shocking-news-sportstiger

Real Madrid stalwart Iker Casillas has come out as gay, becoming one of the biggest male football stars in history to address their homosexuality. In a tweet published on Sunday afternoon, the former Spain captain said: "I hope you respect me: I'm gay." 

Iker Casillas was married to sports journalist Sara Carbonero for five years before separating in March 2021. The couple has two children, both boys. The 41-year-old received a lot of support after his announcement, including from Barcelona icon and his former Spain teammate Carles Puyol.

 new-project-23 

Casillas retired in 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest during training with his final club Porto. He has been considered one of football's greatest glovemen in history. 

Casillas retired in 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest during training with his final club Porto. He has been considered one of football's greatest glovemen in history as he has won. Casillas has played for Real Madrid for 16 years and won countless major honours such as five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues. He also won the World Cup and two European Championships with the Spanish national team, making 167 appearances for his country in total.

Men’s Footballers coming out about their sexuality has been a big step towards reducing the stigma towards these issues. In 2022 alone, several men’s players have come out regarding their sexuality like Blackpool forward Jake Daniels. The 17-year-old Englishman made the announcement at the end of his first season as a professional player with second-division club Blackpool.

“This season has been a fantastic one for me on the pitch,” he said in a statement. “But off the pitch I’ve been hiding the real me and who I really am. I’ve known my whole life that I’m gay, and I now feel that I’m ready to come out and be myself. It’s a step into the unknown being one of the first footballers in this country to reveal my sexuality.”

Similarly, Gala Fairydean Rovers striker Zander Murray also become the first Scottish senior footballer to come out as gay. He also became the first openly gay player in Scotland since Justin Fashanu with Airdrie and Hearts in the mid-1990s.