Top 10 footballers who have acted in Hollywood movies

Even Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a part of the movie industry.

The football and film industries are two of the most successful industries to exist. But their relationship has always been a complicated one.

There have been several football documentaries and biopics of legendary football players over the years. Somehow this relationship has ignited a spark and inspired many footballers to step into the film world. Mainly to try something completely different from their usual profession.

Renowned personalities are common in sports. Some of them have even been fortunate enough to pursue acting careers after their playing careers ended. Well-known athletes, particularly in the football world, have succeeded in making that change.

We have prepared a list of the top 10 football players who have starred in films.

10. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane, well known for his notorious headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final, debuted as an actor in the French fantasy comedy Asterix at the Olympic Games. There he played a character named “Numerodix”.

The former offensive midfielder for Real Madrid and Juventus had a fantastic playing career. When he made an appearance in the film, donning a wig and Cleopatra-esque makeup, he definitely displayed his sense of humour. At least the movie allowed him to show off his superb soccer talents. Apart from this he also made his appearance in two Goal films.

9. Stan Collymore

Stan Collymore, a former striker for Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, has been involved in a number of personal scandals after giving up playing soccer to focus on commentating.

In spite of this, he was able to secure a tiny part with Sharon Stone, who reprised her role as the evil serial murderer Catherine Tramell, in the 2005 sexual thriller “Basic Instinct 2.” 

In his incredibly brief acting career, it was Collymore’s first appearance on screen. For the former player, it couldn’t have been too much of a stretch to impersonate the famed English soccer star, Kevin Franks.

8. Bobby Moore

In a remarkable twist of fate, Bobby Moore, the legendary captain of England‘s 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning team, found himself not only on the soccer pitch but also under the spotlight of Hollywood.

In 1981, he starred in the iconic film “Escape to Victory,” alongside legends like Pele, Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone. Playing the role of Terry Brady, Moore joined a group of Allied prisoners of war in a high-stakes exhibition football match against the Germans. The movie featured other notable real-life players, adding to its star-studded cast.

7. Ally McCoist

Ally McCoist stepped off the pitch into the world of movies in 2000. He starred alongside Hollywood legends Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton in the film “A Shot at Glory.” In the movie, McCoist played the role of Jackie McQuillan, a former Celtic player helping a struggling Scottish team reach their first cup final. 

Despite being an unlikely choice for a movie role, his performance earned him praise from none other than Kevin Costner. Currently, McCoist is a respected football commentator

6. Vinnie Jones

From scoring goals on the pitch to starring in movies, Vinnie Jones made quite the career switch after retiring from football.

As Big Chris, Jones made a surprise film debut in 1998’s Guy Ritchie-directed feature debut Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. He has since gone on to feature in several films and television series, frequently assuming the character of the tough guy. 

Roles in “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Eurotrip” are also among them.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired in 2023 after having a spectacular football career spanning clubs like Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus and Manchester United. 

In an unexpected move, he made his acting debut that year, portraying a Roman warrior named Caius Antivirus in Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom. His performance, nevertheless, did not receive positive reviews. 

4. Neymar 

Neymar, the Brazilian football star, made his film debut in “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” alongside Samuel L. Jackson. In an unexpected twist, Neymar’s character in the movie utilizes his soccer skills to score a shot using a napkin dispenser. 

Later, he played a monk in the Netflix show “Money Heist“.

3. Eric Cantona

The former French soccer legend, Eric Cantona, retired from playing at the age of 30 and moved seamlessly into the film industry. 

Cantona’s first major role was in the period drama Elizabeth, where he played the character of French ambassador Paul de Foix opposite Cate Blanchett. He continued to feature in various productions in both England and France, showcasing his versatility as an actor.

One of his most prominent roles was in Ken Loach’s film “Looking for Eric,” where he played himself with a short appearance.

2. Pele

There is no denying that Pelé is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of all time. The legendary Brazilian player acted in a few feature films throughout the 1970s, but he is most remembered for his role with Sylvester Stallone and Bobby Moore in “Escape to Victory”.

He had a fleeting appearance in the satirical mockumentary comedy “Mike Bassett: England Manager” in 2001. Even though his cameo was short, he managed to crack a really amusing joke in a memorable sequence where English actor Ricky Tomlinson’s character, England manager Bassett, was seen dancing in a bar with only his trousers.

1. David Beckham

David Beckham. This name is no secret in the football industry. David Beckham, a former player for Real Madrid and Manchester United, is also no stranger to the film industry either. He has already made a great deal of appearances, ranging from short self-portraits to modest speaking parts. In the “Goal!” trilogy, he made appearances as himself and in archival material. He also had an appearance as a projectionist in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

Still, a few of his cameos are infamously startling, like the time he appeared in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur film “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” Although the iconic player is one of the most well-known people on the globe, fans may become irritated when they feel that his image is forced into action.

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