SUMMARY
- Anime is a style of animation that was originated in Japan.
- Anime boom struck the western world in 1990s.
Soccer and Anime are two different worlds that rarely come together. While soccer has been around since the 1900s, the anime took the Western world by storm with some of the iconic shows in the 1990s. The kids who grew up watching the show have gone on to become famous soccer players.
These players often use soccer as a medium to showcase their love for these different anime shows. From celebrations to collecting action figures, the fandom varies to different degrees with different players. This list looks at five players who are known for their love of anime.
Kylian Mbappe
The PSG superstar is the first player on the list. Mbappe is known for his love of popular anime like Captain Tsubasa and Sailor Moon. 2018 was the first incident when the winger showcased his love for Captain Tsubasa. Mbappe suffered a shoulder injury while playing for France against Uruguay.
After the match, Mbappe shared a photo with a heavy bandage on his shoulder alongside Tsubasa Ozora, a character from Captain Tsubasa. Ozora played a soccer match in the anime with heavy bandages on his shoulder. Mbappe tried to link his story with Ozora with the injury.
— Jeff silvaSon (@jeff_theblack) December 16, 2020
Mbappe also grabbed headlines for his celebration that was inspired by Sailor Moon. In the celebration, the French winger pointed two fingers toward his head, which was similar to one of the characters of the anime.
Geoffrey Kondogbia
Geoffrey Kondogbia is the second player on this list. The former Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid midfielder is renowned for his passion for the anime, One Piece. The anime has one of the biggest fan bases around the world. The craze reached new heights in 2023 when Netflix adapted the anime into a live-action series.
Geoffrey Kondogbia pencinta anime dari jepang yaitu One Piece. pic.twitter.com/b5rjIrnQoC
— IG: 99FAKTABOLA (@99FaktaBola) June 25, 2015
Kondogbia is a fan of the original show and has shared images on social media with his collection of action figures from the popular series. The French midfielder even met the creator of the popular anime, Eichiro Oda, which shows his dedication and passion for the anime.
Ibrahima Konatè
Ibrahima Konatè is the third player on this list. The Liverpool player is one of the biggest fans of the anime, Attack on Titan. His celebration where he stands in a straight with his fist around his chest is inspired by the popular anime.
The French defender often shares memes from various anime shows every time he impresses on the field with the English club. Konate has amassed more than 200,000 followers on X with his anime-inspired memes and tweets.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another player who is a fan of a popular anime show. The former FC Barcelona striker showcased his love for Dragon Ball Z after he scored a goal against Real Madrid in the El-Clasico in the 2022/23 season.
Hello from the finished player 🔵🔴
💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/MUPmsznoup— AUBA⚡️ (@Auba) March 21, 2022
The striker struck a pose using a Dragon Ball that was inspired by the main character of the show, Goku. The former Arsenal striker has often been pictured wearing anime-inspired t-shirts and sneakers, which is another big evidence of his love for anime.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba is another player who is a big fan of anime such as Dragon Ball Z and One Piece. Back in 2018, the French midfielder changed his hair color to blue. Many fans pointed out that Pogba’s hair was inspired by Super Saiyan Blue form in Dragon Ball Super.
Paul Pogba.
Gets stick about his hair.
Hasn’t played well this season.
Playing rivals Man City.
On the day they can win the title against Man Utd.
Turns up with BLUE HAIR. pic.twitter.com/LRQKCekys3
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 7, 2018
Pogba is also a big fan of One Piece. He was excited when former teammate, Geoffrey Kondogbia, met the author of the manga that was converted into the anime, One Piece.
The French national team has some of the biggest anime fans, as evident from this list. Four of five players on this are French internationals. The cultural bond between Japan and France is strong due to the love of anime in France.