Many people around the globe adore their pets - and it is no different in the sporting world.
Plenty of sports stars own pets who enjoy the high-life in luxurious homes, although it is unclear how many pets are allowed into their owners’ supercars. Regardless, many elite stars bring their pets to events they may be participating in, such as tennis Grand Slam tournaments or even a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Some stars have even set up social media accounts to show off their dogs, whose place in their respective homes is clearly as welcome as their trophies and medals. British world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury became the latest sporting hero to add a pet to the family as he purchased guard dog ‘Cash’ for an estimated £20,000.
The Gypsy King acquired the Rottweiler from the London-based dog trainer Elite Protection Dogs to protect his family home in Morecambe, which is perhaps a tad more practical than the reason other sports stars added dogs to their lives. From boxing to football all the way to the NFL, it is clear sports stars around the world adore their dogs.
Lionel Messi, one of the best footballers in history, owns a huge brown Douge de Bordeaux - otherwise known as a French Mastiff - named Señor Hulk. The incredibly-named pooch travelled to Paris along with the Argentine following his high-profile move to PSG from Barcelona.
Former Arsenal and current Inter Milan star Alexis Sanchez may have a claim to having the most famous dogs in football as his golden retrievers duo of Atom and Humber command an impressive 175,000 followers.
Atom was named after a character from the movie Real Steel, while Humber is a touching tribute to Sanchez’s brother Humberto.
Marcus Rashford owns a Cane Corso - an Italian Mastiff - who acts as his guard dog. Named The Saint, he reportedly cost approximately £25,000 when the Manchester United star purchased him in 2018.
England captain Harry Kane, meanwhile, is a well-known fan of the NFL, naming his dogs after quarterback superstars Tom Brady and Russell Wilson - who also have furry friends.
Kane adores his dogs, posting a number of photos with them to social media while he revealed back in 2015 that he regularly calls his dogs when away from home.
Away from football, Serena Williams - winner of 23 Grand Slams during her distinguished career - is also a keen fan of dogs and has owned several. Her current dog is Chip, an adorable Yorkshire Terrier who is seen by Williams’ side at major tournaments - and has even been pictured next to her many trophies.
The dog has caused problems for Williams in the past though, as the American tennis great fell ill after eating some of Chip’s food hours before reaching the quarter-finals of the 2016 Italian Open.
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is also a dog-lover and owns Roscoe, who often joins the Mercedes star in the paddock on race weekends.
The Brit joked he hoped Roscoe - who is on a vegan diet - hadn’t escaped at a race last year after reports of a dog running on the track had surfaced.
Across the pond, the love for dogs remains high. Brady - a seven-time Super Bowl champion - is a renowned dog owner with three rescue dogs: Lua, Scooby and Fluffy.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend purchased Lua in 2014 before adding Scooby in 2015 and Fluffy a year later.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson owns three Great Danes and a tiny puppy - named Prince, Naomi, Hero and Bronco respectively - with wife Ciara, and the couple have even partnered with the Banfield Foundations to help pets across America receive access to veterinary care.
The love isn’t confined to the NFL, as NBA star Klay Thompson adores his English bulldog Rocco. The Golden State Warriors star, who is set to play in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics tonight, created a unique hashtag for his dog while also designing a special Rocco-themed version of his signature shoe, named the Anta KT5.
Olympic champion Simone Biles, who hit headlines as she advocated for mental health amid the Tokyo Games last summer, has her own Instagram page for her adopted French bulldogs Lilo and Rambo.
Known as the GOAT, it appears Biles prefers to keep the company of dogs as she regularly posts to @thebilesfrenchies, which has 84,300 followers.
Without a doubt, in the highly pressurised world of sport, a friendly furry face to come home to can be one of the best things for an athlete.
No wonder sports stars absolutely adore their pets.
