Jan 14
Jakub Jankto Carries LGBT+ Flat in Soccer in Europe
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Soccer is the most watched sport in Europe and is becoming increasingly popular in North America, particularly since Lionel Messi switched to the MLS. However, very few players in the men's game have come out as being openly gay.
Czech international Jakub Jankto made the decision to announce he is gay in a public statement on his social media account, and he remains the highest-profile player in the sport to do so.
Jankto Performs in Top-Flight League of European Football
Jankto has played 46 times for his country and has featured for some of the biggest clubs in Italy, including Sampdoria and Udinese. He remains in the top-flight of Italian football, now lining up for Cagliari, where he is an important player.
The midfielder scored his first goal for Cagliari in a 1-0 victory over Empoli in March 2024. He will be hoping to help his side get into Europe at the end of the current season. The Sardinia-based team will need to finish in the top six to do that.
When he was out on loan earlier in his career, Jankto played Champions League football for Sparta Prague. His current club is +40000 to finish in the top six of Serie A this season. That would give them a spot in next season's premier European club competition.
Those looking to back Cagliari should consider the options for new players when signing up with one of the leading sportsbooks, as bonuses up to $150 can be picked up with the likes of bet365 and FanDual.
Missed Out on Euro 2024, But Hopeful for 2026 World Cup
Jankto was not included in the Czech Republic's Euro 2024 squad. His country was eliminated in the group stages of the tournament, finishing bottom of Group F with just one point. Since then, however, the Czech Republic has been in excellent form. They finished top of their UEFA Nations League group, earning themselves promotion into League A for the next phase of the competition.
The Cagliari midfielder will be doing all he can to earn a call-up back to his country's squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Qualification for that tournament begins in early 2025.
Should Jankto be part of the Czech Republic's squad, he will become the first openly gay male footballer to feature at a major men's soccer tournament, which will surely be wonderful news to many in the LGBT+ community.
Source: Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
Other Soccer Players to Come Out as Gay
Australian soccer player Josh Cavallo publicly announced he is gay in October 2021. He has played over 50 games in the A-League for Adelaide United. At the time, he was the only openly gay active footballer in the top-flight of a soccer competition anywhere in the world.
In the United States, North Carolina FC's Collin Martin came out as gay in June 2018. He played 37 times in the USC Championship in 2024. Unfortunately for Martin, his team lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
With Jankto and others representing the LGBT+ community in the sport, there is renewed hope that other queer-identifying individuals may be inspired to enter historically strictly gendered fields in the future.
