Home of football statistics and historyUnlike people who work 9-5 each day, professional footballers often have the luxury of having plenty of free time at their disposal.
History has shown that some players are better at filling that void than others – a point evidenced by the number of former professionals who went off the rails. Things are a little different in the modern era, with many players turning to technology when searching for a release valve from the sport.
Online gaming has become a bolt-hole for many top players, and some have really immersed themselves in the sector. Read on as we take a closer look at the soccer stars who have been making a significant impact in the gaming arena.
Diogo Jota
The Liverpool and Portugal forward is among a plethora of pro athletes who are avid gamers, and he has used his passion as a vehicle to make his mark in eSports. He linked up with Galaxy Racer to establish the eSports team Luna Galaxy, which competes in various online games, including EA Sports FC, Dota 2, and Rocket League. Luna Galaxy also helps budding eSports athletes by staging development sessions in several European countries.
Neymar Jr
Once touted as ‘the next big thing’ in Brazilian football, it would be fair to say that Neymar Jr has not quite lived up to the hype. He is now plying his trade in the backwaters of the Saudi Pro League, but this has not stopped him from retaining his status as one of the most marketable footballers in the world. That point was highlighted to perfection in 2021 when he secured a deal with Facebook Gaming to stream his gaming activities to a vast global audience.
Jadon Sancho
Drinking and gambling were previously the primary vices for professional footballers, causing many of them to descend into an unsavory spiral of self-destruction. Online gaming may seem like an unlikely genre to be categorized in the same way but it has been cited as a major factor in Jadon Sancho’s failure to fulfil his undoubted potential. Late-night gaming sessions have resulted in the forward turning up late for training with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United, which has not gone down well with the clubs.
Sergio Aguero
In addition to establishing himself as one of the all-time greats in the Premier League, former Manchester City and Argentina star Sergio Aguero is also a passionate gamer. He is a massive fan of first-person tactical hero shooter Valorant, which fuelled his decision to set up his own eSports team in 2020. KRU eSports has made significant inroads in Latin America, and Aguero has ambitions to establish the organization as a major force across the Valorant universe over the next few years.
Antoine Griezmann
Blackburn Rovers fans may be surprised to discover that one of the world’s top footballers has embarked on a mission to turn them into a major force in the gaming world. Atletico Madrid and France forward Antoine Griezmann recently revealed that he took charge of the struggling Championship club on the latest edition of Football Manager. Griezmann somehow guided Rovers into playoff contention despite working under a set of owners who have ruined this famous club in the real world.
The final word
Given the competitive similarities between football and online gaming, it comes as no surprise to find that numerous players use the latter as a way to unwind from the stresses of playing their chosen sport. This will likely become even more prevalent among the next generation of players, who were brought up during the digital era.
0 Comments