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There was a time in history when top sportspersons played multiple sports at the same time and excelled in all of them. The most notable recent example in this regard would be AB de Villiers, the South African run machine, who played a variety of sports apart from cricket, and his compatriot Jonty Rhodes who could have also become a South Africa international in hockey.
However, as sports continues to become more specialised and time-consuming, especially at the elite level, multi-disciplinary prowess is becoming a rare quality in sportspersons. Gone are the days of Dennis Compton, an England cricket legend, who also won the FA Cup. The only sportsperson of note who can still claim to be a part of that tradition is Australian cricketer Ellyse Perry who has represented her country in both sports.
10 famous footballers who like cricket
That does not mean footballers don't love cricket, though. In the list that we have compiled for you, footballers from not just cricket-playing nations but from countries as far off the sport as Brazil are featured here. We bring you ten famous footballers who like cricket.
#10 Dietmar Hamann
We begin with a surprise pick. Dietmar Hamann is a Liverpool legend who also had an illustrious career for Germany.
Not many know though that the combative midfielder fell in love with cricket during his time in England while watching an Ashes series in 2005. He has reportedly said that footballers can learn etiquette from the sport and once even tried his hand at it at the nets with Andrew Flintoff.
It is reported that once he took this love too far; he gambled and lost a considerable amount of money on the game.
#9 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Now here is a rare modern-day footballer who nearly made it as a cricket pro as well.
Liverpool and England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played as a keeper for South-East Hampshire and was offered a trial with the Hampshire county. The former district cricketer declined it and chose the beautiful game instead but still keenly follows the other sport.
#8 Gary Neville
Another famous footballer who gave up on a promising cricket career, Gary Neville won it all as the right-back of a legendary Manchester United team. But once he shared a 236-run partnership with Matthew Hayden for Greenmount Cricket Club. The two later became greats in their respective sports, but Neville still believes that cricket laid the foundation for his success in football.
#7 Paul Scholes
Here is another keen cricket fan from the class of 92. Paul Scholes, famous for his vision, shooting and (late) tackling as a Manchester United legend, also loves his cuts and flicks in cricket.
He excelled at the latter sport at a young age before the beautiful game came calling but still follows cricket quite keenly after retirement.
Word has it that beside a round of golf, Scholes also digs out his cricket whites for a casual game these days.
#6 David Luiz
Told you we will take you to Brazil. Er, actually, we are headed to England for the next one. Brazilian defender David Luiz, who now plays for Arsenal, surprised everyone last year when he said that he follows cricket and supports the Indian team.
He in fact gave a special message wishing Virat Kohli and co. luck before the 2019 cricket World Cup. Sadly, his wishes could only take India to the semi-finals which they qualified for as the top team in the league stage before crashing to a defeat.
#5 Joe Hart
Once England and Manchester City number 1, Joe Hart currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur but is not their first choice keeper. It is fair to say that Hart's career has seen ups and downs, and he still goes back to cricket sometimes to let off steam.
Hart was once a very competent cricketer who played for Shrewsbury CC in the Brimingham and District Premier League. He, in fact, played cricket for Shrewsbury after being snubbed for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as his nation battled Sweden in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Maybe he will go back to the sport once his football career folds up. Watch this space.
#4 Thomas Muller
Now, we had to include this German World Cup winner. Currently, on a high after rediscovering his mojo with Bayern Munich after a period of trough, Thomas Muller unleashed a storm on Twitter after he wished the Indian team and Virat Kohli luck before last year's cricket World Cup while also sporting a Men-in-Blue jersey.
Muller was returning the favour as Kohli has publicly supported the German football team numerous times in the past. Muller also wished luck to all the competitors playing in the 2019 World Cup.
#3 James Milner
Another Liverpool player who excelled in cricket, James Milner, the hard-working midfielder, actually plans to go back to the sport once he is done with his illustrious football career.
An allrounder in the true sense of the term, Milner excelled in cricket, running and academics beside football.
He is a footballer who actually intends to go back to the game properly once he is done with his current sport. Milner played for Yorkshire schools team and Horsfoth during his formative years as a sportsperson.
#2 Sunil Chhetri
Like many Indian kids, Sunil Chhetri was drawn to the gentleman's game, but financial constraints made him choose the other sport. The rest, as they say, is history.
A true ambassador for the country, Chhetri is not only India's premier footballer but also one of the most prolific goal-scorers the international game has ever seen.
He has often voiced his support for Indian cricket and cricketers in the past, and as the video below shows, he is no mug with the bat either.
#1 Gary Lineker
One of England's greatest footballers and currently a famous presenter, Gary Lineker could have also become a cricketer. He was equally talented in both sports and was the captain of the Lancashire Schools team for five straight years from the age of 11 to 16.
In fact, Lineker himself felt at the time that he had more chance of succeeding in cricket than in football. England football fans will be happy that he chose the latter, though.
He still keeps on commenting on cricket, especially on social media, in his inimitable way, showing how much love he still has for the game.
