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Having a big, dominating physique is important in modern day football due to the tough approach that most teams have these days. To tackle them, a well-built, muscular stature is often needed – especially among defenders otherwise the player could become the victim of on-pitch bullying.Some players put so many hours in the gym to build their physique that one wouldn’t be able to recognise them when they see their old pictures. And here are some players who have undergone a massive physical transformation over the years.
#1 Hulk
We start off with the player who was given the nickname of Hulk due to his huge physical stature.
Givanildo Vieira de Souza, better known as Hulk, is one of the biggest footballers in the world currently in terms of physique. His size is so massive that a Hulk running at full speed at a defender could scare the latter.
However, he wasn’t always like this. Once upon a time, he was just like most Brazilian kids are – a skinny boy from a Brazilian neighbourhood. This picture of him from 2004, during his time at Vitoria, shows us how he looked before he started putting in hours at the gym, compared to now when he is a man full of muscles.
#2 Antonio Cassano
Here is an example of how aspiring footballers shouldn’t aspire to transform.
Antonio Cassano grew up in a difficult environment, deprived of many necessities of life. As a result, he was undernourished. However, as he rose to stardom, thanks to his unreal talent, he became overnourished – so much that his then club, Real Madrid had to induce a fine for him for every pound of weight that he gained.
Pastries were his favourite eatable and he was allergic to the gym – a combination that played a huge role in him not fulfilling the huge potential that he had. In his own way, he robbed the world of a great footballer.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo
When Cristiano Ronaldo came to England to sign for Manchester United, he was a skinny boy who was extremely agile and could twist defenders inside out with his flexibility, ability to run at them and blinding speed.
Now, however, that Ronaldo is long gone – not only in terms of playing style but also his physique – both of which have changed proportionately.
After spending hours at the gym, the Portuguese skipper’s hard work has paid off as he is one of the fittest and strongest footballers around. His physique is used as a reference point by many aspiring footballers.
In fact, one of his current teammates made it his obsession and underwent serious physical transformation himself, so much so that it seems to have done him more harm than good. That player is…
#4 Gareth Bale
The skinny kid from Southampton’s fabled academy now plays for one of the greatest clubs in the world. It hasn’t happened without any transformation, though, as a look at the Welshman’s current physique would give us an idea as to how hard he worked at the gym to be what he is today.
Although it hasn’t worked out too well for him – cost him his main weapon, acceleration – the diligence he has shown to achieve the physique he has now is commendable. Even better is the fact that he did it all over a summer break (in 2014) – just a matter of a few months.
Gareth Bale made his love for Cristiano Ronaldo known through Twitter even before joining Real Madrid. And that admiration for multiple-time Ballon d’Or winner played a massive part in his transformation.
#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The big and bulky Swede that we see now wasn’t always like this.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most feared forwards in the world. His brute strength induces fear in the minds of most defenders that go up against him. He doesn’t have to make much of an effort to shove a player to the ground, such is his strength.
But once upon a time, he was a really thin boy plying his trade at Ajax. Over the years, however, he has not only developed his physique but has also maintained the same level of athleticism and agility that he had during those days – even though he is now in his mid-30s.
#6 Alexis Sanchez
His comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo weren’t for nothing. The resemblance between them is uncanny. Both started out as wingers, are quick and direct, now ply their trade as inside forwards and both have an incredible physique.
And like Ronaldo, the former Barcelona forward was once skinny. During his time at Cobreloa and in his initial years at River Plate, his physical frame was like that of a kid who would have been blown into the air by a strong gust of wind.
But hours at the gym buffed up the Chilean to such an extent that he now has the strength of an ox, something that helps him hold defenders off in the box.
#7 Radamel Falcao
One of the fiercest strikers in the world, Radamel Falcao may not have been in the best form of his life when he was in the Premier League, but he is certainly at his physical best, at least from the point of view of strength.
The forward’s bulky presence gives him an edge in the box as he can outmuscle defenders with relative ease with his upper-body strength. However, he didn’t always have the brute strength that he now possesses.
Images of his time at Lanceros Boyaca and River Plate reveal the major transformation and maturity he has gone through during his journey in European football. This transformation helped him become the most feared striker in the world at one point of time.
