Soccer is occasionally very topical considering some of the World’s biggest sports superstars are soccer players. However they are not necessarily the best examples of resilience and talent.
This once prompted Olympic veteran Ben Askren to condemn soccer as a valid choice for young men.
He had some controversial advice for young athletes – stay away from soccer and take up wrestling instead if you want to “be a real man.”
Askren, who had an impressive collegiate wrestling career competing for the University of Missouri and was a two-time NCAA champion, took to a video to share his blunt thoughts on soccer vs wrestling.
“If you want your kid to be a sniveling little kick watching Tik Tok videos all day then put him in soccer,” Askren tweeted. “If you want him to be a real man who works hard and is tough then sign him up for wrestling.”
The 38-year-old’s comments drew a mix of praise from wrestling fans who agree with building discipline through the demanding sport, and criticism from those who called his take outdated and disrespectful to soccer players’ athleticism.
Askren, known for his grappling prowess and top fighting style, has never been one to mince words. He likened soccer to a “sanitized” sport compared to the grueling nature of wrestling through his college days to making it as a professional fighter.
“I was wrestling in a room with two other future Olympians, getting beat up and grinded down every day,” he explained. “Soccer players just run around kicking a ball. It’s not a real battle like wrestling.”
Whether you agree with Askren’s polarizing stance or not, it’s reignited the age-old debate over which youth sports best build character, discipline and toughness. His wrestling background clearly shapes his perspective that martial arts and combat sports make “real men.”
