Hector Bellerin cycles to work. While it might not sound the most exciting news out there, it simply is. You don’t always hear multi-millionaire footballers, who usually arrive at training in Aston Martins or BMWs, to cycle their way to the field. However, the long-haired Real Betis fullback has been doing so for quite some time.
BBC Sport named the former Arsenal Right-Back as “Global Champion” at the BBC Green Sport Awards. Bellerin reflected on the honor, sitting calmly, looking stylish and secretly flamboyant with his wavy, long hair falling over his eyes. The Spanish international, who played for 10 years at the Emirates Stadium after graduating from La Masia, Barcelona, has always stood for sustainability and environment.
Quoting the famous Spiderman line, “With [great] power comes [great] responsibility,” Bellerin talks in an accent more familiar to the people of North London than that of a swashbuckling Spanish footballer. Having grown into a footballer under the watchful eyes of the legendary Arsene Wenger, he stated the importance of the Frenchman on his footballing philosophy and general outlook towards life and environmentalism, “Everytime they put a microphone, there’s always a chance to revindicate, to talk about issues, to just generate conversation. For me, sustainability is something that has touched me pretty closely since I was pretty young.”
“I learned a lot from him – not focused on sustainability itself because I feel like that word nowadays has very clear connotations, but more about a holistic way of living, and I think sustainability comes into that,” Bellerin said.
“With sustainability comes empathy and compassion. These are all traits that you get when you decide to take care of the place that gives you life.“
“I have been consuming second-hand clothes for a really long time,” Bellerin mentioned, harping on the importance of recycling and maximising the use of shoes and clothes. While Bellerin’s personal stance on recycling and consumerism is indeed commendable, his use of social media to circumvent suitable discussion is heavily appreciable. The 30-year-old has been an advocate for climate change and ethical consumption for years. A proud vegan, he respects nature and promotes environmentalism without the deciduous strain of PR and marketing reasons, a wormhole that other celebrities and star athletes often fall into. His honesty in practising what he openly preachs, makes him relatable and trustworthy in his efforts.
Hector Bellerin has been named global champion at the BBC Green Sport Awards! 🌏💚 pic.twitter.com/Ps3JVeAZPm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 6, 2025
And thus we circle back to the start of this article, where we showcased how contrasting Bellerin’s approach to life and football is. In a sport watched by millions, where players often ascend to demigod status with exorbitant wages and modelling contracts from huge, often unsustainable brands, Bellerin remains humbly an “outsider”, as proclaimed by the BBC, for being an environmental activist who supports recycling and second-hand clothes.
Truly, a well-deserved honor, for a well-deserved man.
