Usain Bolt picks his ultimate football relay team
Jamaican former athlete Usain Bolt has named his ultimate three-man football relay team.
The former sprinter – who won eight Olympic gold medals throughout his career – has often flirted with the world of football, expressing a desire to play for Manchester United, and even scored twice in a friendly for Australian side Central Coast Mariners in 2018.
Who would be in Bolt’s relay dream team? Five things to know…
- Bolt won a career total of 23 gold medals as a sprinter.
- The Jamaican was asked to pick a three-man relay team made of footballers.
- He named Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Gareth Bale as his choices.
- He also tipped Ronaldo to win Fifa’s “The Best” award.
- Bolt has officially denounced his intentions to pursue a football career.
And speaking to Fifa as part of its “The Best” awards , Bolt has now revealed who he would pick in a three-man relay team made entirely of footballers.
“Ronaldo, Mbappé and Gareth Bale,” he responded when asked.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for Fifa’s “The Best” main prize alongside rival Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
Bolt believes each of the trio are deserving of their nomination but if he were to have a vote, it would go to Ronaldo.
“These are three wonderful players,” he said. “Ronaldo and Messi won the prize five times each.
“For his part, Van Dijk has just won the Uefa prize and in view of his performances in Liverpool last season, his time may have come.
“But as a supporter of Manchester United, I would surely vote for Ronaldo!”
Bolt finally closes the door on footballing career
Despite being offered a professional contract by Central Coast Mariners and spending eight weeks with the club, Bolt decided to end his spell with the A-League side in November 2018 having received heavy criticism from Perth Glory forward Andrew Keogh, who called Bolt’s presence a “kick in the teeth to the league’s professionals”.
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And Bolt has officially called time on his footballing career, stating he is too old to be following such pursuits now, although he did insist he would continue participating in charity events such as Soccer Aid.
“I love playing football but at my age and with my other obligations, I could not devote the necessary time to this new career,” he said.
“I will nevertheless continue to perform at gala and charity matches, such as Soccer Aid.”
