Olivier Giroud and KT Rolster How a football star is conquering the world of eSports
The world of eSports has long ceased to be a niche entertainment for a narrow circle of enthusiasts. Today, it is an industry with billions in turnover, attracting the attention of not only gamers, but also professional athletes, celebrities, and investors. One of the latest amazing examples of such symbiosis was the unexpected connection between the Korean team KT Rolster, which is considered a legend of the League of Legends eSports scene, and the famous French footballer Olivier Giroud, a world champion in football.
But how did a football striker, known for his success on the green field, end up connected with a professional team fighting in the virtual arenas of Summoner’s Rift? Let’s figure it out.
KT Rolster: Symbols of Korean Esports
KT Rolster is one of the oldest and most respected esports organizations in South Korea. Founded in 1999, the team has long been a symbol of professionalism in gaming. KT Rolster has dozens of titles to its credit in various disciplines, but the team is best known for its participation in League of Legends, one of the most popular multiplayer online games. The key to KT Rolster’s success in the LoL discipline is its unique approach to training, strategy, and player selection. Each member of the team is not only a high-class player, but also a true professional, ready to adapt to the constantly changing meta-conditions of the game. Their style of play combines the discipline typical of Korean esports with audacity that allows the team to surprise their opponents time after time.
Olivier Giroud is one of the most colorful personalities in world football. Having won the World Cup with France in 2018, he has long established himself not only as a top-class forward, but also as a cultural phenomenon. Giroud is known for his passion for fashion, art and… video games. Yes, it was recently revealed that the footballer is a big fan of eSports, in particular League of Legends. Giroud has often mentioned in interviews that he enjoys playing video games in his free time. According to him, it helps him relax after intense training and matches. Moreover, Olivier has repeatedly publicly expressed admiration for professional players, comparing their level of concentration and decision-making speed to what is required on the football pitch.
At first glance, football and esports are two completely different universes. But if you look closely, they have much more in common than you might think. Both have high stakes, the need for teamwork and the constant pursuit of excellence. This is why we have seen a growing interest in esports among professional footballers in recent years. Initiatives such as Cristiano Ronaldo investing in his own esports team or Neymar regularly appearing on CS:GO streams have become commonplace. However, Giroud decided to go further and officially became an ambassador for KT Rolster in 2024, which was a real event for both parties. Giroud’s official partnership with KT Rolster opens up a lot of opportunities for both the team and the player. Olivier has become a kind of bridge between two audiences: football and esports fans. Here are some key aspects of this collaboration:
Giroud has attracted millions of fans to League of Legends and KT Rolster. Many fans who were previously far removed from the world of video games began to take an interest in the team’s tournaments and broadcasts. Thanks to Giroud, the team gained access to the international arena, increasing the number of its fans outside of South Korea. France, Europe, and even Giroud’s fans from South America began to follow their performances more actively. Oddly enough, football and eSports can share useful strategies with each other. Giroud brought elements of sports psychology to the team, helping players cope with the pressure of major tournaments. In turn, he himself admitted that he learned a lot from eSports athletes, especially in terms of strategic thinking. Giroux and KT Rolster have already begun to collaborate on content for social networks and YouTube. Streams where Giroud plays League of Legends with team members have become a real hit.
