup loss to Mexico. A photo of him kneeling in prayer at the centre circle has gone viral.

The image, posted by US Christian sportswear brand Ballers In God, shows Foster in his white socks with a cross on them, kneeling with his hands raised. The brand captioned it: "Even in defeat, South Africa's @lyle.foster17 became the first player to publicly take part in The King's Return, casting his crown at His feet and kneeling in prayer at the centre circle. Because football can bring trophies, recognition and influence. But every crown belongs to the King."

Foster, who plays for English club Burnley, has been open about his Christian faith. In a FIFA World Cup special feature, he said: "God willing, after so much fight and so much sacrifice, this will be a moment to not just show the world who I am, but also just to enjoy it and appreciate the moment of how far we've come."

The 25-year-old has also spoken publicly about his mental health struggles. In 2023, he took a break from football to seek help for depression and anxiety.

The Ballers In God account also posted photos of Bafana Bafana players praying during training, adding: "After suffering defeat, the players of South Africa gathered together in prayer during training. Just a team acknowledging that even when results don't go your way, God is still worthy."

South Africa lost their opening Group H match 2-1 to Mexico on Thursday. They still have games against Czechia and South Korea to come.

Foster's stance has drawn praise from fans and fellow Christians, with many commenting on the post to applaud his humility and integrity. The campaign, called "The King's Return", encourages athletes to kneel in prayer after games as a sign of faith.

Foster has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances for Bafana Bafana. He joined Burnley in 2023 and has become a key player for the club.

"Even in defeat, South Africa's @lyle.foster17 became the first player to publicly take part in The King's Return, casting his crown at His feet and kneeling in prayer at the centre circle." — Ballers In God on Instagram

Bafana Bafana will face Czechia on June 18 and South Korea on June 22. Foster is expected to start both matches as South Africa push for a place in the knockout stages. His public display of faith has already made him a symbol of resilience for many South Africans.