FitFact: The top 3 musclemen in football 💪⚽

The wait is over: the European Football Championship in Germany has finally begun and with it the excitement, the cheering and the jitters 😬. While some of us have been gritting our teeth in anticipation for the last few days, the protagonists of the event have been busy training. In addition to tactical discussions and several hours on the pitch, this also means strength training in the gym. Some players are more toned than others, which undoubtedly doesn’t always mean they are better footballers, but the fact is that strength training has become an integral part of football. This is particularly noticeable in some cases. Today we introduce you to the top 3 musclemen in football:

3) Hulk

If your nickname is “Hulk”, then you’ve done a lot right in the gym. Givanildo Vieira de Souza is not only an incredible force on the pitch, but also in the gym 🏋️‍♂️. Hats off to the goalkeeper for getting in the way of his shot. According to Wikipedia, Hulk got his nickname from his father because he looked similar to Lou Ferrigno, who played the “Incredible Hulk”. According to other sources, the name comes from the fans of his former club Tokyo Verdy. The team played in green jerseys. Combined with his enormous muscle mass, de Souza quickly became known to fans as the “Hulk” – a name he still wears on his jersey today.

2) Adama Traoré

When Adama Traoré gets ready for a game, it’s more like preparing for a bodybuilding contest. Because his upper arms are not only pumped up, but also shiny 💪✨! Traoré actually smears his arms with baby oil before every game. Does he do it for aesthetic reasons? No, said his former coach Nuno Espírito Santo (spiegel.de). It was a tip from the medical department, as Traoré already had several shoulder injuries from falls because the defenders often tugged on him. The idea with the oil came about to make it harder for them to grab him. Now he whizzes past his opponents and seems unstoppable. Incidentally, Traoré is one of the fastest players in the world. So anyone who still believes that muscles have no place in football and counteract speed is very much mistaken!

1) Adebayo Akinfenwa

Big, bigger, Akinfenwa 😤. No, that’s not Ronnie Coleman standing on the pitch. His name is Adebayo Akinfenwa, affectionately known as “The Beast”, and he is one of the most impressive footballers around. He weighed more than 100 kilos in his professional days, making him the strongest footballer in the world, according to watson. With his muscle mass, he looks more like an NFL linebacker than a striker who skillfully dribbles out his opponents and scores goals. But the statistics prove otherwise: he scored 206 goals in his career. It also manages around 200 with the Bench Press. And if he doesn’t have any weights to hand for his squats, he simply takes a reporter on his shoulder – although this probably serves more as a warm-up for him.

These three musclemen show us that football is not just about technique and tactics, but also about pure strength and power. So, dear football players: you also have plenty of reason to go to the gym regularly 😉! We hope you enjoy your training and the excitement of the European Championships. Hopp Schwiiz 🇨🇭⚽!