In modern soccer, a fit physique is very crucial, or at least majorly considered to be so for any player’s performance and success. It’s true that the skills, talents, hard work, and overall professionalism are the main factors that actually pay off. But you can’t overlook the plus of having a fit figure as well.
Usually, professional soccer players have incredible physiques with amazing body fitness. Most footballers have a six-packed muscular body with incredible strength.
But there remain some exceptions as always. While the majority of footballers are in really good shape, some do have extra pounds and they are well famous on the field with such heavy figures. Their weight didn’t stand in the way of their soccer success.
Let’s learn about the 10 biggest football players ever in the world.
#10. Thibaut Courtois (200 pounds)
The former Belgian Goalkeeper & the current Real Madrid superstar is considered one of the current best under the post. This Belgian national soccer star is 2.00 m tall and has a weight of 200 pounds.
Despite being one of the heaviest goalkeepers of all time, Courtois isn’t fat by any means. His heavyweight is due to his incredible height and strong body muscles. You won’t find many shot-stoppers who are 6’-7”, right?
His heavy body of him never lowers his reflexes or agility. His positioning and decision-making were always top-notch. Courtois was awarded the Golden Glove award in the 2018 FIFA World cup and in club football win La Liga, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Europa League, Copa del Rey, and many more. He also won La Liga’s Best Goalkeeper Award and Premier League Golden Glove. He’s just 29 and has many more to achieve in the future.
#9. Romelu Lukaku (207 pounds)
Another current Belgian superstar and at present one of the most lethal finishers in the world is Romelu Lukaku. He is famous for his gigantic body shape, and powerful possession in the field. This Chelsea Number 9 is a total beast with a tremendous bodyweight of 207 pounds along with a height of 1.91m. This man is truly a nightmare for the opponent defenders.
Unlike many heavy-figured footballers, Lukaku is really swift on the field with the ball and also a moderate dribbler. He started his senior career at Anderlecht and since then has played in many teams over the years including Chelsea, West Brom, Everton, ManU, and Inter Milan.
Former ManU boss Mourinho once showed his concern about Lukaku’s too much muscle gain. On his return to the Premier League, Lukaku surprised many fans with a relatively better shape. The main reason behind this transformation in just 2 years is his extensive diet and some digestive issues. Despite his current bad patch in Chelsea, Lukaku is considered one of the finest strikers of the time.
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#8. Richard Dunne (209 pounds)
Richard Dunne, currently working as a television pundit at BT Sport, was a former Irish center-back and one of the most experienced defenders in the Premier League. He was famous for his rock-solid body and tough defense.
Dunne had a gangly figure of a 6’2” tall body with 209 pounds weight. This Dublin-born soccer star held the unwanted records of most sending off and most own goals record in the Premier League. But it also shows his battle-hardened nature and last-ditch defending experience.
Dunne was well-known for constantly putting the body on the line for the team’s sake. This dedicated defensive giant was an ex-player of Everton, Man City, Aston Villa, and QPR. He also represented the green jersey of Ireland. His prolific soccer career ended in 2015.
#7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (209 pounds)
There is probably no soccer fan in the world who hasn’t heard the name of Zlatan. He is one of the most entertaining personalities in soccer history. This Swedish legend, currently under the contract of AC Milan for the 2021-22 season, is in his 40 and certainly has gained some extra pounds due to such age.
Zlatan is presently 1.95m tall with a bodyweight of 209 pounds. Compared to his earlier career days, he is a bit out of shape right now. Age plays the main reason behind that. He has also frequently been falling victim to a string of injuries.
Despite his current body condition, Zlatan never stopped amazing people as he scored 8 goals and assisted 2 in the 2021-22 season for the Rossoneri. The man is a pure goal machine and has always been the same for different legendary clubs throughout his entire career. He never let the heavier shape of his body cause problem in his scoring chances, rather uses it for the best benefit. But at the current stage, he needs to listen to his body before deciding future.
#6. Jannik Vestergaard (211 pounds)
Another Premier League defender is on the list of the heaviest football player ever, and this time it’s Leicester City’s CB Jannik Vestergaard. He is a 1.99 meters tall Danish national team footballer having 211 pounds of weight.
Vestergaard is one of the heaviest defenders of all time in the Premier League. He is also a very useful center-back who knows how to use his impressive height and strength pretty well to win the aerial duels against the forwards, clear the crosses, and win the long balls.
Also, Vestergaard can frequently score from strong headers during corners. He had 20 goals beside his name, and most of them are from headers. In 2013, Vestergaard got Denmark’s national team call up and so far, has played 33 matches for his country.
#5. Harry Maguire (216 pounds)
Here comes the most expensive center-back signing of soccer history on the list, and he’s Harry Maguire. Maguire is the current captain of Manchester United’s 2021-22 squad and also the main defender in Gareth Southgate’s current English Soccer squad.
