Football players are expected to be macho, strong, and aggressive. However, did you know that there are athletes who also have a passion for music? These famous football players have recorded songs as solo artists or guest musicians for various bands and may listen to them when exploring the best online casino, replacing, and while on the bench.
Some of the songs have reached the top charts globally in their country. So without further ado, let’s find out which soccer players have tried their luck with music:
David Beckham
The former Manchester United captain is probably the most famous footballer to try his hand at music, but it hasn’t always been easy for him. He was famously dropped from a boy band he formed in 1997 by Simon Fuller.
He did score a top 10 hit with “Outlaw” and has since become among the highest-earning artists in the world.
Ronaldinho
The most successful footballer-turned-singer, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, has had a varied career. He first came into the music industry with his debut album “Ronaldinho” in 2002.
The album was produced by DJ Marlboro and featured collaborations with other Brazilian musicians such as MC Guimê, Cidinho & Doca, and Leandro Rios. The album was well-received by the public, but it did not reach commercial success.
After years of hiatus, Ronaldinho returned to music with a new project named “G Force” in 2014. The album is a blend of funk carioca and electronic music and features artists like Wesley Safadão and Bruno Martini.
Owen Hargreaves
Hargreaves is a well-known name among Manchester United fans, but plenty more people know him for his music than for football skills. He released his debut album Everything’s Gonna Be Alright in 2011, which reached number 27 on the UK Chart and featured collaborations with Ed Sheeran and James Blunt.
Neymar Jr.
Brazilian footballer Neymar has already released two albums: O Fenômeno (The Phenomenon) and MC Neymar Jr. in 2010. He did an acoustic song, “Ai Se Eu Te Pego,” with Michel Teló. In 2013, he released another album titled ‘Seja Forte,’ which means ‘Be Strong’ in Portuguese. It features collaborations with artists like Jennifer Lopez, David Guetta, and Lil Wayne.
Nemanja Vidic
The Serbian defender played with Manchester United from 2006 to 2014 before joining Inter Milan on loan. He was also known as a singer during his time at Manchester United, as he used to sing his favorite Serbian folk songs during team parties. His favourite song was “Volim te” by Lepa Brena.
David Luiz
David Luiz is a Brazilian defender who currently plays for the French club Paris Saint-Germain. He is known for his love for music and has released several tracks on his YouTube channel. In 2014, he released an album titled ‘The Beautiful Game’ that featured collaborations with artists like Snoop Dogg and Ludacris.
Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli is an Italian striker who plays for French club Nice on loan from Liverpool FC. He has previously released two albums titled ‘Un Mito diverso da me’ (A different myth than me) in 2010 and ‘Super Mario’ in 2015. His songs are mostly R&B and hip-hop-influenced tracks with lyrics in Italian, English, and French languages.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swedish striker has released three studio albums, and his fourth is expected in October 2018. He has also written two books and penned songs for singers such as Madonna.
Ibrahimovic’s debut album, “Just Getting Started,” reached no. 1 on the Swedish album chart in 2011. His second album, “Stranger,” topped the chart in 2012, and his third, “Zlatan,” reached no. 2 in 2013.
The 35-year-old has also released two singles: “Gone Too Soon” (with Emeli Sande) and “How We Do It” (with David Guetta).
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo is another well-known footballer who has dabbled in music over the years. He even released an album back in 2011 titled ‘Ronaldo’ which featured many different tracks, including “Hala Madrid” and “Champagne Showers.”
The album was not as prosperous as expected, though, only selling 5,000 copies worldwide before being taken out of sale on iTunes and Amazon MP3 stores due to poor sales figures.
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand is one of the most decorated English footballers of all time. He played for Manchester United from 2002-to 2014 and won six Premier League titles and a CL trophy. Rio has also appeared on television shows such as The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.
The former defender released his first solo album, Evolve, in 2017, which reached number 48 on the UK Albums Chart.
Verdict
Football players deciding to move from the gridiron to the music world has been a trend that has been there for many years. While some may be more successful than others when making this switch, these players’ passion for music shouldn’t be overlooked.
