Sports and esports have more overlap than you might think. While one tends to be more physically active than the other (Zwift being the exception that proves the rule), athletes in both disciplines have strict training regimens, intense focus on their goals, and a commitment to pushing themselves as far as they can go.

However, the crossover between sports and esports athletes is pretty low. Liverpool FC’s Diogo Jota is the most famous example of an athlete who competes in both physical and virtual versions of the sport – he told us that he is the only player to have competed in the Champion’s League and the eChampion’s League in the same season – and football seems like the game with the biggest crossover.

Tosaint Ricketts is the latest player to make the switch from grass to pixels. His successful 14-year career playing professional football (“soccer,” in his words) took him across the world, from Finland, to Turkey, to Lithuania, before returning to his native Canada. Between stints at Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps, Ricketts won the MLS Cup, MLS Supporters Shield, and three Canadian Championships. He also made 61 appearances for the Canadian national team, ending his career in the top ten scorers. But video games have always been a part of his life.

“I’ve always been a gamer,” he tells me. “My earliest childhood memories are of me battling my brothers to get a few minutes on the original Nintendo [Entertainment System], playing games like the first Legend of Zelda (with the gold cartridge) and Super Mario Bros. 3 – classics!”

This love of gaming continued as he grew up and entered the world of professional football.

“Gaming is a massive part of most athletes' lives,” he says. “It occupies a lot of their free time and for me was a great way to decompress. Here at Whitecaps, we never had official competitions, but we did play a lot of Warzone, and we took it very seriously.”

“It’s a huge step, maybe one I wasn’t prepared for.” - Tosaint Ricketts

I was particularly interested in the perceived effect of video games on health. Many parents will tell their kids to get off the computer and go outside, mainstream news sites will run stories about the negative effects of gaming, and a common insult from online opponents is to go outside and touch grass. What does a professional athlete, who has excelled in both physical and virtual arenas, make of gaming as a hobby?

“In life, balance is important in all aspects,” Ricketts explains. “It’s no different in gaming. Of course if it’s your occupation, dedicate as much time as possible to earn money. But my advice is to have a healthy life - work - play balance.”

Since hanging up his boots, Ricketts has focused on entering high-level competitions in EA Sports FC 24. While he believes his understanding of football gives him some advantage over his opponents, he acknowledges that it “has a ceiling”. This was proven by his first week of eMLS competition, in which he also represented the Whitecaps. Ricketts lost all ten of his matches and shipped 150 goals in the process.

“It’s a huge step, maybe one I wasn’t prepared for,” he says. “But although I took a beating in [League Series One], I grew from the experience. I got more insight into the esports space and now understand how I could grow the space to include a pro/ex-pro tournament which is my goal.”

In Ricketts’ debut tournament, he was facing off against the likes of record-breaking eMLS star Paulo Neto and reigning eMLS Cup champion Niklas ‘NR7’ Raseck. This is the top level of EA FC esport on the continent, featuring the highest level esports athletes.

Ricketts’ interest in taking things a step down and forming his own competition among former footballers is an intriguing premise, and one that could garner great interest. Just look at Gerard Pique's Kings League, Sergio Aguero’s esports team, or Diogo Jota. At a time when many are worried that the esports bubble is bursting, perhaps celebrity endorsements or ex-pro leagues could be just the thing to revitalise the industry.

Next: EA Sports FC 24's Team Of The Year Is Completely Wrong