Some footballers from big clubs buy their cars before they even get a driver's license.
Unfortunately, youth, speed and adrenaline combined do not mix. In fact, we have often heard of serious accidents within the family of top-level professional footballers.
Read also: The worst drivers are behind the wheels of German cars [4]
Football stars: the blacklist of road accidents
| Footballer | Car | Date of the accident | Scene of the accident | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Antonio Reyes (Extremadura UD) | Mercedes Brabus | 1 June 2019 | Utrera (Spain) | Dead |
| Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) | Audi RS6 | 22 September 2017 | Madrid (Spain) | Uninjured |
| Neymar Jr (Paris Saint-Germain) | Ferrari | 27 November 2016 | Barcelona (Spain) | Uninjured |
| Mario Balotelli (Brescia) | Bentley | 1 October 2016 | Nice (France) | Uninjured |
| Mbaye Niang (Rennes) | Ferrari | 27 February 2016 | Montpelier (France) | Shoulder and ankle injury |
| Martin Caceres (Fiorentina) | Ferrari | 28 September 2015 | Turin (Italy) | Uninjured Suspension of licence for impaired driving |
| Arturo Vidal (FC Barcelona) | Ferrari | 16 June 2015 | Santiago (Chile) | Minor injury |
| Junior Malanda (Wolfsburg) | Nissan GT-R | 15 January 2015 | Porta Westfalica (Germany) | Dead |
| David Beckham (Paris Saint-Germain) | Audi | 29 November 2014 | London (England) | Uninjured |
| Keita Balde (Monaco) | Lamborghini Gallardo | 20 October 2014 | Rome | Uninjured |
| Martin Caceres (Fiorentina) | Porsche Cayenne | 16 March 2013 | Turin (Italy) | Minor injury |
| Ever Banga (Seville) | Ferrari | 19 February 2012 | Valencia (Spain) | Broken ankle Six months of rest |
| Cesc Fabregas (Monaco) | Mercedes | 4 April 2011 | London (England) | Uninjured |
| Louis Saha (Lazio Rome) | Ferrari | 28 February 2011 | Manchester (England) | Uninjured |
| Djibril Cissé (Bastia) | Bentley | 1t September 2010 | Athens (Greece) | Uninjured |
| Mario Balotelli (Brescia) | Audi R8 | 29 August 2010 | Manchester (England) | Uninjured |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) | Ferrari | 8 January 2009 | Manchester (England) | Uninjured |
| François Sterchele (FC Bruges) | Porsche Cayman | 8 May 2008 | Vrasene (Belgium) | Dead |
Road safety: driving courses for young footballers
Aware of the risk their professional players may run, some major football clubs have taken the decision to pass tailor-made driving courses to their top athletes. In England, some Premier League clubs sign contracts to allow their players to train on sports cars. During these types of courses, the driver is taught to behave on the road just like on the stadium lawn, with emotions' control, stress management, anticipation and monitoring.
In France, clubs have not yet invested in courses with sports cars and racing circuits. However, the federal educational project "Open Football Club" gives access, especially to the youngest, to road safety workshops. The road safety association also organizes workshops so that the football start-ups can test the driving on simulators.