Fun facts about famous football players
Denilson
Denilson is a famous Brazilian footballer who played for a host of clubs including Real Betis in Spain and also won the 2002 World Cup. However, he was also an 888poker ambassador.
He is a keen poker player and even said he hoped to introduce new people into the game. "Football and poker are both passionate games, but each has its own particularities," he said. He first started playing with friends, but he enjoyed it so much, he decided to continue playing it at a higher level.
Maddison
The Brazilian is not the only player who likes poker. Leicester's James Maddison also plays often. Did you also know that there is footage of the Leicester player wearing a Man Utd shirt when he was younger?
His family has plenty of Man Utd supporters in it and that is the reason for those images. He got into football because he lived just two minutes away from Coventry City Football Academy so he was constantly surrounded by football and he joined the Coventry youth set up aged nine.
Richarlison
Richarlison of Everton comes from a Brazilian favela and he could have ended up in the drug world, but stayed out of trouble by selling ice-cream with his mum! Despite being mocked by friends for not joining them, he now shines in the Premier League and for Brazil. He said in an interview that football saved his life. He had a gun pointed at his head once when he was a kid for accidentally stepping onto a drug lord's territory. He certainly had it tough as a youngster.
Balotelli
Former Man City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli once appeared on the GQ magazine with Tinie Tempah! The footballer was named the best dressed man in the world. Quite an honour. Despite getting into trouble on several occasions, Balotelli did also do positive things. Once, after winning big at a casino in Manchester, he spotted a homeless man on the street and gave him 1000 pounds of his own money.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo was picked up by Man Utd in 2003 after a pre-season friendly with Sporting Lisbon. The match, which was the first game in the new stadium, saw the youngster bamboozle the United defenders. The likes of John O'Shea and Roy Keane were shocked by Ronaldo's talent and they reportedly told Fergie at half-time to sign him. After the 3-1 defeat, Ronaldo was kept behind by United and the deal was done there and then. The striker also does not have tattoos so that he can give blood more often.
As you can see, there is a lot more to footballers' lives than kicking a ball around. They have very interesting upbringings, hobbies and they often do good things which can often get overlooked by the media. Let us know which you thought the most interesting fact was!