Harry Maguire is a big guy with 216 pounds and a 1.93m body. Due to a bit ‘loose’ physique, he doesn’t look like a professional footballer at all. He carries around some extra pounds than conventional defenders. Red Devils fans might blame this extra-weight for his recent sloppy performance for the club. But things aren’t like this.
Despite the current downfall show, as per the stats, Harry Maguire is undoubtedly one of the best CBs in recent times. His game-reading capabilities, ball recoveries, interceptions, etc. are top-notch. He is also very lethal in the opponent’s 18-yard box. Within just 5 years since his debut, Maguire has emerged as the highest-scoring defender of all time for England.
#4. Roman Torres (218 pounds)
Officially the heaviest professional soccer player in the 2018 FIFA world cup was Panama National Team defender Roman Torres. This man is around 1.88m tall, but compared to his height he has an overweight body of 218 pounds. He is now 36 years of age and as per the BMI calculation, his weight should be in between the range of 144 to 194 pounds.
Despite this overweight, Torres is pacy, agile, and athletic enough to play at the highest soccer level. He represented his country Panama City in around 119 matches and also took the team to their first-ever World Cup in 2018, where Torres scored the match-deciding goal against Costa Rica in the final round.
Torres is currently playing for Cartaginés, a Costa Rican soccer club. This Former Seattle Sounders FC star had also vast experience playing for other clubs, mostly based in Panama, Colombia, and the USA. Overall, Torres is a very handy athlete using the best of his weighty strong body.
#3. Christopher Samba (224 Pounds)
The number 3 spot on this list is held by the former Blackburn Rovers legendary defender, Chris Samba. Though Samba was born in France, he played for the Congo National Team. With an enormous 1.93m tall body with 224 pounds of weight, the man was a huge and physical center-back.
Samba was very well-known for his capabilities of dominating defense. His strength, tackling, aggression, aerial challenges, heading, etc. were top-notch. Over the 15 years long football career, he spent the majority part of it in Blackburn Rovers, and he was their key defender. Samba was also appointed as the Blue and Whites captain in 2010. Overall, at the club level, this Congo international played 332 games and scored 31 games for different clubs.
For his national side, Samba played in 26 matches, but unfortunately never could make any big impact there. In 2018, he declared to hang up the boots after a final spell at Aston Villa. Recently on 25 November 2021, Chris Samba made his return to Blackburn Rovers as an academy coach. This big man is considered one of the Riversides’ top 20 legendary players by their fans.
#2. Adebayo Akinfenwa (229 pounds)
The strongest soccer player over the years in EA Sports FIFA is also the heaviest footballer among the current active soccer roasters, and the man is Adebayo Akinfenwa, the living legend of the game. If you see him for the first time as a football fan, you might get stunned. When modern-day soccer is all about having physically fit players, this British-borne is a complete polar opposite. The striker will catch your attention for having a totally footballer-unlikely body shape.
Akinfenwa is 229 pounds in weight with a 1.85m tall body. Despite having such an unusual body, Akinfenwa overcomes all the odds to have a successful soccer career. He is freakishly strong as he can perform bench presses of 200kgs of weight, about double of his body. That’s why this man has the nickname, “The Beast”.
Over his 20 years of soccer career, Akinfenwa has played in more than 10 clubs. The most nameworthy among them are Swansea City, Northampton Town, and Wycombe Wanderers. The 39 years old striker is currently under the contract of Wycombe, which is set to be over by July’22. He has scored 7 goals in the running season, which is a great feat considering his age and obviously body size!
#1. William ‘Fatty’ Foulke (335 pounds)
After knowing the current best, now it’s time to know the heaviest football player ever in entire soccer history. It’s another English footballer, and his name is William Foulke. He is the fattest soccer player in history, and to add more surprise, the player was a Goalkeeper! Foulke played the game over a century ago, during the late 80s and early 90s to be specific.
Foulke had a standard height of 1.93m with a staggering weight of 335 pounds! He started gaining weight just 1 year after his senior career debut for Sheffield United, and soon got the nickname “Fatty” or “Colossus” by the fans. The average players of that time had an average height of 1.65m, so Foulke just towered over most of them.
Sheffield United won the following 1897-98 season after Foulke’s debut. Foulke secured their post for the entire season and helped them to have the best defensive record among all the clubs. The following year, Foulke also contributed to winning the FA Cup for his club. Sheffield continued their best form in the following season as well, and achieved the best defensive record again, credit goes to Foulke for his astounding performance under the post. Over his entire career, Foulke continued the amazing run despite all the criticisms and negative media reports regarding his overweight and unshaped body.
After his legendary career in Sheffield United of over a decade and playing 299 games for the club, William Foulke had a brief run for Chelsea FC and Bradford City. He even led the Chelsea FC side in some matches. Foulke retired from professional football in 1908. He also played for England, just for a single game though.
Foulke was awarded the Berlin-Britz Goalkeeper of the Decade in the 1900s for his exemplary soccer performance, and he rightfully deserved so. The man set an example that overweight or out-of-shape persons also have their chance in soccer, and they can certainly shine through their hard work, determination, skillset, and dedication.
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