It doesn't happen often - but sometimes our favourite footballers will trade the pitch for the big screen.

It can be a natural transition for some of the personalities that have graced the beautiful game, while some may have done well to stick to what they're good at. But one way or the other, they're still entertaining the masses.

Some icons of the game have appeared in movies to varying degrees of success over the years, with Daily Star Sport taking a look at six such examples.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibra always was a warrior on the pitch, so it was fitting his acting debut came as Roman centurion Oneofus in French comedy-action Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.

It was released in February last year while the Swede recovered from a knee injury before calling time on his legendary career at the end of that season at AC Milan.

He starred in a epic action scene, destroying every enemy in his sight - giving them just as many nightmares as the defenders he used to face.

David Beckham

With Beckham being the most famous man on the planet at the height of his playing days at Manchester United and Real Madrid, you'd have thought he'd hit Hollywood far sooner than 2017.

His cameo in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword maybe explained why it took so long, though. Let's just say Becks is better with his feet than his mouth.

The England legend had a short piece of dialogue as Trigger, not threatening to win any awards but giving viewers a nice surprise all the same.

Ian Wright

We've got too many questions and not enough answers about Wrighty's appearance as Duke in 2011 fantasy flick Gun of the Black Sun. The main one being: Why?

The synopsis reads: "A Nazi Luger Pistol with dark and mystical powers re-emerges in modern day Bucharest. With his search over a American Media Mogul intends using its power to recreate the Forth Reich through Technology via Music."

Quite what part of that appealed to Arsenal's former record goalscorer is a mystery. But if it helped him get his Match of the Day gig who are we to query it.

Pele

Classic war film Escape to Victory stars countless famous footy faces such as Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles, Mike Summerbee and, of course, Pele.

Allied prisoners of war in a German camp during World War II play a friendly match against their enemies, and without wanting to spoil the ending, you can guess what happens after full-time.

It was Pele's most remembered work on the big screen, although he worked in several other movies right up until his death in December 2022.

Eric Cantona

Eccentric United icon Cantona was always destined for the bright lights. He did his best audition for a Jackie Chan film when kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan in 1995.

But his first major role actually came in 1998 biographical drama Elizabeth, playing a French ambassador. It fetched $82million at the box office, which is much more than can be said for a lot of this list.

Cantona has gone on to have a lot of other roles, including one as himself in 2009's Looking For Eric about a Red Devils fan who has visions of his favourite player.

Zinedine Zidane

What better way to recover from the infamous headbutting end to your legendary career than starring in - the Asterix and Obelix series?! Not this again.

Yep, that's right, Zidane featured in the French film franchise based on the comic book series of the same name long before Ibrahimovic.

He appeared in 2008's Asterix at the Olympic Games and actually replaced former Real team-mate Beckham when he had to pull out of the role as ancient Egyptian Numerodis.