Human Interest

From the halls of Old Trafford to the shores of Brazil, what soccer players wear transcends cleats, trademarked jerseys and sometimes helmets like our friend Petr Cech. Thanks to the David Beckham era, my personal favorite metrosexual after Prince, we soccer and football lovers across the world know that swagger is just as important as skill.

Hector Bellerin is one striking figure. 

Not quite tall, not quite dark and not quite handsome, the Arsenal right back has nonetheless become one of the most notable footballers in the world for his appearance. 

It’s not his man-bun that perfectly holds his floppy brown hair or the pencil mustache that looks like it belongs in a 1970s porno — for Hector Bellerin, it’s all about style.

Johan Cruyff, the most famous of all atheist footballers, once explained his beliefs succinctly.

“I don’t believe in God,” Cruyff said. “In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before a game. If it worked, every game would end in a tie.”

And yet, soccer, and sports in general, is dominated by religious athletes, whether they're crossing him or herself before entering the field of play, praying after a touchdown or pointing to the sky following a match.

Nutrition in sports has fast become a vital component to any athlete’s life in recent years, with what soccer players eat becoming an increasing focus of the entire club. Despite former Sutton United goalkeeper Wayne Shaw eating a pie on live television, players are having their meals planned for them and some even employ their own personal chefs.

Mascots — the oversized, creepy creatures controlled by people who can’t possibly have great relationships with their mothers — are widespread in American sports. But a lot of people wonder: do soccer teams have mascots?

For better or worse, they do. 

Soccer mascots range from the weird to the cute, but they’re always weird. Did we mention they’re weird?