Kevin De Bruyne Takes a Cheeky Dig at Cricket [Video]

Belgian footballer and soon-to-be ex-Manchester City player Kevin De Bruyne took a rather cheeky dig at the gentleman’s game we call cricket. During a recent quiz segment on Manchester City’s AI Showdown, KDB, and his teammate James McAtee, were asked to identify the five most popular sports in Europe from a provided list, which included football, cricket, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1.

The renowned midfield maestro was left shocked when it was revealed that cricket is the second most popular sport in Europe. “How can cricket be second on the list? That’s a lie,” De Bruyne blurted, sparking laughter across the studio.

The Belgian star wasn’t done. “I don’t know anybody in Europe who watches cricket, let’s be honest,” he quipped. Even when the presenter doubled down, confirming cricket’s legit popularity, De Bruyne wasn’t buying it. “Who? European people? No,” he shot back, before delivering the kicker: “Yeah, I watch everything else except cricket.” Cue the room erupting in giggles.

Here’s the clip that kicked off the football vs cricket debate on social media:

The clip went viral on social media as netizens let KDB know that cricket is no niche sideshow in Europe—it’s on the rise, big time. The European Cricket Council (ECC) is pushing the sport hard, and with 33 ICC members (more than any other region), Europe’s cricket scene is buzzing. Scotland and the Netherlands are gunning for top-tier Associate status, while Hungary and Serbia are catching the bug.