If you’ve ever wondered what the most famous footballers in the world listen to, what’s playing in Messi’s earphones before he steps onto the pitch, or what Mbappé has on repeat as he prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this article is for you. The most searched footballers on the planet have musical tastes as different as their playing styles, and here we go through them one by one. At the end of each section, we recommend where to listen to that genre live.
Lionel Messi: Argentine trap, reggae, and the music of the neighborhood
The most Googled footballer in the world has a musical taste that surprises many. Messi is a fan of Argentine trap and rap, with WOS and Paulo Londra among his favorites. But he also has a more relaxed side: he loves reggae, especially Los Cafres and Dread Mar I, two of the most iconic bands of the genre in Argentina.
It’s the kind of selection that blends a Bizarrap session with a quiet afternoon listening to reggae at home.
Listen on Streema:
Or simply search for urban, Latin reggae, or Spanish-language trap stations to get into Leo mode.
Cristiano Ronaldo: classic rock, romantic pop, and a secret love for Oasis
CR7 has a broad and somewhat unexpected musical taste. He’s a declared fan of Phil Collins, George Michael and Elton John, and loves romantic music, with Alicia Keys among his favorites. But his all-time favorite song is “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis, a band he once said was even better than The Beatles. He also enjoys Brazilian music.
What doesn’t work for him at all is classical music: he finds it boring. Something few would expect from one of the most disciplined athletes on the planet.
Listen on Streema:
You can also search for 80s and 90s pop, British classic rock, or soft rock stations.
Kylian Mbappé: Drake, American hip-hop, and French rap
Mbappé’s answer was instant: Drake. In an ESPN interview, when asked whether he preferred Kanye West or Drake, the Frenchman chose Drizzy without hesitation. His favorite Drake song is “Controlla”, a track that blends dancehall and R&B with a very laid-back vibe.
Mbappé also listens to a lot of French rap and is part of the generation of footballers who grew up with hip-hop as their soundtrack.
Listen on Streema:
Use our search bar to find North American hip-hop, R&B, or French rap stations and listen to what’s playing in the earphones of the world’s fastest forward as he prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Neymar Jr.: funk, samba, pop, and a little bit of everything
Neymar is probably the footballer with the most varied selection of all. He put together a playlist of over 40 songs ranging from samba to international pop, with artists like Nego do Borel, Justin Timberlake, and the Calvin Harris and Rihanna collaboration. A mix that perfectly reflects his personality: explosive, versatile, and always in good spirits.
Listen on Streema:
Or search for funk carioca, samba, or Brazilian pop stations to dive into Neymar’s musical universe using the Simple Radio or Streema search bar.
Lamine Yamal: Latin trap, Tupac and the influence of Nicki Nicole
At just 17, Lamine Yamal was the most Googled footballer in 2024. His connection to music has a special chapter: his relationship with Argentine singer Nicki Nicole, one of the most important voices in Latin trap and urban music today.
But beyond that influence, Yamal left a direct clue about his own taste: he chose “Only God Can Judge Me” by Tupac Shakur as the song to accompany personal photos he posted on Instagram. Classic American rap and Latin urban music, a combination very typical of his generation.
Listen on Streema:
And that’s just the top 3! Streema and Simple Radio have thousands of Spanish-language trap, Latin urban, or 90s classic hip-hop stations to discover. Find them with our search bar!
Erling Haaland: Norwegian rap, ABBA, and a rap career few people know about
Haaland is probably the most surprising on the list. Before every match, he listens to Norwegian rap, particularly the artist Amara, and his fixed warm-up song is “Keep Dreaming”. So far, so expected.
What nobody saw coming is that his teammates at Borussia Dortmund used to tease him when they found out his favorite artist is ABBA. Yes, the Swedish band from the 70s. And there’s more: as a teenager, he was part of a Norwegian rap group called Flow Kingz with friends who also went on to become professional footballers. The music video for their single “Kygo jo” has millions of views on YouTube and is an absolute gem of unintentional entertainment.
Listen on Streema:
Scandinavian pop, Norwegian music, or ABBA tribute and 70s and 80s pop stations are also just a tap away.
Jude Bellingham: The Beatles, Luther Vandross, and a retro musical taste
Bellingham is another surprising case. At 21, with one of the most explosive careers in football right now, he has the musical taste of someone who grew up listening to their grandparents’ vinyl collection. He admitted it himself at Euro 2024, just two years before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when England fans serenaded him with The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”: “I listen to the Beatles a lot. My style of music is a bit old, so that’s right on my street.”
He’s also a fan of Luther Vandross and classic soul and R&B, and has used Elvis Presley songs on his social media. A fully retro musical profile.
Listen on Streema:
You can also search for classic rock, classic soul, 60s and 70s R&B, or a dedicated Beatles station to discover Bellingham’s music lover side.
Vinicius Jr.: funk carioca and the pride of Brazilian music
Vinicius doesn’t just listen to funk carioca: he lives it. He’s one of the footballers with the strongest connection to his cultural roots. When artists like Ludmilla, MC IG, MC Ryan SP, and MC Hariel released a song in his honor, he shared it and made it his own. Brazilian funk and national trap are his musical world.
Listen on Streema:
Funk carioca, baile funk, or Brazilian urban music stations to match Vinicius’s energy, all available on Simple Radio.
Harry Kane: Ed Sheeran, American country, and classic rock
Kane is the most “British casual” of all. In a recent interview, he shared his favorite songs in great detail: “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran is his all-time favorite because it was the song at his wedding. Before matches, he listens to “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker to get himself going. He also likes country and classic rock, and admits that his Bayern teammates Musiala, Olise and Alphonso Davies are usually the ones who put music on during training.
A broad, unpretentious musical taste.
Listen on Streema:
You can also find more options by searching for British pop, American country, or classic rock stations on Simple Radio.
Robert Lewandowski: We’ll let Poland do the talking
In Lewandowski’s case, we couldn’t find any public statements about his musical taste. What we do know is that Poland has an incredibly rich music scene, with genres ranging from contemporary pop to traditional folk and jazz.
So here we hand the mic to his country: if you want to explore the music that perhaps plays in the hallways where one of the greatest strikers in history grew up, Polish stations on Streema are the perfect starting point.
Listen on Streema:
Search for Polish stations on Simple Radio and Streema to discover Lewandowski’s home country music, frompop to folk and much more.
Listen to all these genres on Streema
Streema has thousands of online radio stations organized by genre, language, and country. Whether you want to listen to Latin trap like Messi, American hip-hop like Mbappé, funk carioca like Vinicius or retro pop like Bellingham, you can find a station streaming it live right now.
Search for your favorite genre on Streema.com, or download Simple Radio and listen to what’s playing in the world’s best players’ earphones.
