Football obviously has evolved from being an ordinary sport kicked around by young men and watched by thousands of people at the stadium to what has been the most popular and most followed sporting event- thus making it accepted globally.
As a result of its popularity, even the players’ marketability and value even outside football have increased immensely coupled with the advent of social media, football stars are now being followed across the board and have become recognizable to every individual around the world.
It’s therefore unsurprising that some of these players are rubbing their shoulders with top celebrities in the world. An example is found in the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, David Beckham. He’s remained an iconic figure in the fashion industry and also has appeared on the covers of several magazines.
Paul Pogba is another example of a football star that has had an impact or two in other facets of entertainment outside football. The French World Cup winner has gone to present an award at a marquee music show.
And with the recent announcement that Chelsea French striker, Olivier Giroud is set to provide a voice to the role of Green Goblin in the upcoming Spiderman movie, he’s become the latest football Player who will briefly partake in another trade outside football – this is a practice that has long been practiced by footballers some decades ago.
Listing out 12 footballers who starred in movies.
Pele (Escape To Victory)
One of the football legends that’s widely respected as one of the greatest players of all time is Pele. He was one of the first footballers to appear in a movie.
In the movie titled”Escape To Victory”, Pele played the role of a World War II Prisoner who tried to escape from prison with a group of allies after he lured them to play football.
The movie also featured Hollywood giants like Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine. Also on the team were Bobby Moore and Ossie Ardiles.
Ashley Cole (Dead Man Running, Arsene’s Eleven)
The 37-year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal fullback currently plays for LA Galaxy in the MLS, United States of America. He was an integral part of Arsenal’s invisible squad that won the English Premier League in 2004.
The first time he showed his versatility was when he ventured into producing and starring is a documentary about Arsene Wenger’s squad in 2007 – with the title,”Arsene’s Eleven”. And in 2009, he was featured in the Hollywood movie, Dead Man Running.
Neymar Jr (XXX: Return of Xander Cage)
Neymar definitely is one of the best footballers in the world at the moment; prior to the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he was voted as the world’s most marketable athlete mainly because he had featured in some movies as a minor actor right from his hometown in Brazil.
He’s starred in a few movies which include an episode of the blockbuster series Trail of Lies (Amor a Vida) in 2013, and also featured just once in Shakira’s World Cup theme song La La La – Brazil in 2014.
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The Brazilian skipper appeared in the much-publicized; XXX: Return of Xander Cage, where he played the role of the footballer that was recruited by Samuel L Jackson to the secret organization.
However, due to his rape Allegation, Neymar’s Cameo in ‘La Casa de Papel‘ was cut from Season 3. Now, it’s rumored to be back. … It’s now been revealed that a Brazilian player is in the series, playing the role of a priest named João who interacts with the characters in episodes 6 and 8.
Stan Collymore (Basic Instinct)
Stan is a former Liverpool, Aston Villa and England striker whose debut in the movie industry lasted only three minutes. Also, he was compared to another football Player who starred in Hollywood movies (Vinne Jones).
Collymore shared the screen with American actress, Sharon Stone in the movie “Basic Instinct”. He was unconscious in the movie with Sharon.
Zinedine Zidane (Family Guy, Asterix at the Olympic games)
Zizou, 46 years old is one of the most revered footballers in the world who won everything winnable in the round leather game both individually and collectively. Also, he didn’t do that as a Player alone, he also proved his mettle on the bench as a Real Madrid manager, winning the UEFA Champions League three times on the bounce.
One hidden fact about the Frenchman is that he has also appeared on screen, for example – making a cameo in an episode of an animated sitcom titled Family Guy.
In 2006, Zizou’s maiden appearance was on an episode of Family Guy titled, “Saving Private Brian” in which he was spotted headbutting an old lady – a direct parody of his headbutt on Marco Materazzi at the final of the World Cup in Germany months earlier. He also made a guest appearance in the 2006 movie, Asterix at the Olympic Games.
David Beckham (A Man from U.N.C.L.E, King Arthur)
The English celebrity became the most searched individual on Google between 2003 and 2004 due to his popularity in and out of football and his boyish good looks (which is popularly called “Fine Boy” in a Naija tongue).
