Gaming and footballers seem to be a match made in heaven. They get to decompress while still enjoying the competition that video games offer. Some players are even known for going on FIFA servers and battling against fans, using their skills and sense for the game to dominate. Some are in it for the fun and are known for playing from time to time, while others are known for being bona fide addicts. Let’s take a look at a few well-known footballers who are heavy into gaming.
Neymar
If you know anything about Neymar, you know that he loves games. Not only is he a regular on FIFA, but he’s also known for loving mobile online casinos as well. As a matter of fact, he has a sponsorship with one very famous provider that understands the PSG player’s star power and marketability.
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is known for his flamboyant celebrations that aggravate many fans. For those who may not know, one of his most famous celebrations, the “L” dance, came directly from Fortnite. Griezmann is a known fan of the game but prefers to play Xbox titles.
Jesse Lingard
The Manchester United midfielder is well-known for his love of gaming. It should come as no surprise that he’s a huge fan of FIFA and spends a big portion of his spare time playing the game. He says that he uses the game as a form of therapy and started playing it in 2018 after his Cup Final loss.
Marcus Rashford
This young rising star is another example of a player who loves to play games to let off some steam after games. He never professed himself to be a hardcore gamer and has said himself that he’s an intermediate-level player. He’s still very passionate and can up his game when times call for it. His console of choice is the PS5 and sometimes participates in competitions.
Ryan Babel
The Dutch player is about as famous as a football player as he is a live streamer. In 2010, the player had no issue being benched for the entire World Cup. Instead, he spent most of his free time streaming his gaming sessions online. This is when he started making a name for himself as a true gamer and has gained many followers.
David James
While most footballers on this list never had a problem with gaming, some are such avid gamers that it reportedly started to affect their game. David James is one example. Some of his teammates have speculated that his Tomb Raider and Tekken marathons were the reason why his game was slipping, to the point that some people had real concerns for him. He has seemingly turned things around since then but is still a hardcore gamer.
All of these footballers are known for their passion for gaming. We can expect many to extend their careers by becoming personalities in the gaming world or by striking sponsorships with gaming companies.
