Lennart Sketches | Illustration, Drawing & Creative Journal

Two weeks ago the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end. Like many other people I found myself watching much more soccer than usual during the tournament. Major competitions still feel special to me. They bring people from all over the world together, create unforgettable moments and tell stories that go far beyond the sport itself.

My connection to soccer goes back much further than the World Cup though. I played for many years and throughout my childhood and teenage years a huge part of my everyday life revolved around the game. Training during the week, matches on the weekend, countless hours playing with friends and of course watching the biggest tournaments on television. Soccer was always there.

Maybe that is why I started drawing soccer players at such an early age. While many other kids filled their sketchbooks with movie characters or superheroes I kept coming back to players, stadiums and memorable moments from the game.

During this year's World Cup I caught myself reaching for my iPad again and again to capture individual moments from the matches. It made me stop and ask myself one simple question. Why have I enjoyed drawing soccer players for almost my entire life?

The longer I thought about it the more I realized there is not just one answer.

1. The World Cup Felt Magical as a Child

As a child the World Cup was one of the biggest events imaginable. Suddenly it was no longer just about supporting your favorite club. It was about the entire world. For several weeks everything revolved around soccer. Television was filled with stories from different countries. Kids traded Panini stickers at school and flags and jerseys seemed to appear everywhere.

That unique atmosphere fascinated me from an early age and probably inspired my love for drawing everything connected to soccer.

2. Soccer Reflects the Diversity of the World

Very few events bring together so many different cultures as the World Cup. Every nation arrives with its own history, colors, supporters and identity.

As an illustrator I find exactly that incredibly inspiring. Different faces, hairstyles, gestures and traditions make every subject unique. Soccer becomes much more than a sport. It is also a cultural event.

3. Jersey Designs Tell Stories

I have always loved soccer jerseys. Their colors, patterns and crests make every team instantly recognizable. Some designs are simple while others are bold and experimental.

From an illustrator's perspective jerseys already tell a story before a single ball has been kicked. They communicate identity and create instant recognition which makes them an exciting design element.

Another reason I find them fascinating is that they capture a specific moment in time. Since jersey designs change almost every season it is often possible to date an illustration immediately. One quick look at a jersey is enough to recognize the season or tournament it belongs to.

That turns many soccer illustrations into small historical snapshots.

4. Movement Brings Drawings to Life

Soccer is constant movement. A sprint, a bicycle kick, a goal celebration or a sliding tackle. Hardly any second looks the same as the one before.

That sense of motion has always attracted me. I am not simply trying to draw a person. I am trying to capture a brief moment. Great sports illustrations communicate speed and energy even though the artwork itself never moves.

5. Soccer Became My Anatomy Class

Without realizing it at the time drawing soccer players taught me an incredible amount about anatomy.

Players constantly move through unusual body positions. Arms, legs and the torso all move in different directions at the same time. Drawing these scenes naturally develops a better understanding of proportions, balance and body language.

This also strengthened my fascination with drawing people and their individual characteristics, a topic I explore in Portrait Drawing: Why Faces Fascinate Me.

6. Childhood Heroes

Every generation has its heroes. For me soccer players were definitely among them.

I collected stickers, traded trading cards, wore the jerseys of my favorite players and tried to copy their movements while playing with friends. Eventually watching them on television was no longer enough. I wanted to draw them myself.

Looking back those drawings were probably the first portraits I ever created with genuine excitement.

7. Soccer Is Part of Pop Culture

Soccer does not end when the final whistle blows. Great players influence fashion, advertising, music and popular culture. Names like Zidane, Ronaldinho, Messi and Maradona represent much more than their achievements on the field.

They have become cultural icons which makes them incredibly enjoyable to draw. Many of them can be recognized from nothing more than their silhouette or a single characteristic movement.

8. Emotions Tell Powerful Stories

Few subjects offer such a wide range of emotions.

Joy, disappointment, hope, nervousness and relief can all appear within seconds. These moments are especially exciting for illustration because they communicate powerful stories without the need for words.

9. There Are Always New Stories to Draw

This is probably the biggest reason why I still enjoy drawing soccer players today.

Every weekend creates new stories. New talents emerge, legends retire, underdogs surprise everyone and major tournaments produce moments that people remember for years.

Despite many difficult things happening around the world this sport also gives us the opportunity to document our time through positive images. I do not think every visual record of our generation has to focus on politics or other serious topics.

More Than Just Soccer

When I draw a soccer player today I am no longer interested only in the sport itself. I am interested in the stories behind the people, their movements, their emotions and their personalities.

Looking back I believe soccer had a major influence on my development as an illustrator. Very few subjects combine so many of the things that still inspire me today: movement, anatomy, character, storytelling and cultural identity. Every player has a unique body language. Every scene tells a story. Every tournament creates new images.

Maybe that is exactly why I keep returning to this subject after all these years. Not because I only want to draw soccer but because this sport taught me how to observe people carefully. How they move. How they express emotion. How a single pose can tell an entire story.

Many of those lessons now influence my other illustrations as well whether I am creating an editorial illustration, drawing a portrait or sketching people in everyday life.

When I look back at my old sketches today I do not just see soccer players. I see the beginning of my fascination with drawing people. And maybe that is exactly why I still find myself reaching for a pencil whenever a ball starts rolling.

Soccer is not the only source of inspiration for my drawings. If you would like to see how travel influences my creative process you can also read Travel Sketches & Journal: Canary Islands 2026.

How Soccer Inspired My Journey as an Illustrator