Sport is filled with big personalities, some of who have been lucky enough to carve out acting careers once their sporting prowess is long behind them. Popular figures in the sporting world have managed to make that transition and especially in the world of soccer.
From blink and you’ll miss them cameos to full well-rounded acting roles. There have been numerous soccer greats and plenty of familiar faces from the soccer world that have popped up in various movies over the years.
10 David Beckham
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star David Beckham is no stranger to film. He already has numerous appearances under his belt, varying from brief cameos as himself to actual small speaking roles. He appeared as himself, and in archive footage, in the Goal! trilogy as well as popping up in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as a projectionist.
However, some of his appearances are notoriously jarring, particularly for example when he showed up in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. The legendary soccer star is one of the most recognizable figures on the planet but when his appearance feels a little shoehorned into the action it can irritate audiences.
9 Stan Collymore
Ex- Nottingham Forest and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has faced several personal controversies since retiring from soccer and concentrating on punditry.
Despite this, he did manage to land himself a small role in the 2005 erotic thriller sequel Basic Instinct 2 alongside Sharon Stone who returned as the villainous serial killer Catherine Tramell. It marked Collymore’s on-screen debut in his extremely short-lived acting career. He played the role of Kevin Franks, a famous English soccer player, which couldn’t have been much of a stretch for the former player.
8 Eric Cantona
Former French soccer star Eric Cantona became a household name during the ’90s. He was an iconic player thanks to his long stint at Manchester United and is often hailed as one of the team’s greatest players of all time.
When Cantona hung us his boots he concentrated his post-playing career in the field of acting. His first major role came in the Shekhar Kapur-helmed period drama Elizabeth. Cantona played the role of French ambassador Paul de Foix. He went on to appear in numerous other movies both in France and internationally.
7 Ally McCoist
Now a much-respected soccer commentator former Scottish forward Ally McCoist seemed an unlikely choice for a role alongside legendary actor Robert Duvall in 2000's A Shot at Glory.
McCoist played the role of Jackie McQuillan, a former fictional Celtic player who along with club manager, Gordon McLeod (played by Duvall), attempt to help the fictional team of Kilnockie FC reaches their first Scottish Cup final. The final game was played against real-life Scottish Premier League team Rangers, who McCoist spent 15 years of his playing career playing with.
6 Allan Simonsen
Seeing a player fall to the ground like he's just been shot isn't exactly a new sight in a game of soccer but former Danish soccer player Allan Simonsen is the only player to do it purposely on screen.
In 1977 crime thriller The Marksman (AKA Skytten) hit Danish theatres and saw the Borussia Mönchengladbach striker in the crosshairs of a sniper only to get shot dead on the pitch during a match. It was an incredible dive that wouldn't look out of place in the English Premier League.
5 Vinnie Jones
Whilst a lot of former soccer players enjoy a lucrative and rewarding post-playing career many often keep their feet firmly in the industry in some shape or form. Some, however, like former Wimbledon midfielder and all-around tough guy Vinnie Jones, are lucky enough to make the full transition to acting.
Jones made his unexpected movie debut in Guy Ritchie’s directorial feature debut Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels back in 1998, playing the role of Big Chris. Since then he has gone on to star in plenty of movies and TV shows often playing the hard man role. That includes roles in Eurotrip and X-Men: The Last Stand.
4 Zinedine Zidane
Some cameos can be a little jarring for the viewer, and some can be downright odd. Known more famously for his infamous headbutt during the final of the 2006 World Cup, Zinedine Zidane made his acting debut in French fantasy comedy Asterix at the Olympic Games.
The former Juventus and Real Madrid attacking midfielder had an incredible playing career and certainly showed his good-humored side when he appeared in the movie in Cleopatra-Esque makeup and an accompanying wig. At least he gets to showcase his nifty soccer skills in the movie.
3 Neymar
In action sequel xXx: Return of Xander Cage Brazilian football star Neymar is lucky enough to score some real scene time with co-star Samuel L. Jackson. He even manages to utilize his soccer skills and get a face-smacking shot away using a napkin dispenser.
It was another example of left field casting, much like David Beckham's appearance in King Arthur. However, this time around it seemed in keeping with the tongue-in-cheek nature of the movie and didn’t feel totally out of place.
2 Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore was the captain of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup. In 1981, Moore starred alongside the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine in John Huston's sport-themed war film Escape to Victory.
Moore starred as Terry Brady in the movie that focused on a group of Allied prisoners of war who are tasked with playing an exhibition soccer match against the Germans. The movie itself also starred several other notable real-life players such as Pelé, Ossie Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, and Mike Summerbee.
1 Pelé
Often hailed as the greatest soccer player who ever played there is no mistaking the name of Pelé. The Brazilian superstar had a couple of feature acting credits in the ’70s and of course, more famously appeared in the aforementioned Escape to Victory alongside England’s Bobby Moore and Sylvester Stallone.
In 2001 he appeared, albeit briefly, in satirical mockumentary comedy Mike Bassett: England Manager. His appearance may have been brief but he was able to deliver a very funny line in a notable scene that saw England manager Bassett (played by English actor Ricky Tomlinson) dancing on a bar in just his pants.
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