Egamersworld Professional athletes with a thing for esports

Esports has long been considered beneath traditional sports. Pro gamers weren’t as legitimate as so-called real athletes in the eyes of many an outside observer. But perceptions are changing. Esports medal events are gradually making it to internationally recognised tournaments, such as the latest Southeast Asian Games. And the fields of professional gaming and conventional sports are now colliding as many athletes get involved in this brave new virtual world, further pushing esports into the mainstream.

Shaquille O’Neal

An early pioneer, Shaquille O’Neal has been among the first wave of sportsmen who took an interest in esports. The NBA legend got off to a rough start, though. In 1994, he struck a deal with Electronic Arts to be at the forefront of a fighting game in the vein of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Despite having the one and only Shaq as its main character, Shaq Fu massively bombed.

It would take another twenty years for the Hall of Famer to get into esports. But Shaq got serious about it and invested parts of his fortune into an emerging esports team in 2016. NRG Esports is now one of the most valuable teams worldwide, while Shaq’s esports organisation is worth over $100 million. His esports investment didn’t end there, and Shaquille O’Neal has been a vocal advocate for pro gamers as athletes, commending their mental strength repeatedly.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho may have retired in the past decade, but the Brazilian forward remains an icon of world football. The 2002 World Champion and 2006 Champions League winner with FC Barcelona snatched too many trophies to count. But no matter which team they supported, football lovers were all mesmerised by his genius skills and unique antics on the pitch, not to mention a fair share of surreal goals.

And Ronaldinho’s global reputation did not end with his pro career. In 2019, one of the most popular footballers in history became the brand ambassador of gaming controller company SCUF Gaming. He later launched an esports team called R10 Esports, which competes in FIFA. The Brazilian also forayed into the rival franchise with a PES League, eLigaSul.

David De Gea

When he doesn’t pull off spectacular saves, Manchester United’s goalkeeper is an avid gamer. David De Gea recently made headlines for playing 500 games with Man U, including a whopping 170 clean sheets. But the Spaniard also made the news for creating his own esports organisation in 2021. Based in Madrid, the Rebels Gaming headquarters boast state-of-the-art infrastructure for players to train and compete to the highest level. And some of his co-stars have joined forces with De Gea, as Juan Mata and Bruno Fernandez recently became official shareholders.

Gareth Bale

Next up is yet another football star. Partnering with 38 Entertainment Group, Gareth Bale got involved in esports in 2020 with the launch of the Ellevens Esports team. Since then, his team has enjoyed significant success in FIFA eClub World Cup and even won eight Rocket League championships. The Welshman’s career has not followed a similar curb, though. Formerly a Real Madrid player, Bale got transferred to the MLS over the summer.

Still, the current LAFC forward might hope to make a splash at the Qatar World Cup, alongside other high-profile ballers like Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema. The odds for top scorer are not in his favour, but Welsh punters might take the shot. Similarly, Polish bettors may visit top betting sites in Poland to wager on another underdog. Whether they want to go all-in on Robert Lewandowski or not, local punters can check online reviews to find the most profitable odds across a range of bookies. Expert tipsters even offer valuable tip-offs for free. And mobile-compatible sportsbooks make it easy to place bets on the go.

Professional athletes are increasingly eyeing the gaming industry. Many sportsmen are notorious gaming addicts. From former Argentinian football striker Sergio Aguëro to F1 driver Lando Norris and UFC fighter Demetrious Johnson, some prominent sports figures have turned to Twitch to connect with their fellow gamers.

Meanwhile, other athletes are having a say in the esports world. With its unstoppable growth, professional gaming can be a powerful leverage to bolster a public figure’s brand. And some gamers have called into question the authenticity of such investments. Regardless, the future of esports is bound to be intertwined with traditional sports more and more.