Fans know Rafael Nadal for his tennis achievements. Although the player also has a soccer connection as his uncle used to play soccer and has played for FC Barcelona. Nadal have achieved a unique feat in 2008 that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are yet to achieve in soccer.
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The 22-time Grand Slam winner used to play soccer in his childhood and chose tennis over soccer at 12, as Nadal thought he played the game well than soccer. His soccer connection and skills made the charity game organizers call him to the game, where the tennis legend amazed everyone with his soccer skills.
Rafael Nadal once scored a double hat-trick that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to achieve
In 2008, Red Cross organized a charity soccer game in Spain. They wanted to attract more fans for the game and hence made two teams captained by two Spanish sporting greats. Spanish soccer legend and FIFA World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas captained one team, and Spanish tennis superstar Nadal captained the other team.
Nadal was in elite form for the game, leaving everyone in awe. The video that resurfaced on social media showed how the tennis legend was playing like a professional soccer player and enjoying the game. He scored six goals past former Real Madrid legend Casillas who was in goal for his team.
Given the spotlight on Nadal and Lionel Messi's friendship, let's take the time to imagine an alternate universe where they're both playing for the same team.
Here's a throwback to the time Rafa scored a double hat-trick in a football match. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Xd4i68CH7P
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 22, 2023
The first goal came after the player escaped the opponent and finished it in the bottom corner after Marseille roulette. Nadal’s second goal was a banger from near the halfway line, giving Casillas no chance. His goal to complete the hat trick left Casillas in awe. The tennis star left the World Cup winner amazed with a volley for his fourth goal.
The fifth and sixth goals also looked like a professional soccer player. It was a tight finish past diving Casillas for the fifth and a side-footed finish catching the goalkeeper off-guard to complete his double hat-trick. Even the soccer greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of the performance had they seen the skills of the soccer great.
More details about the charity soccer game
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It was an indoor soccer game between the Friends of Rafa and the Friends of Iker. Casillas’ team included F1 driver Fernando Alonso, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia, and tennis stars David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
On the other hand, Friends of Rafa had Nadal’s former coach Carlos Moya, former Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o, Real Madrid legendary striker Raul, and rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr. Soccer was the last event of the charity. In the first event, Casillas’ team won the kart race, and Nadal’s team won the tennis game in the second.
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What do you make of the soccer skills of Rafael Nadal? Would he have been successful if he had chosen soccer as his career?
