Its easy to think that all footballers do is train and play football.
However, just like normal people, they do have a life outside of football, including enjoying hobbies that people like me and you have.
This includes going out for meals, shopping, and as you will read about today, video games are a common hobby.
You will often see footballers on social media sharing their gaming setups and games that have been sponsored with them too.
So in this list, I have found and also watched through those who stream themselves doing so, various famous footballers who play video games in their spare time.
Table of Contents
1) Harry Kane
When Harry Kane isn’t scoring goals for Tottenham or caught up in the news about transfers away from the club, the player is one for playing video games.
The 28-year-old striker has gaming set up at his house, where he plays games online with fellow teammates, including Dele Alli and Harry Maguire.
Of all the games out there, one of his favourites that he is known for playing is Fortnite.
Especially during the broken up 2019/20 season, he jumped on this game a lot.
He also revealed this in an interview with Gabby Logan on BBC, of which there is a picture of it below, that he loves to play Fortnite to pass the time when not playing football.
However, he did also admit that he doesn’t as much as he used to due to the arrival of his third child.
It is quite fitting that Fortnite most recently added Kane as a skin to the store of Fortnite and other footballers, so players can roam the map as the number 9.
2) Neymar Jr
Neymar Jr is one of the best footballers of his generation.
However, you will find him on his favourite video games whenever he isn’t playing on the pitch.
That is not only because he loves to game, but he also enjoys teaming up with his teammates to have a game of CS:GO.
With 160 million followers on Insta and 1.7 million on his twitch channel, the PSG player has an awesome PC set up, which he uses to play and steam games to his audience’s.
While his main game looks to be CS:GO, with him even taking inspiration from it to do a grenade celebration at the World Cup, he also showcases him playing many other games.
This includes Among US, Fortnite, Call Of Duty, which you will see many clips of him playing around the internet.
Now being a big-time footballer, it would be a surprise if he didn’t play some footy game, and it turns out he also dabbles in a bit of Fifa.
While it doesn’t seem to be on the top of his list, some players from the Fifa community have spoken about how they have come up against his special 99 rated card.
This is a card that is given to out to footballers signed to real-life clubs.
Below is him playing with another US-based streamer, which despite Neymar not speaking English, the two paired up to get the dub on Fortnite.
3) Dele Alli
I know personally how addictive video games can be.
Once you get into them, it can be hard to find time to even sleep.
This certainly seemed to be the case for Dele Alli, who, during the break away from football, found himself getting more into the video games.
Especially Call Of Duty Warzone and Fortnite sessions with other players on this list.
In fact, some reports even go as far as to say it was one of the factors why he broke up with his girlfriend.
4) Sergio Aguero
While injuries have made it hard for Sergio Aguero to wow fans with his goals and skills on the field.
He has, though, kept millions of people online entertained by taking up streaming while going through rehab.
The argentine who has recently completed the signing to Barcelona has many funny clips of him playing different games on Twitch.
From packing Jurgen Klopp on Fifa to falling off on Fall Guys to even getting killed by Neymar in Among Us.
5) Diego Jota
Now, if it wasn’t for the fact that Diego Jota is smashing it for Liverpool FC, he could of well of made it as a pro gamer instead.
Unlike some professional footballers who play video games for their own leisure, it turns out the Portuguese international is darn good at it.
With the main game he has built some reputation on is Fifa, where he achieved 1st in the world out of all the players who play Weekend League.
Which being one of the most competitive modes in the game, is an impressive feat.
Since then, Jota has started up an esports team that plays competitively against other professional teams in the game.
6) Zlatan Ibrahimovic
If you were to think of footballers and video games, probably the last player you would expect to be linked to both is none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He comes across as someone who you would expect to turn your nose up on playing games on a console.
Now, if you are shocked to hear that? You may be shocked further when you hear that the swede likes to jump on Fortnite with his mates from time to time.
7) Mesut Özil
Mesut Özil had a tricky time towards the end of his spell with Arsenal, and while many people will think he lost interest in playing football.
Which could have been the case, there is a chance it was video games that were on the playmakers head.
Videos have come out of him grinding out Fortnite, and from watching a few myself, he looks to be a decent player.
So on those days where Ozil wasn’t featured on the matchday squad, it was probably because he was on his console getting better at the survival game.
8) Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann has made it obvious on a number of occasions his love for video games, incorporating them into his celebrations on the pitch.
Over the past few years, the Frenchman has used a number of viral Fortnite dances after netting goals for Barce, Atletico and national side France.
One moment that some fans will remember is when he got his side back in the lead against Croatia and proceeded to the ‘L’ dance.
Now its not just his dances that give away that he likes to play video games, but he’s often sharing his gaming with his fans.
From playing Mario Kart 8 with his teammates to showing his saves on Football Manager like below.
Conclusion
As you can see, footballers are just like regular people, who like to play video games as anybody else would.
If you know of any others, who are avid gamers and should be added to the list, do leave them down below 🙂
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