Christian Vieri, the former Inter Milan striker and one of the most expensive footballers in history, has revealed his deep passion for cricket, a sport that dominated his childhood in Sydney's western suburbs. The 51-year-old, who scored nine World Cup goals for Italy, spoke fondly of his love for the West Indies cricket team and his admiration for legends like Viv Richards and Ian Botham.
Vieri recalled watching Australia play the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, describing the Caribbean side as 'the best cricket team ever.' He praised players such as Viv Richards, Joel Garner, and Malcolm Marshall, and named Allan Border as his favorite Australian cricketer. 'He gave me his cricket bat,' Vieri said, adding that Botham might be the best all-round cricketer ever. He attributed the West Indies' success to confidence, a trait he believes is essential in life.
Vieri's own journey to football stardom began at Marconi Stallions in Sydney before moving to Italy at age 14. Despite initial struggles in Serie B, he rose to prominence with Juventus, winning the Scudetto and playing in the 1997 Champions League final. He credited his grandfather for believing in him, offering a reward of 5,000 lira per goal, though the deal was quickly revised after Vieri scored seven goals in two games.
Reflecting on his time at Juventus alongside Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero, Vieri recalled a heated exchange with manager Marcello Lippi that nearly turned physical. 'These things happen. That means you care,' he said. Vieri also described his close bond with Zidane, often inviting him home for meals during winter. Despite their differences, Vieri said they 'always had an amazing relationship.'
