We watch games religiously, argue about tactics, and idolise players who we assume must feel the same way.
But here’s the twist: not every footballer actually loves football.
For some, it’s simply a job.
They train, they play, they collect their wages – and then switch off completely.
Some even admitted they’d rather be doing something else entirely.
Here are 15 players – legends, stars, and cult heroes – who shocked fans by admitting they don’t really like football.
1. Ben White
Arsenal’s £50 million defender is one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
White admitted: “I watch myself for analytical reasons. I watch England, maybe, but I’m always busy doing something. I wouldn’t just sit down and watch a game. I didn’t ever watch football when I was younger. I still don’t now. I just loved the game, I was always playing it, never watching.”
His lack of football knowledge even caused friction with England assistant Steve Holland during the 2022 World Cup.
Still, White has become a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
2. Gareth Bale
Bale is a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid and Wales’ all-time top scorer.
In 2018, he told ESPN: “I don’t really watch much football, I’d rather watch the golf to be honest.”
His obsession with golf was so strong that Madrid fans joked he cared more about “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.”
After retiring in 2023, Bale has leaned fully into his passion for golf.
3. Carlos Tevez
Tevez was adored at Boca Juniors and enjoyed spells at Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus.
He admitted: “I don’t like football. If Barcelona vs Real Madrid is on and on the other channel there’s a golf tournament, I watch golf. I’ve never been a fanatic for watching games. I like to play, to have the ball at my feet.”
After retiring in 2021, Tevez moved into management with Independiente.
4. David Batty
Batty was a tough-tackling midfielder for Leeds, Blackburn, and England.
After missing a penalty in the 1998 World Cup, he admitted: “At the World Cup, as soon as we got in the changing rooms after the shootout, I was looking forward to getting home and seeing my kids – so football didn’t matter.”
Later, he added: “The national game is boring. And I’ve not been to watch any match since I finished playing. I can never understand anybody paying to watch it.”
5. Marc-André ter Stegen
Barcelona’s No.1 has won La Liga titles and lifted the Champions League.
At one time, he was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
He confessed: “People laugh when I tell them I have no idea about football. I don’t watch a lot of football, except when there are good games or when I’m particularly interested in one because I have a relationship or a friend. Sometimes they ask me for a player’s name and I have no idea.”
6. Gabriel Batistuta
Batistuta is one of Argentina’s greatest strikers and scored over 300 career goals.
He admitted: “I do not like football, it is just my profession.”
Instead, Batistuta turned to polo after retiring.
He said: “Every time I went back to Argentina on holidays, friends would invite me to play polo. I tried it out, and I ended up loving it.”
7. Benoît Assou-Ekotto
The former Tottenham left-back was brutally honest about his career.
He said: “Why did I come here? For a job. A career is only 10, 15 years. It’s only a job … football is not my passion.”
He also admitted he never watched games and found the badge-kissing culture fake.
8. Carlos Vela
Vela found his true home in MLS with LAFC, where he became a league MVP. And is one of the highest-paid players in the MLS.
He said: “Between a good movie and a good football game, I prefer the movie.”
He added: “I’ve never been so passionate about football as to say, ‘I’m a fan of Real Madrid or this team.’ Once the match ends, the football is finished for me.”
For Vela, football is work, but Hollywood seems more his vibe.
9. Christian Vieri
Vieri scored goals for fun in Serie A and earned 49 caps for Italy.
He once said: “I would have loved to have been a cricketer. I would stop playing [football] now to play cricket if I could get the same contract.”
Growing up in Australia, he fell in love with cricket.
He even claimed: “I think I would’ve been the best batsman in the world if I played cricket.”
10. Bobby Zamora
Zamora enjoyed Premier League spells with West Ham, Fulham, and QPR.
He admitted: “I’m not a massive football fan, really. I don’t watch games on an evening or anything like that.”
Since retiring, he has swapped the pitch for fishing.
11. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho is one of the greatest dribblers in football history.
He said: “I was never one for watching football. I like watching the highlights and goals, but I don’t like the 90 minutes.”
It’s ironic because he was one of the most entertaining players of all time.
12. Dani Alves
Alves is the most decorated player in football history with over 40 trophies.
The Brazilian also has a great career as one of the greatest right-backs in football history.
He admitted: “I hate what surrounds football. I live in this world, but do not belong to it. When I leave football, I will put a backpack on and travel the world.”
13. David Bentley
Bentley was once hailed as the “next Beckham.”
He said: “I remember walking my dog, thinking ‘This ain’t for me’. I just got tired of all the bull**** that goes with it, people wanting you to sell yourself as something you’re not.”
Now he runs businesses in Marbella and seems happier away from the spotlight.
14. Andy Carroll
When Carroll signed for Liverpool in 2011 for £35m, he admitted he had to Google his new teammates.
He said: “I was in the helicopter on the way down and I had to go to Google to find out who their players were. I don’t really like watching football.”
On the pitch, he was a handful, but off the pitch, he just wanted to switch off.
15. Michael Owen
Owen won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 and scored 40 goals for England.
He admitted: “For six or seven years I came to hate football. I couldn’t wait to retire, because the one on the field wasn’t me.”
Injuries and pressure wore him down, and by the end, he was hiding on the pitch to avoid the ball.
Final Whistle
It’s hard to believe that players who gave us so many great memories didn’t actually love the game.
But for these 15 stars, football was a job – not a passion.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: you don’t have to love your job to be brilliant at it.
