Top 20 footballers that you didn't know smoked

A strong message against tobacco consumption

The habit of smoking has been on a steady decline around the world after numerous countries put restrictions to reduce consumption, and football organizations are one of those entities spearheading the movement. In 2021, FIFA provided support to the 'Commit to Quit' campaign by World Health Organization to convince smokers to quit.

The Sun reports that smoking was banned from all enclosed public spaces in 2007, which includes football stadiums. The SmokeFree England movement facilitated this ruling in order to prevent people from inhaling second-hand smoke, and this pertains to e-cigarettes as well.

Finding a way around

With the existence of an official ban in stadiums, football organizations consistently speak out against tobacco consumption. Some athletes, however, retired and currently playing, still choose to continue smoking. Although it may seem contradictory for an athlete to smoke, some describe it as a once-in-a-while indulgence, while others have openly spoken about their addiction to the substance.

At one point in history, smoking was considered very much the norm, but currently, the world is definitively moving toward a direction that focuses on eliminating tobacco consumption not only to reduce health complications amongst smokers but to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke as well.

That being said, these players as listed in The Daily Star choose to continue, or once chose to indulge in their habit of smoking, despite all the social barriers against it.

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