He made an appearance in Deadpool 2, a movie in which protagonist Ryan Reynolds made a quip of Becks’ voice, before going to knock on his door to give him an apology note.
Beckham also had a cameo appearance in the aforementioned Goal series, himself alongside fellow Galacticos Raul and Zinedine Zidane in the brainless but fun movie. Starring as the provider of insight in the 2015’s spy classic, he also featured in the movie “A Man from U.N.C.L.E”, and the 2017 blockbuster, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword“.
READ ALSO: Top Football Stars Who Don’t Wear A Tattoo
Eric Cantona (The Salvation, Life is Ours)
During the playing days of Cantona, he puts up charismatic performances on the pitch of play; this made his fans unsurprised when he decided to delve into the acting business.
Cantona has starred in multiple French movies, his overweight police superintendent role in the comedy movie titled “The Overeater” released in 2003 showed the comical part of the Manchester United legend.
Eric has acted in several movies after his retirement from football. The movies include Elizabeth, The Children of the Marshland, You and the Night, and The Salvation, as well as starring himself in his 2008’s Looking for Eric.
Frank LeBoeuf ( The Theory Of Everything)
Former Chelsea and France player, Frank Leboeuf was a member of the World Cup-winning team in 1998. Enchanting, charming and sometimes a hothead, Leboeuf has made the effective transition to sports analyst since he stopped playing the round leather game of football in 2005.
Acting has constantly held an appeal for the French international and his first debut on-screen was during his playing days, having a star in the film Taking Sides.
Following his retirement, he proceeded to enjoy theater work before playing a doctor role in the Oscar-winning biopic of Steven Hawkins, The Theory of Everything.
Vinnie Jones (Gone in 60 Seconds)
The unique thing about The ex-Wimbledon midfielder is that he wasn’t so spectacular as a player but made a Swift transition to become a superstar by proving his mettle in the movie industry and becoming one of the best movie actors.
He made his debut in Guy Ritchie’s cockney-tactic 1998 film “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” as Big Chris, and earned a bigger role alongside Brad Pitt in Ritchie’s follow-up film “Snatch” Bullet Tooth Tony.
Jones also starred in films like Gone in 60 Seconds, Mean Machine, Snatch, and the latest X-Men movie to boost his reputation as a surprisingly competent and versatile actor.
Paul Breitner (TV Total, Libero as Himself)
Paul is a former German footballer, who played as a midfielder and as a defender for West Germany. He was known for his partnerships with Franz Beckenbauer and Berti Vogts in defense for the German national team, and his midfield combination with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for Bayern. He earned 48 caps for West Germany.
Paul was still a player when he featured in two action-adventure films, one being a German-language western. He played a frontier soldier helping Hardy Kruger’s ranger plant potatoes in the 1976 spaghetti-western ‘Potato Fritz’, and in 1986 he starred in the action-adventure, Kunyonga – Mord in Afrika.
He starred in different 13 German movies but today works mainly as a TV pundit and newspaper columnist. In March 2007, he entered into a contract with FC Bayern Munich and acts as an advisor on various issues due to a vociferous fellow he is, he questioned some of the German government’s decisions as a player.
George Best ( Percy, Cup Fever )
The late Irishman played himself in the 1965 sports film ‘Cup Fever’ – the story of a youth team who meet Manchester United and proceed to win their cup competition amid struggles and all.
Best was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968, he is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He appeared in the movie named ‘Percy’, a 1971 British comedy about the world’s first recipient of a penis transplant.
Bobby Moore ( Till Death Do Us Part, Escape To Victory )
Bobby was an English footballer. He most notably played for West Ham United, captaining the club for more than a decade, and was the captain of the England national team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup in 1966.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time and was cited by Pelé as the greatest defender that he had ever played against. He played Terry Brady in “Escape to Victory.”
Moore starred alongside A-list actors like Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone in the 1981 film. He has also appeared in several episodes of the TV series ‘Till Death Do Us Part’.
