Premier League Players And Their Love of Gaming

Professional football and video games have become closely connected. Premier League players grow up playing many of the same titles as supporters, from EA Sports FC and Football Manager to Fortnite and Call of Duty.

Gaming can provide a welcome escape from the pressure of elite football, particularly during long journeys, recovery periods and quiet evenings after training. For some players, however, it has developed into much more than a casual hobby. Footballers have streamed online, entered tournaments, invested in esports organisations and even competed against professional gamers.

Several Premier League stars have helped bring the two worlds together.

Diogo Jota Was Football’s Standout Gamer

Few Premier League footballers demonstrated their gaming ability as convincingly as the late Diogo Jota.

The former Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward was an exceptional FIFA player. He won the Premier League’s first ePremier League Invitational in 2020, defeating Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final while representing Wolves.

Jota’s achievements were not limited to a celebrity tournament. During FIFA 21, he completed a perfect 30-match run in FUT Champions and briefly reached the top of the global PlayStation leaderboard. His record demonstrated that he could compete at a level far beyond that of the average footballer.

Gaming also influenced his celebrations. After scoring for Liverpool against Southampton in 2021, Jota sat on the pitch and mimed playing with a controller. A version of the pose was subsequently included as a celebration in EA Sports FC.

Jota established his own esports organisation, originally known as Diogo Jota Esports before becoming part of LUNA Esports. The project created opportunities for competitive players and turned his interest into a serious involvement in the industry.

Following his death in July 2025, Jota’s gaming legacy continued. EA Sports renamed its leading FC Pro World Championship trophy in his honour, recognising his contribution as a player, competitor and esports team owner.