It’s not often fans get a glimpse into the personal side of professional footballers, beyond what happens on the pitch.
But in a recent Q&A, West Ham United defender Jean-Clair Todibo offered exactly that — giving supporters a light-hearted insight into his life away from football.
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From revealing his favourite board game (Monopoly) to his go-to dessert (tiramisu), the Frenchman shared a number of personal picks.
Perhaps most interestingly, he also dropped the name of his footballing idol — and it’s not necessarily who you might expect.
Todibo Reveals Footballing Idol
Ronaldinho. (AFP via Getty Images)
Ronaldinho. (AFP via Getty Images)
As part of the Q&A, Todibo was asked to name his dream dinner party guests — a mix of celebrities, athletes, and loved ones.
“I will choose Jason Statham, who is my favourite actor, and then Kevin Durant, who is my favourite basketball player who played for the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets and is now with the Houston Rockets,” he said.
He completed the lineup with his wife, French rapper Bouss, and “the great Brazilian player Ronaldinho.”
That final name effectively revealed his footballing inspiration, with Todibo clearly holding the legendary Brazilian playmaker in high regard. It may come as a surprise to some — not only because Ronaldinho isn’t French, but also because he wasn’t a defender.
However, given Todibo’s own past at Barcelona — a club where Ronaldinho cemented his legacy — the connection perhaps makes a lot more sense.
A Taste of Todibo’s Off-Pitch Life
Elsewhere in the interview, Todibo shared what he would serve at that dream dinner party — and his choices were just as revealing.
“I’ll go for a burrata (Italian cow’s milk cheese) for my starter, and for my main course, it would have to be good beef with fries. I’d pick tiramisu for a dessert, and for a drink I would just pick water,” he explained.
As for the setting, Todibo opted for somewhere a little more glamorous than east London.
“I would choose Cannes, in the south of France. It’s a very nice part of the world.”
You mean not at the London Stadium, Jean-Clair?!