Being one of the biggest action stars in the history of the Hollywood industry, Sylvester Stallone had to go through numerous experiences to prepare for the roles he has played in his illustrious career, one of them being Rocky Balboa, the boxing legend that has become one of the most iconic characters in film history and the highlight of the star’s career.
Therefore, Stallone had to go through extensive hard work and dedication to learn all that he could about the combat sport. Thus, after playing the character, he got a rude awakening when he had to learn how to play soccer for portraying a sportsman in one of his films, where he learned just how hard the sport is thanks to a lesson from the legendary Pele himself.
Sylvester Stallone Thought Soccer Was An Easy Sport Until Pele Gave Him A Lesson
Like most actors who have to portray a certain character with certain characteristics in a film, Sylvester Stallone is no stranger to going through the process of learning all that he needs to that is necessary for playing his part. But when he went on to portray a soccer player in the 1981 war/sports drama Escape to Victory, he did the mistake of having this preconceived notion that soccer was meant for weak people.
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In a past interview, the Rambo star revealed that during his shoot on the film’s set alongside Michael Caine, he had the honor of also working with the Late legendary soccer superstar Pele, who was his co-star. Here, he also revealed that before learning and playing the sport for himself, he thought the game was just for people without any real toughness, but slowly realized just how wrong he was, especially when Pele accidentally broke one of his fingers with the ball during the shoot. He said:
“I thought Rocky was tough, but I’ve never trained so hard.I thought soccer was a sissy sport until they kicked the ball into my stomach and I crossed the border into Austria with haematomas on both hips.”
Thus, learning the horrors, as well as the thrill and excitement of soccer, Stallone got a valuable lesson about not underestimating anything in the future.
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What Is Escape To Victory About?
Whether you like wartime dramas or you’re a big sports fan, Escape to Victory is a film that is sure to satisfy both parties. Set in the time of World War 2, we are introduced to Prisoners of War from the US, Italy, and Britain, who are captured and kept in POW camps. The story follows the tale of these soldiers as they plan a daring escape from the hell they are trapped in during their soccer match against a German team that is set by the German forces to spread Nazi propaganda.
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Escape to Victory, streaming on Prime Video.
Source: Express
