People are just realising Man Utd legend Eric Cantona is COUSINS with new Pope Leo XIV

ERIC CANTONA was worshipped by Manchester United fans – and they might have been on to something.

French genealogy experts have discovered the football icon is related to Pope Leo XIV.

GettyEric Cantona is a distant cousin of the new Pope[/caption] The Mega AgencyPope Leo XIV is American but has relatives in France and Italy[/caption]

Cantona, 58, took English football by storm in the early 1990s.

After a short stint at Leeds, he joined United in 1992 and spent five eventful years at Old Trafford.