Jack Wilshere isn’t the first footballer to smoke, and he won’t be the last. He joins Arsenal team-mate Mesut Ozil, Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Mario Balotelli and more.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been pictured smoking a cigarette, and his manager Arsene Wenger has told the assembled press that he plans to have a word with the England international midfielder.
However, Wilshere is far from the only footballer to have smoked, and he will certainly not be the last.
Here’s a top ten of our favourite smoking footballers.
1. Jack Wilshere
No wonder he’s tense. Aaron Ramsey has emerged from his shadow to become the lifeblood of the Arsenal team, and thanks to the signings of Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Flamini, Wilshere is far from assured of his place in the Gunners first choice midfield.
Sometimes, sitting back with a cigarette just feels right. Other times, you get lung cancer. Swings and roundabouts.
Wilshere pictured smoking via the sun pic.twitter.com/HllMdW5TLN
— RYO_cleverfish (@RYO_cleverfish) October 4, 2013
The Arsenal man was pictured again in summer 2014 with a cigarette, and in February 2015 Jack Wilshere was spotted with a shisha pipe in his hand.
2. Lionel Messi
Jack Wilshere will never become one of the world’s best players if he smokes. This guy is terrible at football.
Omg Messi been caught smoking! #Cut4Messi pic.twitter.com/x43l9rHB
— Becky Flaherty (@FlahertyNo1) January 14, 2013
Given that his team-mates support an anti-smoking campaign, Messi lighting up may not have gone down brilliantly at Camp Nou.
Could #Messi and co. help you give up cigarettes? #FCBarcelona front new EU quit smoking campaign. pic.twitter.com/arFaBgas
— Leigh Moore (@Leigh_Moore) February 20, 2013
3. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane was one of the most aesthetically pleasing footballers to watch, and – let’s face it – not one of the most athletic.
Whether that was down to his smoking habit remains unclear.
Zidane was caught smoking a cigarette before he faced Portugal in the 2006 World Cup pic.twitter.com/hmSyjFB8
— RMadridGirl (@RMadridGirl) March 20, 2012
4. Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli has always been somewhat of a maverick, a loose cannon who Jose Mourinho described as unmanageable.
The Italy international also enjoyed a cigarette on plenty of occasions, which former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini wasn’t a huge fan of, but would allow if he found the back of the net consistently.
“It is better that he quits,” said Mancini to the Daily Mirror in 2012, “but if he smokes 10 cigarettes a day and scores two goals every game, then that’s better.”
Balotelli smoking #CutForMario pic.twitter.com/YsQEIGPK
— Conor Monaghan (@conormono96) January 8, 2013
5. Laurent Koscielny
There’s nothing worse than a lonely cigarette break, pondering the hubris of man with each puff. At least Jack Wilshere isn’t alone amongst his Arsenal team-mates, for Laurent Koscielny also appears to have picked up the habit – at least, according to this picture.
Kos pic.twitter.com/ckulzqJUN7
— DC (@DLDN22) October 4, 2013
6. Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov is probably the worst role model out there in terms of dissuading people to start smoking. Because let’s face it – he looks quite cool.
@duchesstoni A quick Google search also gives us… Dimitar Berbatov smoking: pic.twitter.com/jZEkNZ07Gf
— GAZZYDOO!! (@Gazzydoo) October 4, 2013
7. Diego Maradona
Why go for a mere cigarette when you can smoke a massive Cuban cigar on a boat?
You may be cool but you will never be Maradona with a Che Guevara ink on your arm smoking Cubans on a boat cool. pic.twitter.com/0BT15kNt58
— Amir (@phukyoslf) September 14, 2013
8. Mesut Ozil
Smoking clearly hasn’t hampered Mesut Ozil. With five assists and a goal in his first five games for Arsenal, he seems to be doing okay. Ozil also ran 11.63 kilometres in the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League victory over Napoli – the third most of any Arsenal player.
Jack Wilshere smoking is just him trying to keep up with the hip newcomer. Peer pressure's a b**** pic.twitter.com/VX27AHpAYb
— Adam Digby (@Adz77) October 4, 2013
9. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney has regularly been pictured smoking, and the Manchester United forward has often been accused of not being at peak fitness for a footballer of his level.
Wayne Rooney caught smoking #mufc Ferguson has declined to comment pic.twitter.com/XHTRFRVgBd
— Slow Sports News (@SlowSportsNews) October 4, 2013
10. Socrates
Socrates was a fully qualified doctor, and as a medical professional probably ought to have known better.
