When we watch football, our eyes are glue towards the movements of the players. At that moment, both the fans and the players are in a mode of meditation. At that moment, only football exists -- nothing else matters.
It is these images that get engraved in the minds of the viewers, to the point that we stop believing that they are humans just like the rest of us. As humans, they have a life outside the football pitch where there is a good chance that they watch other sports.
Actually, I am being overly dramatic here. The point is, some footballers like other sports too. Contrary to the popular belief players live, breathe and sleep the game, and also follow other sports.
So what other sport does Diego Maradona or Paolo Maldini like?
#5 Christian Vieri - Cricket
The name Vieri has a special place in the hearts of Inter fans. The Italian raised hell against the opponents with his fiery abilities as a striker. Indeed, in his time at Inter, he scored 137 goals in only 218 games – a very admirable return for any forward.
Being an Italian of French descent from his mother’s side, cricket is the last sport one would attribute to him. However, he is an avid follower of the gentlemen’s game and has stated numerous times that he wanted to be a cricketer initially.
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"I would have loved to have been a cricketer," he told Sky Sports back in the day when he was still an active player for Inter. "I was telling a friend last week, I would stop playing now to play cricket if I could get the same contract," the then 30-year-old declared.
"I was a bit of an all-rounder at school."
This sounds strange to the ones reading it the first time, isn’t it? However, Vieri’s family moved to Australia back in the 70s and that is when the Italian hitman developed a taste for the game that stuck in his mouth forever.
#4 Dietmar Hamann - Cricket
Anyone who follows Didi Hamann on Twitter will know that the German absolutely loves cricket. The former midfielder fell in love with the game during his time at Liverpool when he witnessed the 2005 Ashes series.
Indeed, he loves the game so much now that about half of his tweets are about the gentlemen’s game. His analysis of the game is also brilliant as he has shown on Twitter over the years.
When asked about how he became such an aficionado of the game, he said, “I’ve been a big fan since I’ve been in England. I watched the Ashes in 2005 and that’s what really caught my imagination. I’ve been to a few games throughout the years and met a few players. The whole sport is just great. It’s a game of skill as well as a strategy – especially Tests. That’s why I enjoy watching it so much.”
He also added that football could learn a thing or two about the spirit of sportsmanship from cricket.
"Cricketers play the game in the right spirit. They clap hundreds and appreciate what the opposition do. Footballers shake hands at the end, but there’s just not as much spirit in the game. Everyone should shake everyone’s hands.”
However, his love for the game cost him £288,400 as he gambled his way into a mess from which he eventually came out. All’s well that ends well it seems.
#3 Paolo Maldini - Tennis
As a footballer, he was a winner. With 5 Champions League titles under his name, Paolo Maldini is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game. Not only was he successful as a footballer, he was also a one-club man – a trait that is almost as extinct as dinosaurs these days.
Frequently regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Maldini wasn’t just restrained to the confinements of football. Indeed, the legendary Italian is a tennis aficionado and actually made his professional tennis debut at the age of 49, playing a doubles match in the first round of the Aspria Tennis Cupin Milan, but lost his first ever game in straight sets – and subsequently retired.
After the loss, the 49-year-old joked: "It was like writing a poem after studying years of maths. We tried to enjoy the moment, because I didn't expect I'd be able to experience something like this at the age of 49. Ironically, on the very first point of the match I pulled a muscle.”
Seems like the legendary Milan man was not only an outstanding player, but also has a great sense of humour.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Taekwondo
Generally, when the ball is floating in the air 40 yards away from the opposition’s net and your back is facing the goal, the natural thing to do would be control with a delicate first touch and then look for passing options.
But that’s what normal players would do – and Ibrahimovic is far from normal.
The Swede will just lash onto it with an overhead kick and score from 40 yards out – just ask Joe Hart. For someone of his stature, he is abnormally flexible and Taekwondo seems to be the reason behind it. A form of martial art, the former Inter forward earned a black belt in it at the mere age of 17 and absolutely loves taking part in it whenever he can.
The way he acrobatically moves on the pitch, despite his age and stature, is a testament to how taekwondo has helped him with his game.
#1 Diego Maradona – Boxing
There are not many players who could claim to score with the hand followed by the greatest solo goal of all time in the very same game – that, too, against some of the finest defenders the world has ever seen. Diego Maradona’s that match against England will forever be earmarked for the controversy that surrounded his ‘Hand of God’ goal.
If watched with a keen eye, you can actually see the Argentine legend punching the ball towards the goal. The strength of the punch on the ball was admirable and it showed that it wouldn’t be wise to square off with the Napoli hero in a boxing ring.
Actually, you would be foolish to even try since being in the ring is his second most favourite thing after being on the pitch. The former Argentina coach apparently used to practice against some former boxers as a means to prepare for the 1994 World Cup.
Even now, the temperamental Argentina legend trains with the gloves on. No wonder he is so fearless about almost everything in life.
