With the world zigging and clamoring over the new Drake and Beyonce album drops, we’ve decided to zag, and take a look at some of the best soccer-inspired lyrics from 2022 thus far. (Don’t worry, Drizzy is still on this list.)
As we’ve somehow gotten past the halfway point of 2022, there’s been plenty of music to parse through so far this year. In addition to long-awaited returns from mega stars like Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce, we’ve seen new artists hit the scene to make their voices heard.
As is custom around here at this time of year, we take a look at some of the best soccer-influenced bars to hit 2022 (so far).
Drake on Future’s “I’m On One”
“Take her to see Cristiano/F*ck her in that Benz Viano/Champions League shit/There’ll be a driver for you on arrival”
“I’m just all about my goals like I’m Messi”
A frontrunner’s frontrunner, it should be no surprise that October’s Very Own name dropped two of the biggest names in football in his verse on Future’s “I’m On One.” Perhaps in a move to not upset either player’s notoriously unreasonable stans, Drake made sure to mention both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, kind of like how he roots for both the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors.
Stormzy on Knucks’ “Die Hard”
“I’ll pay good money for a cheap thrill/I’m Rashford if you f*ckin’ with my free meal, boom”
UK staple Knucks was able to score a Stormzy feature on his most recent album drop ALPHA PLACE, and the grime icon didn’t disappoint. A standout bar includes a shoutout to Man U (for now, at least) striker Marcus Rashford and his initiative to distribute free meals to students across England.
Stormzy plays on Rashford’s finishing skills to make it known what’ll happen to those getting in his way. Expert’s advice, don’t do it.
Beny Jr on Central Cee’s “Eurovision”
“En problemas Costa, pero me quieren, soy Neymar”
(“With Costa problems, but they love me, I’m Neymar”)
A massive posse cut that features seven artists and four different languages (“We Are the World” could never), Central Cee’s “Eurovision” is an obvious highlight from his sophomore mixtape 23 that dropped in February. Spanish rapper Beny Jr drops one of many football references on this track, comparing his adoration to that of Neymar (also a Jr. himself), despite having some of the off-pitch issues and controversies of fellow Brazilian Douglas Costa.
If you’ll remember correctly Costa was disciplined by Juventus in 2019 after ignoring the team’s requests to not leave the country and attending Neymar’s birthday party in Paris.
Ashe 22 on Central Cee’s “Eurovision”
“Il m’faut le pied gauche à Robben et la droite de Klitschko”
(“I need Robben’s left foot and Klitschko’s right”)
Everyone in the stadium knew Arjen Robben was going to cut inside to his left foot. And no one could stop him. His iconic left along with boxer Wladimir Klitschko’s bludgering right arm would make for an absolutely lethal force of nature, which is what we’re guessing Ashe 22 is going for here.
Freeze Corleone on Central Cee’s “Eurovision”
“J’suis Koulibaly, t’es Adil Rami”
(I’m Koulibaly, you’re Adil Rami)
Another footy bar on “Eurovision,” French spitter Freeze Corleone drops a line comparing himself to Napoli center back Kalidou Koulibaly, one of the best center backs in the world, while comparing his opponents and peers to Adil Rami, who’s better known for his reality TV exploits than what he’s accomplished on the pitch.
The line also doubles as a shout to Corleone and Koulibaly’s shared Senegalese heritage. Despite being born in France and having represented the country at the youth level, Koulibaly decided to represent Senegal at the senior level internationally. In comparing himself with Koulibaly, Corleone, also born in France, signifies how his background differentiates himself from other French rappers, and how he even potentially sees himself as an outsider.
HAZEY on “Packs and Potions”
The viral hit that took social media by storm (for better and for worse) has the most soccer bars on this list. Scouse spitter HAZEY refuses to keep his club allegiance a secret, from rocking a full Liverpool tracksuit in the “Packs and Potions” video to filming it in front of a giant Trent Alexander-Arnold mural.
“I’m on the block like Werner”
He might not have lived up to the lofty expectations set upon him since he signed with Chelsea, but Timo Werner is still one of the more capable strikers in the world. In this line, HAZEY compares himself to the German forward, claiming he’s on the block looking to score like Werner has proven he can do.
“Them olders are washed like Sami Khedira”
The Ex-Germany and Real Madrid midfielder nearly immediately catches a stray on this track, but we doubt the now retired World Cup winner will let it get to his head.
“Ten toes, I done laps in the trench/And when they need more, I’m right back like I’m Trent”
Ask any Liverpool fan who the best right back in the world is and before you finish the question they’ll leave you with three letters: TAA. HAZEY plays on the wunderkind’s position with this bar for a nice little double entendre.
“Stay on the ball like Agüero/I might slide Milan like I’m Pirlo”
“I serve nits in twos like I’m Walker”
Despite being a Reds supporter, HAZEY shouts out a pair of Man City legends, along with Italian icon Andrea Pirlo. Like with his TAA bar, he plays on Kyle Walker’s center back position (and jersey number) to depict how his hustle knows no slowing down, and he’ll serve fiends by the pair if need be. Surely Pep would be impressed by that efficiency.
ScHoolboy Q on “Soccer Dad”
“The soccer dad, my real life too wavy, while I cheer the stands/You little rappers go and wipe your mouth and go pull up your pants”
Any new drop from West Coast legend ScHoolboy Q is enough to get on our radar, but when it was announced his new single would be called “Soccer Dad,” we were on full alert — probably the most we’ve been since Lil’ Uzi Vert’s “Futsal Shuffle 2020” dropped a few years back.
The noted sports fan and former college football player showed the beautiful game some love in the track, which references how he’s embracing the family life and cheering his daughter on from the stands.
Lord Juco on “Palazzo”
“Imma be an asshole until my checks look like Saint-Maximin at Newcastle”
Though his Death at the Derby partner Cousin Feo is taking a bit of time away from soccer-inspired bars, Lord Juco is in full footy form, as evident in this line from “Palazzo” off of his recently released Company EP. The quick six-track project is definitely worth 12 minutes of your time if you haven’t checked it out yet.
Any bars we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
