A (fun) Fifa World Cup 2022 viewer’s guide
From top earner, to the player with the most Insta followers, to the hottest coach, we’ve got the scoop on who to look out for, writes Sanet Oberholzer
1THE HOTTEST COACH
When it comes to coaches, the one who turns our heads is Aliou Cissé with his endless swag and smouldering gaze. The Senegal coach is a former player who began his career in France. The 46-year-old has been the head coach and manager of the national team since 2015 and previously coached the team for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
2THE MOST POPULAR PLAYER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
He’s a star on and off the field. With 105-million followers on Twitter, 154-million on Facebook and more than 500-million on Instagram at the start of the tournament, captain of the Portuguese soccer team Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the most popular player on social media — he’s also the most followed person on Instagram and Facebook in the world. The star uses these platforms to share pictures of himself in action and snaps of him with his family. plus the occasional post in which he influences. After posting a Louis Vuitton ad featuring himself and Lionel Messi, he became the first person to breach the 500-million follower mark on Instagram. According to recent estimations, Ronaldo earns upwards of £1.7m (about R35m) per Instagram post.
3THE TOP EARNER
According to Forbes’s list of the world’s highest-paid soccer players for 2022 released last month, 23-year-old French player Kylian Mbappé is the biggest earner, racking up an estimated$128m (about R2.2bn) for the 2022-23 season. Second is Lionel Messi, who earned about $120m and third is Ronaldo, with an estimated $100m.
4THE MOST STYLISH KIT
Of the 32 teams competing, there were a number of uninspired options when it came to kit. The winner, though, has to be Mexico — specifically the team’s away jersey. Made by adidas, the jersey draws from Mexico’s Aztec roots and features a pattern inspired by Quetzalcoatl. Translated as “feathered serpent”, Quetzalcoatl was the god of winds and rain, and the creator of the world and humanity. The jersey is worn with offwhite socks and green or off-white shorts. The green home jersey has a graphic Quetzalcoatl-inspired print stretching across and down the chest and arms.
5THE GOAL CELEBRATION TO LOOK OUT FOR
While one of the most well-known is arguably Ronaldo’s “siu” celebration (when he’s not doing his new, slightly lame “nap” rendition), Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani’s “archer” joyous moment, in which he goes on one knee and mimics the action taken by an archer, is perhaps one of the more memorable. Last year he revealed that his celebration is in reference to his daughter, India, and the Charrúa, indigenous South American Indians who lived in Uruguay and parts of Argentina and Brazil. “That arrow I take out and fire is a goal celebration that sort of encapsulates all these things: a mix of my daughter’s name and the indigenous peoples of my country,” he said.
6THE MOST POPULAR WAG
In case you’ve been living under a rock, WAGS is an acronym for “wives and girlfriends” of sports stars. It can refer to a group or a single person. One of the OG WAGS is Victoria Beckham, wife of retired player David Beckham. More recently — and looking at this World Cup — it is Georgina Rodríguez, Ronaldo’s partner, who has been voted “most beautiful” by sports news platform Sports Brief. And with 39.2-million followers on Instagram, she’s also one of the most popular WAGS on social media. Based on Instagram followers, Shakira would’ve won with 77.1-million followers had she not recently announced her split from husband Gerard Piqué.
7EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE
NICE GUY
When not captaining his national team, Son Heung-min is a Tottenham Hotspur forward and English Premier League player. Known for his easy smile and charm, the South Korean player has been described as one of the “loveliest men in football”. Welsh player Gareth Bale called him the “nicest guy on the planet”. He’s been reported to have paid for a chef to cook Korean food for behind-thescenes Tottenham staff and has been seen playing with his teammates’ children on the field. In 2019 he donated more than R200,000 to rescue operations after a forest fire in Goseong County, South Korea destroyed about 400 homes. And while he might still be single, he’s revealed why: “My father says this and I agree. When you marry, the number one will be family, wife and kids, and then football. I want to make sure that while I play at the top level, football can be number one.”
8THE BEST CITY OUTSIDE QATAR TO WATCH THE GAMES
As the country with the most World Cup wins (five to be exact), Brazil is a favourite to win this year. It seems only fitting, given the country’s long history and ardent soccer culture. If you’re planning to travel and are looking for a good place to watch the 2022 World Cup, look no further than Rio de Janeiro — the popular and vibrant Brazilian coastal city. While it won’t be difficult finding a bustling bar or a beach, the city has planned a few big events, most notably the official one at the Brahma Arena on Copacabana Beach. There are also events planned in Morro da Urca with live musicians and access to the Sugarloaf cable car. If Brazil wins, there will be no better place to be — unless you support the runner-up.