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The beautiful game isn't one of the most popular sports in the world for nothing. Due to its obvious reach, football players are followed and looked up to all across the globe and their dedication, talent and charisma are all celebrated abundantly.
Kids who have kicked a ball will have at some point tried to fashion their game after their favourite players. Some of the biggest names in world football continue to be revered around the globe for a multitude of reasons.
It is then no surprise that some of the great footballing stars of today grew up idolizing their predecessors. Today, we take a look at 10 football stars and their footballing idols.
#10 Sergio Aguero - Michael Owen
Well, Michael Owen might not be the most popular football pundit or commentator around but in his heyday, the English striker was one of the most sought-after strikers in the world. He used to be one of the best strikers in the Premier League and was idolized by none other than Sergio Aguero, who is currently one of the best strikers in the English top-flight.
Aguero revealed in his autobiography that he grew up supporting Liverpool and idolizing Michael Owen.
"City fans might not want to hear it, but when I was a kid I wanted to be Owen. I've always liked Liverpool."
Owen scored 118 goals from 216 appearances for the Merseysiders in the Premier League. One of the most special goals of Owen's career came in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina.
That perhaps left an indelible mark in the mind of a young Sergio Aguero. Both Aguero and Owen are diminutive strikers and stood out playing in a role that has traditionally suited bigger players slightly better.
#9 Erling Haaland - Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Borussia Dortmund striker is one of the brightest young prospects in world football. The trigger hungry frontman is already one of the most lethal finishers in the world and his awkward interviews are a treat to watch.
Shortly after joining Borussia Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg, Haaland revealed that he used to idolize Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a kid. He said,
"I had a lot of idols as a child. I have to mention two players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,"
Haaland seems to have definitely taken a couple of leaves out of Zlatan's book when it comes to finding the back of the net and giving interviews.
#8 Manuel Neuer - Jens Lehmann
One of the best goalkeepers of his generation and arguably one of the best of all time, Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer's signature sweeping skills in addition to his obvious shot stopping abilities will go on to inspire many youngsters in the future.
Neuer, who recently put on a match-winning display in the final of the UEFA Champions League for Bayern Munich against Paris Saint-Germain, has revealed in the past that Jens Lehmann was his hero and that he used to admire Oliver Kahn and Edwin van der Saar as well.
Speaking to Adidas as part of their #BeTheDifference campaign back in 2014, Neuer said,
"I have a couple. Jens Lehmann was always my hero, because he played for Schalke, and he was a bit of a goalkeeping revolutionary - he played the game his own way.
There’s Oliver Kahn, who as a German keeper you have to respect massively for what he achieved. And I also liked Edwin van der Saar, and the way he played, very much,"
Jens Lehmann had an illustrious career playing for the likes of Schalke, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and VfB Stuttgart. He was also the goalkeeper for the famed Arsenal 'Invincibles' side.
#7 Robert Lewandowski - Thierry Henry
Robert Lewandowski is hands down the best striker in the business right now and it is only fitting that he used to idolize one of the best strikers of all time and certainly one of the greatest players of the 21st century in Thierry Henry.
The Bayern Munich man not only displays the traits of a traditional no.9 but also serves excellently as a target-man and this is something that Thierry Henry used to do with aplomb too. Lewandowski, in all probability, achieved that technical proficiency or geared himself towards it by following Thierry Henry closely as a kid.
He once said,
“There was a player I tried to follow; it was Thierry Henry in his time at Arsenal,”
“I liked the way he played a moved on the pitch. I think he was a great player.”
#6 Luis Suarez - Gabriel Batistuta
Luis Suarez has been one of the best strikers in the world over the past decade. After tearing it up at Liverpool, he secured a dream move to Barcelona where he would go on to form the world's deadliest attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Suarez's aggression and tenacity has always set him apart and he claims to have fashioned his game after the powerful Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta. Batistuta, nicknamed Batigol, was one of the finest strikers of his generation and is a Fiorentina legend having scored 169 goals from 267 games for the Serie A outfit.
Luis Suarez has sang praises of his fellow South American and admitted that he tried to imitate him in his younger days.
"I would like to tell you that you were an idol for me since I was a boy,"
"For football, you were the greatest thing I saw: an impressive strength with an ability to score goals of every different type.
"I tried to imitate you since I was a boy, and for that I admire you very much.
"You're an idol for me and I would like to be able to meet you and talk about football when this bad moment [the coronavirus crisis] passes."
#5 Philippe Coutinho - Ronaldinho
Philippe Coutinho seems to be resuscitating his career after a failed move to Barcelona. The Brazilian was excellent for Liverpool before completing an ill-advised transfer to Barcelona and being shipped out to Bayern Munich subsequently.
