What do the three currently biggest superstars in football have in common? Their favorite hobby! Whether it’s Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Kylian Mbappé – all of them love Padel.
Just last week, Messi revealed in an interview with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano how he prefers to spend his free time. “I like Padel, tennis, basketball,” the record World Player of the Year initially listed, but then settled on one: “What I love the most is Padel.” Numerous photos and videos have captured Messi on the court with teammates from his Argentine World Cup-winning squad. Interestingly, Argentina recently celebrated the WM title in Padel for men as well.
Shortly after, Real’s star striker Kylian Mbappé posted several photos on Instagram showing him on the Padel court, including with former Borussia Dortmund player Achraf Hakimi (26). His caption read: “Padel & Friends … the perfect mix!” It seems Mbappé has also developed a taste for the sport.
As for Ronaldo? The Portuguese national hero has been enamored with the sport for years. Just two days ago, he proudly showcased himself at the “Lisboa Racket Centre,” which he is said to have recently purchased. Last year, Ronaldo even announced plans to invest several million euros in the construction of Padel facilities in his home country. The villa where his entire family lived during his time in Manchester also features a private court. In September, Ronaldo even challenged the number one Padel player in the world, the Spaniard Arturo Coello (22), to a fun duel in Madrid.
Three superstars, one Padel passion. However, this trio is not alone in the football world. Legend Zinedine Zidane (52) operates several Padel facilities in France, just like Zlatan Ibrahimovic (43) does in Sweden. In Germany, star coaches took the lead – first Jürgen Klopp (57) invested, then ex-national coach Hansi Flick (59) followed suit. Klopp enthusiastically stated years ago: “For me, this is the upcoming sport. I never thought I would discover the best sport of my life at 47 or so. I play it five times a week. It’s sensational!”
But what exactly is Padel? This racket sport is currently the fastest-growing sport in the world. It is played 2-on-2 on a mini-tennis court enclosed in a glass cage and combines elements of tennis and squash.
Swiss
