From the pitch to the screen: Footballers who have invested in esports

• The Esports industry is one of the fastest growing digital sectors
• There has been an increase in global audience in esports, which has resulted in huge revenues
• Liverpool player Virgil van Dijk is one of the footballers who have invested in esports

The Esports industry is one of the fastest growing digital sectors and it’s no surprise that there are several footballers who have invested in esports. With each passing year, esports and sports crossover are becoming progressively prevalent, especially in the football world where football clubs continue to develop dedicated esports division.

From the Premier League to La Liga to Serie A to Bundesliga to MLS, all the top leagues in the world have players who represent them at various esports tournaments. And these players are signed to various esports teams, some which are owned by football players. In this article, we are going to take a look at popular footballers who have invested in esports teams.

1. Ruud Gullit

Former footballer Ruud Gullit owns Team Gullit. Photo/ www.teamgullit.com.

Ruud Gullit, an icon of the Netherlands national team, owns one of the most popular esports teams in the world. The 61-year-old created the world’s first “independent FIFA academy known as Team Gullit in 2018. His team has been discovering and nurturing talented gamers of the FIFA series, now EA Sports FC 24, and sponsoring them to compete at the biggest stage.

Some of the Team Gullit players have won titles playing in various top tournaments, making it one of the most successful teams. The team has partnered with several professional clubs, signing agreements with sides like SBV Vitesse and Atlanta United FC.

2. David Beckham 

David Beckham is not only a player but also a brand. He has made investments in various sectors over the years which is why it’s not surprising that he is one of the richest footballers of all time. The former Manchester United midfielder does not only own part of the MLS team Inter Miami CF but also the popular esports organization known as Guild Esports.

The team was established in 2020 and has since been growing. It has created its own infrastructure for the academy as well as a cutting-edge hub for players and academy talents to network. Apart from FIFA, Guild have professional teams competing in other games such as Rocket League and Counter-Striker: Global Offensive.

3. Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard. Photo/ YouTube.

Next on our list of footballers who have invested in esports is former Manchester United player Jesse Lingard. The England international purchased Audacity Esports in 2021 and has since renamed it to JLINGZ Esports, signing several top pro gamers. The team has been on the rise and has deals with big brands such as SportLocker, one of the most famous sports streaming services for matches.

4. Casemiro 

Just like real football, esports is loved a lot in South America. This is why South American footballers are deciding to invest in esports teams.

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is one of the footballers who have invested in esports, with his team known as Case Esports. This team has been existing for some time now as he founded it during his time in Spain while playing for Real Madrid. It has both male and female players and competes in various games, including FC 24 and League of Legends.

5. Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero owns KRU Esports. Photo/ Pagina12.

Another prominent figure on the list of footballers who have invested in esports, Sergio Aguero established his team known as KRU Esports team back in 2020. This was when he was still playing football for Premier League giants Manchester City.

Aguero founded the team due to Argentina’s notoriety on Twitch and has since offered an opportunity for Argentine gamers to make it big in the esports industry.

6. Virgil van Dijk 

Virgil van Dijk, one of the best defenders of his generation, has also invested in esports. He was announced as an investor in Tundra, a UK-based esports franchise, several months ago. The team has been successful in FIFA and other games such as DOTA 2 and Rocket League.

7. David de Gea

David de Gea. Photo/ Manchester United.

David de Gea always had a soft spot in competitive gaming and it’s not surprise that he actually owns the esports team Rebels Gaming. The Spain-based franchise competes in various games, including League of Legends, VALORANT and Rainbow Six Siege.