Pedro Virgil's Gods of Football

AS A KID, FOOTBALL NEVER REALLY INTERESTED ME. I JUST DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF A BUNCH OF GROWN UP MEN FIGHTING OVER A BALL. GROWING UP I SLOWLY STARTED TO BECOME MORE INTERESTED AND CURIOUS ABOUT THE GAME. OR, SHOULD I SAY, THE PLAYERS. BECAUSE I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A LOT MORE TO ENJOY THAN JUST THE GAME ITSELF.

Australian photographer Pedro Virgil has been making waves with his work for years in magazines like DNA and Cosmopolitan. He has also photographed brands such as ROLEX, Diesel and recently for international hit TV show, Australia’s Next Top Model. It seems needless to say, it takes more than pressing a button to create photographs such as Pedro’s. He puts a lot of work into all his images, including a great creative insight and knowledge of the art, resulting in professional high-gloss works of art of the superlative.

Being very aware of the value of certain sport sex appeal among the gay audience -  let’s face it, don’t we all love the idea of sweat, masculinity and good looking men -  Australia has picked up a unique super team: Gods of Football. The team knows some the country’s elite players from the rugby league as well as Australian Rules football, but for once they are not asked to convince through athletic performance. All they have to do is look hot, and it seems they all have a natural talent for that.

Was his previous volume, Gods of Sports, rather dark and filthy looking, Gods of Football showcases Australian’s hottest and best in a golden ambiance of beach and urbanity. Dramatic skies, golden lights and well placed shadows. Pedro Virgil pulls out everything to create another masterpiece, displaying his athletes with an easiness of being that do any harm to their irresistible sex appeal. And even though the men never drop the last piece of cloth – or equipment – you keep expecting them to show just that little bit more, no matter how many times you flip the pages. An excellent piece of work that makes us realize – happily – we are not the only ones who discovered the versatility of football.

But what makes this work even more beautiful is the fact these divine beings pose for the good cause. Pedro shows the Australian Gods of Football as part of the Naked For A Cause initiative in support of the McGrath Foundation, and by doing so he places himself and all these athletic heart throbs in the same supportive camp as celebrities Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton John and many fellow Australian sports hero’s. –B-

Gods of Football, the latest photo book by Pedro Virgil, is a hard cover edition, holding 144 pages in full colour. Published by Bruno Gmünder.

GODS OF FOOTBALL | BEAUTIFULMAG

PEDRO VIRGIL | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[chris]

never was a big fan of football while growing up either. but now its a totally different story.

[Bruce Robinson]

Simply Beautiful! Pedro and his Gods scores big with my Play-of-the-day vote. His studio-shot mates appear "God Like" and seamlessly fall into his backgrounds of pristine beauty. No touchdown is necessary to cheer for the real champ here.

[Jesse Skroski]

Very awsome hot pictures!! Would love to see more work from him in the furture!!

[Simon]

The best photoshot in this year so far ;)

[James]

These guys define the words 'real men', like Chris I was never a fan of football growing up... Ohh how things have changed