- Soccer
Kobe Bryant was an avid soccer fan and player. In his younger years, he played soccer in Italy where he lived with his family for several years while his father played professional basketball. In fact, Kobe was so passionate about soccer that he even considered pursuing it professionally instead of basketball.
Bryant was a fan of the Italian football club AC Milan and the Spanish football club FC Barcelona. He was also a supporter of the US Men’s National Team and attended several of their games, including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In addition to being a fan of the sport, Bryant was known to play soccer in his free time. He even played in charity soccer games, including the Mia Hamm & Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge in 2006.
Bryant’s love for soccer extended beyond just playing and watching the sport. He was also a co-owner of the Italian soccer team Bologna FC 1909. He invested in the team in 2014 and became a major shareholder.