Burna Boy Quit Football To Pursue Music Career 

Burna Boy made a critical choice to shift to music, motivated by a sense of not being prominent enough while playing football.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

Burna Boy, a Grammy-winning Nigerian artist, has disclosed an unexpected part of his early career, revealing that football was his first love.

Surprisingly, he thrived as a goalie, demonstrating his physical skills. However, Burna Boy made a critical choice to shift to music, motivated by a sense of not being prominent enough while playing football.

Burna Boy honestly said during an interview with British-Nigerian media personality Julie Adenuga that he aimed for more than a lifetime as a goaltender, knowing that his club would do well even without his presence. This revelation provides an intriguing peek into the artist’s career and the road that led him to become the acclaimed musician he is today.

He said, “I love football. I was good at playing football but the wickedest thing was that I was good at goalkeeping. That’s why I just stopped because [goalkeeping] was dead”

“I didn’t feel so important. I just didn’t feel like I was needed like that. I felt like without me the team will still be alright. I don’t want to spend my life like that.”

Burna Boy achieved worldwide acclaim for his distinct combination of Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae, and pop music genres. His music often covers social and political concerns, and he is noted for his dynamic stage presence and passionate performances.

He has created numerous highly praised albums, including ‘African Giant’ and ‘Twice as Tall,’ which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 2021. He has worked with several musicians and remains a notable player in the worldwide music industry.