Football is a highly competitive sport that requires a great deal of risk-taking to score a goal. It’s no wonder, then, that football players enjoy gambling. Many of them, on the other hand, are in their early twenties. When combined with the extraordinary wealth they receive in the form of compensation, some people may overindulge in gaming. As they say in Mozambique, “apostas de futebol em Moçambique” is, indeed, great but not when you are a professional athlete – because there’s nothing that will get you banned faster than betting on your own games.
On the other hand, there are others, such as the world-famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo who put their betting skills to good use for charity. So, let’s take a look at some of the most well-known football players as well as their betting and gambling habits.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The complete Series A player’s abilities on the field have earned him international recognition. He has always enjoyed a flutter, having previously been Real Madrid’s best scorer and one of Manchester United’s most renowned faces. Cristiano enjoyed nothing more than getting together with a bunch of friends on a Friday evening to play a few games of poker before stardom came calling. He was a decent player, and his pals were used to getting thrashed almost every time they got together. And he contributes all of his money to charity every time he wins.
Francesco Totti
Totti was a former captain of the national team as well as a great striker for Roma and was regarded as a God in football-crazed Italy. He was the club’s all-time leading scorer and the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history. Aside from being one of Italy’s most popular footballers, he has taught acting, football, and even poker after his retirement in 2006. So much so that he was asked by a brand to become a poker brand ambassador.
Joey Barton
Joey Barton exemplifies all that can go wrong when you lose control of your gambling addiction. Barton had all the makings of a brilliant Premier League career when he played for Burnley. But there was a man out of control when it came to betting behind the veneer of a respectable player. Between 2006 and 2013, the EFA had to listen to his allegations of unlawfully betting on 1,200 football games, many of which he participated in. Then, in 2017, while attempting to win another football jackpot, Barton was sentenced to another 18-month prison sentence for the same offense.
Gigi Buffon
This Italian national team goalie has always been in hot water due to his excessive gambling habits. Gambling has just added to the chaos and drama in the situation. He’s been the subject of multiple investigations on his ties to illegal gambling groups and sports betting fraud. In 2012, he was arrested and questioned about further shady jackpot-winning schemes. He had made a €1.5 million bank transfer to a betting business. The allegations were eventually withdrawn, and he was declared innocent.
It’s a tremendous opportunity for them to demonstrate not just their physical abilities, but also their mental abilities. Having said that, we were pleased to come across instances such as footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Balotelli, who use poker to fund their charitable endeavors.
