Rafael Nadal with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and others
Rafael Nadal has been a lifelong supporter of Real Madrid football club and is also an honorary member of the club
Rafael Nadal‘s sporting prowess is not just limited to the tennis court. Back in 2008, Nadal put six goals past legendary Spanish and Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas. The goals were scored in a charity match but they were sublime and Nadal certainly deserves a lot of credit to put up that display against seasoned football players.
In 2008, Red Cross conducted a charity event in Spain in 2008 to raise funds in their fight against malaria. Nadal and Casillas were assigned as captains of two team bys of the programme who took on each other in three events – kart racing, football and tennis.
The two teams were named “Friends of Rafa” and “Friends of Iker.” In the football match, Casillas played as the shot-stopper for his team alongside legends from Spanish sports such as F1 racer Fernando Alonso, golfer Sergio Garcia and ATP players David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
On the other hand, Nadal’s team comprised his coach Carlos Moya, Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o, Real Madrid superstar Raul Gonzalez and rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr.
Nadal’s double hat-trick gave his team a commendable 10-6 lead but Team Iker went on to win the match, thanks to a late effort from Sainz. According to reports, more than $100,000 was raised for charity from the event.
Rafael Nadal’s love for Real Madrid is well documented and he has previously expressed his wish of becoming a President for the club.
“If you ask me if I would like it, of course I would, why not? But there is more to it… I think it will not be. We are very good as we are. We have a great president right now, and I don’t think Real Madrid need me, but we never know what can happen in the future. It is not something I can raise today”, Nadal had earlier said on his ambitions of becoming the President of the Spanish giants.
The Minorcan-born tennis player, who has been a Real Madrid honorary member since 2011, is a regular at his team’s home matches at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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