Lex Fridman · How Khabib became a huge soccer fan | Khabib Nurmagomedov and Lex Fridman

1. 1. Khabib Nurmagomedov fell in love with football watching the 1998 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus, which his father also watched with him.
2. 2. In Khabib's village, each street formed its own football team for a tournament with group stages, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final, a tradition he remembers from childhood.
3. 3. Khabib's first clear football memory is the 1996 European Championship semifinal between Germany and England, which England lost on penalties.
4. 4. As a child, Khabib was often the only kid with a football, which allowed him to play with older boys aged 15-16 by making a deal: if he brought the ball, he got to play.
5. 5. Khabib ran home to his grandfather's house to watch the opening ceremony of the 1998 World Cup in France, and his grandfather asked why he was so interested.
6. 6. Khabib's favorite national teams growing up were Brazil and the Netherlands, but he never had a single favorite national team.
7. 7. Khabib's favorite club is Real Madrid, which he has supported since the 1998 Champions League final.
8. 8. Khabib likes Manchester City but notes they have had a dip in form over the last two seasons, while Arsenal is on the rise under Mikel Arteta.