Ronaldo and 10 Other Footballers Who Have Made It on Screen

Like most professional sports, football isn't a career that can last forever, and the beautiful game has provided a platform for many players to make the jump onto the silver screen down the decades.

On April 22, 2007, Brazil legend Ronaldo made his on-screen debut in an episode of The Simpsons, an achievement that marked the kind of global impact his star status has had on the mainstream television audiences.

Far from alone in his jump to acting, Ronaldo is one of many stars to test their script skills, although we'll soon see many should have stuck to their athletic endeavours.

We've compiled a selection of footballers to have taken the leap into another brand of visual arts, swapping your average sports advertisements for some harder-hitting roles.

One of the most iconic players ever to grace a football pitch, it seems only fitting that Ronaldo followed the long line of pop-culture faces into his 2007 role on The Simpsons.

Appearing in the episode "Marge Gamer," Ronaldo was on hand to point out Lisa Simpson's diving antics before she was shown a red by referee Homer.

Ronaldo wears a full Brazil kit and Real Madrid kit in the episode, even though his transfer to Milan was complete several months prior to its air date.

As something of an enigma during his playing days, Eric Cantona made for a more seamless transition into the creative arts and to this day is probably the most successful case of footballer-turned-actor.

The ex-France international enjoyed a breakthrough role in 1998's Elizabeth, but it was in the 2009 journey of discovery Looking For Eric that he really came into his own on screen.

Cantona takes on the role of his real-life self in helping troubled Manchester United fan Eric Bishop, and one doesn't need be a Red Devils fan to appreciate the artistry behind his contributions.

Only Cantona's narrated series of Nike's "Joga Bonito" ads perhaps rival Looking For Eric in terms of emotion drummed up.

A Shot At Glory may not be considered a household item in your average DVD collection, but Rangers icon Ally McCoist won't be all that ashamed of the project released in 2000.

The Scot stars alongside Hollywood heavy-hitters Michael Keaton and Robert Duvall, taking on the role of hot-headed striker Jackie McQuillan hoping to salvage the future of local team Kilnockie.

McCoist was nearing the end of his playing career with Kilmarnock upon accepting his part in A Shot At Glory and can hold a high head with his efforts—especially considering some of the other inclusions on this list.

Arguably the most famous face in football history was also among the first to step off the pitch and onto the screen with his part in 1981's Escape To Victory.

Sir Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone also headline the cast of this football classic, with the late Bobby Moore and Ossie Ardiles also making appearances.

Pele would go on to play several other acting roles throughout the '80s, including that of orphanage worker in A Minor Miracle (1983) and soothsayer-cum-football guru in Hotshot (1987).

The modern audience has become extremely accustomed to seeing David Beckham in a visual medium of one shape or another, be it an aftershave poster or some sort of advertisement for his branded underwear.

However, the former Three Lions midfielder was still getting to grips with his acting chops when appearing in 2005 film Goal, a FIFA-licensed creation seemingly pulling out all the stops for cinematic integrity.

Beckham's cameo is yet to yield any future works in Hollywood, but at least the England legend has 2002 creation Bend It Like Beckham to cheer him up, with John Barnes getting in on the act, too.

In terms of sheer acting volume, Vinnie Jones is undoubtedly the most prolific footballer to have turned his attention toward cinema, racking up more than 60 roles to date.

From the leader of Wimbledon's "Crazy Gang" to a well-known face in certain parts of Los Angeles, Jones has taken on leading parts in British flicks Snatch (2000), Mean Machine (2001) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

However, not to become type-cast as that old English brute, the 50-year-old has also played Marvel's Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)—complete with cockney accent—as well as villain "Brick" in DC series Arrow (2015).

In his day, Graeme Souness was considered one of the hardest players in England's top flight and a consistently fearsome foe, one who would undoubtedly strike fear in the hearts of many players today.

But in 1982, there was another who might rival the Scot in levels of grit—and that man was Boys From the Blackstuff's Yosser Hughes.

Moustache to moustache, Tom Selleck lookalike to Tom Selleck lookalike, Souness doesn't break character in fending off Hughes' on-screen threat, which is probably why it seemed such an easy role to take on in the first place.

Like his namesake, Real Madrid and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has also been painted with yellow skin for his appearance in The Simpsons' universe, although his was merely for Nike's "Write The Future" ad in 2010.

In 2014, a documentary titled Cristiano Ronaldo: World At His Feet was also released chronicling the player's rise from his Portuguese origins, including comment from countless football personalities.

French phenomenon Zinedine Zidane may have the shortest on-screen career to date of any player on this list, so it speaks volumes of his performance in a 2006 episode of Family Guy that we also consider is the finest.

In "Saving Private Brian," Zidane's infamous head-butt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final is mocked as a form of birthday telegram service—simple and to the point.

In truth, we're not sure if Family Guy's creators had full license to use Zidane's likeness and one would be inclined to say the ex-player didn't voice the role, but it's perfect just the way it is.

German-language spaghetti westerns may not be at the top of your movie shopping list, but that may change after learning ex-West Germany defender Paul Breitner starred in 1976's Potato Fritz.

If that doesn't whet your appetite, Breitner returned in front of camera a decade later, acting in the 1986 action film Kunyonga - Mord in Afrika.

It's worth noting Breitner's acting chops were in no way proportionate to his talents as a player.

No defeat can be attributed to just one player, just as one terrible film can't be put down to one actor's disappointing performance, but Ian Wright must take responsibility for his part in encouraging Gun of the Black Sun.

Wright plays his role well enough in advancing the storyline, although the trailer attached just about encapsulates his entire contribution to this 2011 release.

Although Match of the Day isn't entirely without its scripted moments, punditry seems the far safer route for ex-Arsenal man Wright.