Salah, Van Dijk, De Bruyne: 26 Premier League stars name their football idols
The world’s best footballers are idolised by millions of people around the world.
Take Mohamed Salah, for example. He’s no doubt an inspiration for millions of youngsters globally.
But who were the idols of some of the players playing in the Premier League today?
BT Sport have released a brilliant video where they asked numerous footballers playing in England’s top tier who their favourite player was growing up.
Kevin De Bruyne, Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are just a few big names that got involved.
View their answers below…
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩? 😍
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 11, 2022
• Recreating goals in the garden
• Name on the back of the shirt
• Highlights on repeat
We asked some of the Premier League's biggest stars who inspired them in football… pic.twitter.com/5SFqDJRSPZ
Michail Antonio
“Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario and Ian Wright. Loved them. You can tell why I watched them. Charisma, character. They had it all.”
Virgil van Dijk
“Ronaldinho. Fantastic player. Full of joy, Quality. Definitely my idol.”
Son Heung-min
“Ji-Sung Park. He was my idol.”
Emile Smith Rowe
“Dennis Bergkamp.”
Phil Foden
“David Silva. I got to watch him a lot coming through the academy. Got to play with him too.”
Reece James
“Didier Drogba. When I was young I was a striker.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold
“Steven Gerrard.”
Bruno Fernandes
“Ronaldinho. I liked his happiness playing football.”
Jamie Vardy
“David Hurst.” Vardy was and still is a Sheffield Wednesday fan, despite being released by the club as a 16-year-old. Hurst played for the Owls between 1986-1997 and scored 106 league games for the club.
Riyad Mahrez
“Lionel Messi.”
Mohamed Salah
“Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Francesco Totti.”
Jadon Sancho
“Ronaldinho.”
Kevin De Bruyne
“When I was young it was Michael Owen. I can remember his goal in World Cup 1998 against Argentina.”
Sadio Mane
“Ronaldinho. Skills, dribbling.”
Mason Mount
“Frank Lampard, Luka Modric, Xavi, Andres Iniesta.”
Scott McTominay
“I’ll probably say Zinedine Zidane or Lionel Messi.”
Declan Rice
“John Terry. His leadership, the way he played, the way he applied himself on the pitch… he was everything I wanted to be as a footballer.”
Kieran Tierney
“Henrik Larsson. Growing up as a Celtic fan, I think everyone’s answer is the same.”
Wilfried Zaha
“My footballing idol was Ronaldinho. I used to watch loads of YouTube videos of him. I still do before my games.”