With most top-tier football postponed for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus outbreak, players who should have been in action have found themselves in the unusual position of having the weekend free.
With many training grounds off limits, footballers have been sent home by their clubs along with personal schedules to adhere to an isolation period for the next few weeks.
Here's what a few of them are getting up to.
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1. Sergio Ramos
With the Real Madrid training centre shut down as of last week, Ramos shared footage of his home exercise session, including an intense sprint on his running machine.
Teletrabajo. // Teleworking. 🏃🏻♂ 🏋🏻♂#YoEntrenoEnCasa #ITrainAtHome pic.twitter.com/BXZh85Ad6o
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) March 14, 2020
2. Karim Benzema
Likewise, Ramos' Real teammate kept himself out of harm's way by hitting the home gym to break a sweat by lifting a few weights.
Night Training ⚔️🔥🐅 #Nueve pic.twitter.com/oIHsFdP0y0
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) March 13, 2020
3. Presnel Kimpembe
The PSG defender is keeping himself confined to his couch, where he apparently intends to occupy himself with video games for the next couple of weeks.
Récup après la qualif et en quête de Top1 avec @IGanaGueye sur #Warzone 🎮 pic.twitter.com/V2pMds64XL
— Presnel Kimpembe (@kimpembe_3) March 13, 2020
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo shared a message of solidarity on his social media channels before travelling back to his home in Madeira to be with his family.
5. Lionel Messi
Messi had his own inspirational message for social media, while also talking about the importance of staying at home and spending time with your family.
6. Douglas Costa
Costa has paired up with the perfect training four-legged partner as the Juventus forward kept himself limber at home.
7. Lucas Vazquez
The Real Madrid forward Vazquez also teamed up with a buddy to undergo his first home training session, in the shape of his infant son.
8. Raphael Varane
Adapting to the "new normal," Varane was yet another Los Blancos star who decided to stay and work out at home in the privacy of his own personal gym.
Raphaël Varane's adapting to the new normal, at least for the next few weeks. pic.twitter.com/0l9DLLqsv7
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 13, 2020
9. Cesc Fabregas
The French league has been postponed, so Monaco midfielder Fabregas asked for help for some TV watching, given his lack of other options.
Since we have to stay at home for some time and my wife doesn't allow me to have more kids (for now), what series do you guys recommend that have more than 4 seasons at least? @firstLadyD4 😉
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) March 13, 2020
10. Alexis Sanchez
What better time than to train shirtless by lifting some heavy logs? Sanchez, who is on loan at Inter Milan from Man United, also made sure to involve his beloved dogs Atom and Humber later on.
11. Watford
Undeterred by the fact their weekend game against Leicester was postponed, Watford revealed what would have happened. A 1-1 draw it seems.
The show must go on 👀
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) March 14, 2020
Watford vs @LCFC brought to you by @FootballManager!
Come on you 'Orns...#WATLEI pic.twitter.com/VFDaWJKDhg
12. Southampton vs. Norwich vs. Man City
Southampton vs. Norwich turned into a Twitter game of Tic-Tac-Toe (also called Noughts and Crosses).
34: Just past the half hour mark, with #SaintsFC holding their composure despite some early time-wasting tactics from the hosts. ⏳ pic.twitter.com/Df2LWujZja
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 14, 2020
But with the Canaries' social media account taking a well-earned break, Southampton's proposed Tic-Tac-Toe game was going nowhere until a challenger appeared!
We'll play! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Zaq75YWb5f
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 14, 2020
Manchester City proved to be a worthy opponent, too... if only we could watch their players in front of the grid playing in real time!
It's end-to-end now... pic.twitter.com/AHQNikDQHZ
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 14, 2020
In the end, both teams were more than happy to settle for a hard-fought draw! What will they play next...
It's all over!
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 14, 2020
Thanks for the game, @ManCity! 👏 pic.twitter.com/06yOVW2QyH
13. Radcliffe Borough F.C.
For some, of course, it was business as usual. Such as Radcliffe Borough in the lower leagues of English football.
14. Iniesta gives advice in Japan
Ex-Barca legend Andres Iniesta has remained in Japan with his family, where he plays for Vissel Kobe. In a series of thoughtful Instagram posts, he echoed the need for caution in the community but also expressed the joy of community and humanity that he and his family have experienced over in their adopted home.
15. Beckham in Miami
This weekend was supposed to mark the home debut of David Beckham's MLS team, Inter Miami CF, as they began play in the league this year following a long road from their initial franchise announcement. But Becks' wasn't too downtrodden given the bigger story developing around the globe.
16. Teams play Connect Four in Portugal
With all soccer leagues suspended there as well, Sporting CP (former home of Man United star Bruno Fernandes) decided to play a game of Connect Four with their would-be opponents this weekend, Vitoria SC.
Apostamos num jogo rápido e ofensivo 💨#VSCSCP #DiaDeSporting pic.twitter.com/V4ieBSU6S3
— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) March 14, 2020
17. Vancouver gives back
The 2020 MLS season was suspended this week as all the major American sports leagues got out ahead of the coronavirus outbreak for the safety of fans and staff but that didn't stop the Whitecaps from making some charitable donations in the absence of a home game against the Colorado Rapids.
So... we won't be needing our team meals today.
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) March 14, 2020
Instead, we're donating all of our matchday food for #VANvCOL to @VanFoodBank 💙#VWFC pic.twitter.com/bvHLN16VSD
18. Oxlade-Chamberlain works on his moves
Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain spent most of last year at home after suffering a serious knee injury, but now he's back on his feet he's found a better use for his time indoors with popstar girlfriend Perrie Edwards.
19. Thibaut Courtois and friends battle online
Clearly the football world's loss is the online world's gain this weekend.
Thibaut Courtois, Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Reguilón and Borja Iglesias playing (online multiplayer game) League of Legends last night pic.twitter.com/fm85alBJmm
— Alex Kirkland (@alexkirkland) March 15, 2020
20. MLS on FIFA 20
Missing ⚽️?
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 14, 2020
We've got a @EASPORTSFIFA simulation of our match against @TimbersFC coming LIVE to you the fans from our social channels tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Facebook, Twitter & YouTube will all be streaming the match!#NERevs | #NEvPOR pic.twitter.com/dY53mnQY75
The New England Revolution are taking on the Portland Timbers in MLS this weekend, regardless of any league suspension.