Gaming is a big part of every culture, especially as people grow up around technology and the ease of access for so many. Throughout adolescence to adulthood gaming is often a hobby the is enjoyed by many.
There are around 2.5 billion gamers worldwide who dedicate their spare time to online gaming with friends and strangers from around the world.
The internet and the continued quality of connection provides people with perfect quality and an almost infinite range of competitors.
As well as computer games, we can access a live casino through our computers or mobile devices while sportsbooks are also at our fingertips. Adults are able to use responsibly at any time that suits them.
Gaming is a great way to spend your free time. It can improve your hand-eye coordination as well as impact dopamine levels in the brain.
Its benefits can be highlighted in the ability to put a hold on the pressures of normal life and have the time to escape and do what you enjoy.
Footballers are in the public eye throughout their careers, especially those who play at the top level. It is vital for them to have a place to go to relax and have fun without the pressures of their everyday lives.
As well as this, during time off with injury, an area at home to relax and play gives a footballer the chance to unwind and distract themselves while being unable to train.
Video games also offer the competitiveness that comes with being an athlete in a more comfortable environment. Footballers are competitive people, so they will be drawn to these kinds of games to continue the enjoyment with their friends.
Some of the biggest stars in world football are huge gamers.
Harry Kane
The Tottenham Hotspur and England captain is a big gamer with an area set up in his house for gaming with teammates and other players in the league.
Kane is a huge Fortnite fan and fittingly the game has added a Harry Kane skin that can be used by other gamers.
The arrival of his third child has left him playing less, though it is a big part of his relaxation while being away from the training ground or matchdays.
Neymar Jr.
Of course, Neymar would be one of the footballers featured here!
The Brazilian is known for his ability to find ways of relaxing and enjoying himself off the pitch. In his documentary on Netflix, Neymar is often seen giving interviews while gaming on his PC or games console.
The Paris St-Germain forward even has his PCs custom-built for him to ensure they are the top specifications to enjoy his games to the full.
Neymar’s popularity on Instagram and Twitch gives him the platform to stream his games to his followers online. 164 million people follow him on Instagram and 1.8 million on Twitch.
He is different to most other footballers with a preference for Pro Evolution Soccer over FIFA and is a big basketball fan so plays a lot of NBA too.
Antoine Griezmann
The French forward is another who has shown online how much he enjoys playing video games.
Griezmann is a huge fan of Football Manager and is often seen on social media videos discussing his signings and talking to other players about their moves on the game.
Like Neymar, Griezmann has been known to use dances and moves from video games like Fortnite in his celebrations when he scores for his side.
Sergio Aguero
The Argentinian striker entertained his fans while injured at Manchester City with his live streams of games.
While going through rehabilitation and recovery he was seen playing Fall Guys in his twitch channel with 1.9 million people tuning in.
He is a much-loved player and his persona on Twitch really helped grow his audience as he navigated different games.
Diogo Jota
He has taken to his role at Liverpool like a duck to water, and his abilities on FIFA are exactly the same.
Jota is one of the Premier Leagues’ best players and he is also one of the best at FIFA, having achieved 1st in the world of players who play Weekend League.
He has seen this as another route alongside his professional football career. Jota has set up his own eSports team that compete competitively.
Diogo Jota Esports has been set up to compete with the best in the world at FIFA with their own kit and are now available on FIFA Ultimate Team.
Mesut Özil
The talented playmaker made his name at Real Madrid and Arsenal as a calm and intelligent player with a lot of creativity.
This seems to have transferred over well to his enjoyment of video games, especially Fortnite.
The game is huge amongst footballers as well as the rest of the world, and Özil can be seen online showing his skills on the game and his calmness in competing in the survival arena.
For many, computer games are the best way to relax after a day at school or a long day’s work. Finding that time to relax is vital for all, even footballers.
It’s easy to forget when they are on our televisions, representing our teams, they grew up just like all of us, gaming with their friends.
Sometimes life can get in the way, but for many footballers, free time is readily available and a bit of gaming in a great way to pass the time.
