It’s not every day you see a footballing legend baffled by a bat-and-ball sport, but Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne recently delivered one of the funniest reactions in a quiz segment titled ‘AI Showdown’ with teammate James McAtee. Tasked with naming the top five most-followed sports in Europe, De Bruyne was visibly stunned when cricket popped up as second on the list—right behind football and ahead of tennis, basketball, and Formula 1.
“That’s a lie!” exclaimed Devin De Bruyne, wide-eyed in disbelief. “I don’t know anybody in Europe who watches cricket, let’s be honest!” The room erupted in laughter, with De Bruyne doubling down in mock disbelief even after the host confirmed the ranking. “European people? No!” he insisted, clearly unconvinced.
While the Belgian midfield maestro’s astonishment was good-humored, it highlights an interesting reality: cricket is quietly gaining ground in Europe. The European Cricket Council (ECC) has been instrumental in that surge, with 33 ICC member countries from the continent. Beyond England, countries like Scotland, the Netherlands, and even emerging nations like Hungary and Serbia are building cricket cultures, fueled partly by growing South Asian diasporas.
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Despite his playful dismissal, Kevin De Bruyne admitted he follows almost every other major sport—“Yeah, I watch everything else except cricket!”—sending the studio into another round of laughter.
Kevin De Bruyne is not buying any of that🤣🤣🤣
you guys watch cricket? pic.twitter.com/689DgDF2IE— Maxxx (@SavioPrimeMCFC) April 10, 2025
This came just days after De Bruyne announced he would leave Manchester City at the end of the current season, concluding a decade of excellence. Since joining City in 2015, he’s transformed into one of the most iconic midfielders of his generation, helping the club lift six Premier League titles, five EFL Cups, two FA Cups, and the long-coveted UEFA Champions League in 2022–23.
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From being overlooked at Chelsea to becoming the creative heartbeat of the Cityzens, De Bruyne’s journey is one of resilience, vision, and sheer brilliance. And now, as he heads into his next chapter, it seems he’ll do so without ever truly understanding the charm of cricket, no matter how much it’s catching on across Europe.
