Story by
"Love those guys" - When LeBron James revealed his favourite soccer players
- Story by
- "Love those guys" - When LeBron James revealed his favourite soccer players
Great players recognize greatness. Sport doesn't matter. Country doesn't matter. Language doesn't matter. Excellence simply moves in its own way. However, anyone who's chased excellence can spot the real thing from a mile off.
When LeBron James talked soccer and named his favorite players back then, you felt it right away.
Advertisement
Playful moment
In March 2020, with the NBA regular season paused because of COVID, the world shut down. James did too. He holed up in Los Angeles. While playing cards with his crew, the basketball legend went live on Instagram. Like millions at home, Bron wanted to connect. Simple plan. Answer whatever fans threw at the four-time MVP. One question hit on his favorite soccer players.
"King James" paused. He smiled. Then he added a note. Every one of them played for Liverpool F.C. The team that's lifted the English top-flight 20 times. The last title came in 2025 under head coach Arne Slot.
Advertisement
"Straight up. Every player on Liverpool," said "The Chosen One."
James smiled. A little crooked grin. Like the 41-year-old Ohio native knew something the rest of us didn't. You'd laugh, too, if you knew the backstory.
After all, he has been financially tied to LFC since 2011. Back then, James teamed up with Fenway Sports Group to buy a minority stake in the club. A small two-percent stake soon became equity in FSG itself. That made him not just a fan or a partner. LBJ became a stakeholder in one of global sport's most valuable organizations. Reports later showed James' original marketing deal had grown into a $141.9 million ownership share in Fenway Sports Group.
Advertisement
LeBron's favorite players
James' first answer wandered a bit. He then, however, locked in on the key names.
"[Kylian] Mbappé, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo — those guys are legends, man. I love those guys," added the 22-time All-Star.
LeBron then turned to his wife, Savannah. She was in the background of the stream when she was asked for her own take.
Savannah hesitated and asked if " Messi was a player."
Her superstar husband said Lionel Messi, often mentioned with Ronaldo in the greatest-ever talks and currently with Inter Miami CF , is a real player. Not just any player. In Bron's words, a true legend.
Advertisement
Next, someone else in the background brought up Zlatan Ibrahimovic . James couldn't help but laugh at that. He called the former 6'5 striker crazy. Then the Los Angeles Lakers veteran added, "he damn good though."
With Ibrahimovic, who was once also under contract in the "City of Angels," there is real history. The two have disagreed before, mostly over whether athletes should use their platforms to speak on politics .
Ultimately, James' connection to soccer runs deep. Even deeper than Liverpool or a simple list of favorites.
Advertisement
During the 2014 World Cup, for instance, he talked about how massive the event was compared to the NBA Finals and the kind of global pull it has. He's also noticed in the past how certain teams and logos carry instant recognition anywhere in the world. For the NBA's all-time leading scorer, Liverpool F.C. is one of them. No question.
Unfortunately for Bron and countless other fans, LFC haven't lived up to that standard this season. Far from defending their title, they only sit fifth in the Premier League table . There's virtually no chance Slot's team will catch the current leaders, Arsenal FC .
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
