We often change careers to do something we never thought would cross our paths. People started as accountants only to end up building business empires. Others have been movie stars before securing places in various sports. Most importantly, there are football stars who launched bodybuilding careers and then made a U-turn to become professional footballers. In this regard, we have prepared a list of 10 famous footballers who started as bodybuilders. Please note that some still do bodybuilding, mainly to help with their training, playing, and recovery.
Adebayo Akinfenwa is a professional footballer who plays for the English side of Wycombe Wanderers. Many consider him one of the most well-built football stars in the world. He is nicknamed 'The Beast' and enjoys a celebrity-like status in England. Akinfenwa also has excellent humor; he always endorses himself to his fans. The African sensation cites his strength as the most practical skill he has. Unknown to many people, Akinfenwa has hard work and dedication to thank for his impressive muscle. Although he plays for Wycombe, he is a diehard Liverpool fan. Lastly, nobody dares to touch him in football because his huge is enough to ward them off, so he claims.
Related Article: 30 Gym Slang Terms Explained
Shawn Ray is also one of the footballers who started as a bodybuilder. He was a star football player for his college, El Dorado High School. A great athlete and sprinter, Ray holds the record for an all-time rush yet to be broken. However, many are not aware of his prowess in bodybuilding earlier on. His well-toned body and physique are something to marvel at. While at El Dorado, he wore Jersey number 1, which has since been retired in his honor.
Katz is another bodybuilder-turned-footballer who played for All-Star and all-American football as a fullback. After his stint at the amateur level, he decided to start a professional career by signing a contract with the New York Jets. You could make out his well-built physique and outlines even when he wears his jersey.
Coming up at number 4 is the former Dixie State University footballer who excelled in everything he did. Nobody thought he would be that good when he left bodybuilding for football. Cook's eye-catching physique was natural and a result of hours of hard work every week.
Another of the many footballers who started as bodybuilders is a man many consider 'too strong for football.' Tristyn Lee has been a strong kid since he was three. He would work out in the gym like a pro, and the results were never disappointing. Lee would try his luck at football and excel in it as well.
The Bayern Munich sensation is a sight, especially when he takes off his shirt to celebrate a goal. His shredded body proves he has been spending quality time in the gym. Lewandowski's body looks natural, but the Polish goal machine has boosted it with targeted exercises at the gym. This must have started while playing amateur leagues as a teenager. No wonder he was nicknamed 'The Body" during his time at Borussia Dortmund. Rumour says his teammates can't have enough of his lean body in the dressing room. Like him or hate him, Lewa's prowess in goal scoring is as good as his bench presses like other footballers who started as bodybuilders.
Michail Antonio plays for the English top-flight side West Ham United. Again, he is one of the bulkiest professional footballers in the English Premier League. Antonio is a unique player with a strong mind that matches his body. You would be amazed at how he pushes through defenders with the help of his strong muscles.
Notably, the strong muscles in his upper body and legs allow him to execute long throws that mostly land inside the penalty box. Michail Antonio is an asset the Hammers would want to keep being one of the footballers who started as bodybuilders. It is also evident that the star must have worked on his strength long before becoming a professional footballer. He is the perfect example of an all-rounded player who has discovered the secret of combining physical strength and skill to make a great footballer. That's the secret footballers who started as bodybuilders have in common.
Also Read: Top 15 Bulking Supplements Today
Leon Goretzka is another excellent example of a professional footballer who decided to get bench before venturing into the beautiful game. The Chelsea playmaker was part of the squad that beat the likes of Paris St. Germain to lift the coveted Uefa Championships League Trophy in 2020. Anyone could confuse Goretzka for a random bodybuilder if you see him without his playing uniform. He is so shredded that opposing players think twice before tackling him. Goretzka's lean body gives him an advantage when fighting for the ball with opponents because it is not easy to overpower or bring him down. Undoubtedly, he would be a renowned bodybuilder if his love for football didn't sway him away. Goretzka continues to work on his body for a blissful football career like all other footballers who started as bodybuilders.
You're mistaken if you think Cristiano Ronaldo is the most ripped Portuguese player. Nani, a former Manchester United player who now plays for Major League Soccer, is a moving mass of pure muscle. If you see him shirtless, you could think the lad has not seen a carb in his entire life. No wonder he is fond of taking off his shirt whenever he finds the back of the net. Nani, like Cristiano Ronaldo, values his health and physical shape. Therefore, he spends a considerable time in the gym when not playing. He does everything footballers who started as bodybuilders do, from bench pressing to squats to deadlifting. Nani is one player who believes in hard work to supplement their talent.
Last on our list of footballers who started as bodybuilders is the Polish and Real Madrid goal machine Gareth Bale. He is considered one of the strongest footballers,, and this strength allows him to kick the ball toward the goal with deadly force. His lean muscles are second to none in the Los Blancos dress room. Like many other players on this list, Gareth Bale did not get his shredded body on a silver platter. It results from hard work, waking up every day with a specific goal that must be accomplished in the gym.
Being a football player automatically makes you a bodybuilder. Footballers who started as bodybuilders do better in physical brawls and confrontations on the pitch than fighting for the ball. Football is not for the weak mentally, emotionally, and physically. Many footballers who started as bodybuilders apply most of the techniques used by bodybuilders, such as gaining muscle, dieting, and recovering, to create better versions of themselves. The players mentioned above are always a step ahead because they must start building solid bodies before getting onto the pitch. Start your football career by bulking and acquiring that killer body today for a better chance of excelling in the world's most beautiful game. Read more bodybuilding and other informational articles on our blog for all-around fitness exposure.
Many bodybuilders are unable to distinguish peptides from regular steroids. In this article we're going…
Anadrol (oxymetholone) is a potent oral anabolic steroid frequently used by professional bodybuilders during the off-season for substantial…
Anavar (Oxandrolone) is a mild anabolic steroid often used for cutting purposes. We shall explore…
Telmisartan is a medication primarily used in medical circles to treat hypertension, also known as…
Hypertrophy training, often referred to as bodybuilding training, is a method focused on increasing muscle…
The concern about whether one’s gear is “bunk” or ineffective is indeed a common one…