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Kevin De Bruyne left fans stunned — and cricket enthusiasts fuming — after a cheeky comment on a club video segment stirred up quite the social media storm. The Manchester City midfielder, appearing on the light-hearted ‘AI Showdown’ quiz for City’s media team, was caught off guard when asked to name Europe’s five most popular sports.
The host eventually revealed the top five: football, cricket, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1. But when “cricket” was listed in the No. 2 spot, De Bruyne was visibly shocked and called foul on the ranking.
"Cricket? Second? That’s a lie," De Bruyne exclaimed with a laugh, shaking his head. "I don’t know anybody in Europe who watches cricket, let’s be honest."
Even after the host reconfirmed the list, the Belgian maestro held his ground, sparking laughter in the studio. "Who? European people? No," he doubled down, drawing amusement from those around him.
Fans Flood Social Media with Rebuttals
What was supposed to be a light-hearted segment soon turned serious and became a hot topic on the internet when cricket fans from all over Europe lined up to defend their sport. X (formerly Twitter) buzzed with posts about centuries-old countries like the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, and Italy that play cricket.
One fan sarcastically said, "Come to Amsterdam on a summer weekend. You'll think you've jumped right into the IPL." Another said, "Kevin, meet 75 percent of Leicester."
A lot of people referred to the growth of cricket through immigrant communities, the emergence of cities with their local T20 leagues, and the resounding success of the European Cricket Championship. Others took the opportunity to take cricket to promote the sport's expanding roots across the continent.
Goodbye, De Bruyne to City, Breeding Emotion
De Bruyne's cricket comments follow closely on the heels of the announcement by the Belgian that he would walk away from Manchester City after the current season. At his peak, at the age of 33, the showy footballer went onto social media and delivered an emotional message:
"This City. This club. These people... gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHIMG back. And guess what — won everything."
Since joining the club from Wolfsburg in 2015, Kevin De Bruyne has become one of the top players with the greatest number of trophies in the history of Manchester City. Six Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, and a staggering 14 major honors make up his trophy cabinet. He also boasts 118 assists in the Premier League and has received the Players' Player of the Year award two times.
"There is always an end to every story, but this has definitely been the best chapter," he added.
Is KDB Taking a Crash Course in Cricket?
Fans approach it as an emotional farewell; others make mockery of KDB. Many feel that the next chapter of his life should be having a crash course on cricket. Jokes about sending him a bat and a rulebook as a parting gift are in circulation.
You love it or you hate it, but Kevin De Bruyne's off-the-hand snipe at cricket has started a very amusing argument — and, like many things, reminded everyone that sport, like opinions, can stir up very unexpected rivalries.
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