Some athletes just aren’t satisfied by pushing physical limits, they want to push virtual ones too. We’ve compiled a list of athletes with interesting video game cameos totally unrelated to the actual sports they play.
- Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Paul Pogba in Call of Duty
First up on this list is the most recent news. Famed soccer players Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Paul Pogba are slated to make a crossover into Call of Duty: Mobile, Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 as operators.
Players will be able to shoot, stab or just generally hurt people as the world-renowned soccer players. Of course, it will likely cost an arm and a leg to play as them, but that’s not going to stop anyone.
- Michael Jordan in PGA Tour 2K23
Michael Jordan, deemed “greatest basketball player of all time” will be a playable character in PGA 2K23.
While golf has nothing to do with his basketball career (or his baseball/film career in Space Jam), apparently Michael Jordan is a great golfer in reality. Now he wants to extend that into the virtual landscape. Just imagine shooting a hole-in-one as Michael Jordan wearing Air Jordans. Who could resist?
- Stephen Curry in PGA Tour 2K23
Beloved worldwide, legendary basketball player Stephen Curry is making history as a playable character in PGA Tour 2K23. This is only one of two video games he will be a playable character in at once, the other being NBA 2K. As an active athlete, this is a huge feat.
- Shaq in UFC Undisputed 2010
Everybody knows (and loves) Shaquille O’Neal! Whether it’s from his powerful basketball career or his Internet-shattering appearance on Hot Ones, his cultural impact is undeniable.
Shaq makes a cameo in UFC Undisputed 2010, only accessible through a special hidden code. It’s hard to imagine wanting to gatekeep the gift of seeing Shaq throw down in a wrestling ring.
- Conor McGregor in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
This is slightly different from the other items on this list because Conor McGregor played a character here. The martial artist and UFC fighter took up the role of Captain Bradley Fillion in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, the widely hated instalment in the Call of Duty series. Let’s hope he at least got paid a bucketload to be a part of it.
