Jermaine Eluemunor: NFL Star Could Have Been a Soccer Player

Jermaine Eluemunor, the powerful right tackle for the New York Giants, admitted that as a child he dreamed of a professional soccer career, but not American football. Born in London and living in England until his teenage years, he fell in love with soccer early on, but his size and move to the U.S. changed his path.

In an interview on the eve of the World Cup semifinal, where England faced Argentina and Lionel Messi, the 31-year-old athlete said he was always a huge fan of the game. "I've always been a huge fan of the game. I wanted to play when I was a little kid. I was just too big," he shared, noting his height of 6'4" and weight of 338 lbs.

Eluemunor explained that in England he played only once or twice a week, realizing that wasn't enough for a professional career. "When I came to America, I learned that you have to train every single day," he said. Ultimately, he chose American football, where he achieved impressive success, signing a $39 million contract in March.

Now Eluemunor is considered one of the best right tackles in the NFL, and he is confident he made the right decision. "I think that God put me on the earth to play American football. That's my love and passion," he stated, emphasizing that his choice was destined.

The conversation also touched on Erling Haaland, the Norwegian striker who became the breakout star of the World Cup. Eluemunor believes Haaland could have succeeded in American football. "He's a big physical guy. He's kind of like an anomaly. You don't see 6'5 guys like that sprinting downfield. I'm sure if he were on a 40-yard dash, it would be like a 4.2 or 4.1," he marveled.

In Eluemunor's view, Haaland could be a player like Rob Gronkowski, the renowned tight end. He noted that Americans have fallen in love with the Norwegian for his physicality and style, and also because he's "a really cool guy." Such a comparison highlights the versatility of top-level athletes.

This summer, Eluemunor returned to England to host his second annual American football camp. He is passionate about spreading the sport in his home country and sets ambitious goals for his young campers. For him, it's important to show kids that American football can be their future.

Regarding the England-Argentina match, Eluemunor was confident of his home team's victory, saying England would "smack" Argentina. The game took place on Wednesday, and while the result may have differed, the passion and dedication of this NFL player to soccer remain a vivid example of how sports unite different cultures.