During his time at Anfield, Coutinho seemed set to grow into one of the finest playmakers of his generation. The nimble footed attacking midfielder also has a thunderous strike in him. He used to idolize Ronaldinho so much that his move to Barcelona was an attempt at replicating the footballing legend's heroics.
After joining Barcelona and getting off to a good start, Coutinho had said,
"I hope to stay for many years to win as many titles as possible,"
"When Barca's interest came up, I thought that it had always been my dream to come. That's something I can't deny.
"My biggest idol was Ronaldinho, now I have the same opportunity."
Ronaldinho is one of the modern day greats and used to make football look more fun than anyone ever has. Though perhaps not the hardest worker around, the Brazilian legend moved like a dream and had a connection with the ball that's unmatched to date.
#4 Eden Hazard - Zinedine Zidane
Eden Hazard did not have a great debut season for his dream club Real Madrid after joining from Chelsea last summer. However, form is temporary and class is permanent and as such, the Belgian is expected to make a soaring comeback in the upcoming campaign.
Hazard almost single handedly kept Chelsea among the elite through the second decade of the 21st century and now has the unique opportunity of playing under the tutelage of his childhood idol Zinedine Zidane.
In fact, upon joining Real Madrid, the Belgian expressed his excitement at the chance of playing under Zidane. Hazard said,
"Everyone knows that Zidane was my idol since childhood and the fact that he is a Real Madrid coach has been an important factor."
#3 Kylian Mbappe - Cristiano Ronaldo
The heir apparent to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe is undoubtedly going to become one of the greatest forwards of our times. He is arguably already being counted in that bracket thanks to his exploits at Paris Saint-Germain and also for the French national side.
Mbappe is one of the fastest players in the world and his excellent footwork and finishing closely resemble that of Cristiano Ronaldo's. Mbappe was so in awe of the Portuguese as a kid that the walls of his room were adorned with an array of Cristiano Ronaldo posters.
Mbappe has also admitted to the same. He has spoken about it on multiple occasions. He once said,
"I had a lot of idols, there was Cristiano (Ronaldo), who I loved a lot, and during this period of time we have had Cristiano and (Lionel) Messi,"
Another time, he said,
“It’s already late for me to have a career like Messi, otherwise I should have stayed in Monaco. So, logically and without wanting to take anything away from Messi, I have to be inspired by Ronaldo’s career.”
“The Bianconeri have always lacked something that makes the difference, but now they really have something with Ronaldo, a player who makes you win the important things.”
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Ronaldo Nazario
The lion keeps roaring and refuses to be dethroned. An athlete of the highest order, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at the age of 38, continues to be one of Europe's finest strikers. A journeyman who traversed through Europe and set stadiums alight wherever he graced, there is no one who comes close to exuding the kind of charisma the Swede does.
But don't let his larger-than-life personality fool you. Even Zlatan is human and idolized someone else in his younger days. Zlatan absolutely admires Ronaldo Nazario and says there will never be another player like O Fenomeno.
When asked about his childhood heroes, Zlatan said,
“It has always been the Brazilian Ronaldo.”
“When he played, everyone wanted to copy it, the movement, that little bag, bam-bam.”
” He had too elegant a style.”
” He was the one who made me stand in front of the television watching the game.”
Ronaldo is still, to this day, regarded in many circles as one of the greatest natural strikers of all time. He used to do things with the football that was nearly inconceivable and used to run rings around defences with his unreal close control and pace and used to give goalkeepers nightmares with his unerring finishing.
#1 Lionel Messi - Pablo Aimar/Ronaldo Nazario
Lionel Messi used to be a big fan of his compatriot and former Argentina international Pablo Aimar. Messi has admitted to modeling his game after Aimar. Well, whatever he has done has worked wonders for him as Messi is easily one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Pablo Aimar used to ply his trade for Benfica and Valencia and the attacking midfielder was a mainstay in the Argentina international side in the opening decade of the 21st century.
“Pablo Aimar was, and is, my idol. I really like to watch him play and I have followed his career since the beginning at River Plate.”
Messi has hailed Ronaldo Nazario as one of his heroes as well.
"Ronaldo was my hero. I loved watching players like (Zinedine) Zidane, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo but Ronaldo was the best striker I've ever seen,"
"I loved watching players like (Zinedine) Zidane, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo but Ronaldo was the best striker I've ever seen. He was so fast he could score from nothing, and could shoot the ball better than anyone I've ever seen,"
