Joel Embiid wasn’t allowed to play in this soccer game, so he just stood in the goal and watched

Don’t worry, Sixers fans. He didn’t hurt himself. 
Joel Embiid wasn’t allowed to play in this soccer game, so he just stood in the goal and watched
Joel Embiid wasn’t allowed to play in this soccer game, so he just stood in the goal and watched /

Here’s a sentence that will terrify Sixers fans: Joel Embiid played in a soccer game. Don’t worry, though. It looks like he just stood around. 

Embiid, a Real Madrid superfan, is in Cardiff this weekend to catch the Champions League final against Juventus. On Friday, he participated in an all-star game with a few aging soccer legends.

When Embiid was first connected to the event, the Sixers clarified that he wouldn’t actually be playing in the game, due to the torn meniscus that ended his season early. 

Sixers brass must have been pretty frightened, then, when they saw this photo.

gettyimages-691598640.jpg
Getty Images

But don’t worry, Embiid expended as little energy as possible. Standing in the net like this is probably safer than walking to the fridge. 

Carmelo Anthony was also there, and as much as Phil Jackson probably wanted Melo to tear his ACL so he could void his contract, the Knicks star wore jeans and just observed. 


Published
Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).