Many football players don’t use their birth names on their jersey backs. Some footballers do this cause their names are large enough to be used as their jersey name or for any personal reason. Their real names are almost unknown to the world.
Their real birth names are so unknown that most of you wouldn’t be able to recognise them by that name.
Here’s the list of the top 25 football players you probably won’t recognise by their real birth name:
25. Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham
Commonly known as: Tammy Abraham
Club: AS Roma (Serie A)
Country: England
24. Lionel Andres Messi Cuccittini
Commonly known as: Lionel Messi
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)
Country: Argentina
23. Marcos Aoas Correa
Commonly known as: Marquinhos
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)
Country: Brazil
22. Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez
Commonly known as: Isco
Club: Sevilla (LaLiga)
Country: Spain
21. Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Commonly known as: Kaka
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
20. Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Commonly known as: Pele
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
19. Charles Joseph John Hart
Commonly known as: Joe Hart
Club: Celtic (Scottish Premiership)
Country: England
18. Gerard Pique Bernabeu
Commonly known as: Gerard Pique
Club: Retired
Country: Spain
17. Bamidele Jermaine Alli
Commonly known as: Dele Alli
Club: Beşiktaş (Super Lig)
Country: England
16. Marcos Evangelista de Morais
Commonly known as: Cafu
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
15. Gervais Yao Kuassi
Commonly known as: Gervinho
Club: Aris (Super League Greece)
Country: Ivory Coast
14. Albert Roger Mooh Miller
Commonly known as: Roger Milla
Club: Retired
Country: Cameroon
13. Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira
Commonly known as: Pepe
Club: Porto (Primeira Liga)
Country: Portugal
12. Anderson Luis de Souza
Commonly known as: Deco
Club: Retired
Country: Portugal
11. Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan
Commonly known as: Trezeguet
Club: Trabzonspor (Super Lig)
Country: Egypt
10. Manoel Francisco dos Santos
Commonly known as: Garrincha
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
9. Givanildo Vieira de Sousa
Commonly known as: Hulk
Club: Atlético Mineiro (Brasileiro Série A)
Country: Brazil
8. Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Commonly known as: Nani
Club: Melbourne Victory (A-League)
Country: Portugal
7. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira
Commonly known as: Ronaldinho
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
6. Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima
Commonly known as: Ronaldo
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
5. Robson de Souza
Commonly known as: Robinho
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
4. Fernando Luiz Roza
Commonly known as: Fernandinho
Club: Athletico Paranaense (Brasileiro Série A)
Country: Brazil
3. Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira
Commonly known as: Socrates
Club: Retired
Country: Brazil
2. Pedro Miguel Carreiro Resendes
Commonly known as: Pauleta
Club: Retired
Country: Portugal
1. Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal
Commonly known as: Louis van Gaal
Club: Retired
Country: Netherlands
If you know any other footballer whose common name is totally different from their birth name then tell us in the comments.
Do check out: Top football players who have insured their body parts
