Photos : This is why these football players wear their first names on their shirts

Sokratis Papastathopoulos: We’ve got to admit, Sokratis is doing everyone a favour by choosing his first name. Also who knows – maybe they’re charged by the letter?
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Sokratis Papastathopoulos: We’ve got to admit, Sokratis is doing everyone a favour by choosing his first name. Also who knows – maybe they’re charged by the letter?
Memphis Depay: Having been abandoned by his father at a young age, he prefers to be called by his first name.
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Memphis Depay: Having been abandoned by his father at a young age, he prefers to be called by his first name.
Alexis Sánchez: In a country where the last name Sanchez may be the English equivalent of Smith, he may have chosen to go by Alexis to set himself apart.
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Alexis Sánchez: In a country where the last name Sanchez may be the English equivalent of Smith, he may have chosen to go by Alexis to set himself apart.
Enzo Zidane: Deciding to instead take his first name on his jersey, it helped in the beginning of his career in dealing with the pressure that comes with wearing the name Zidane.
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Enzo Zidane: Deciding to instead take his first name on his jersey, it helped in the beginning of his career in dealing with the pressure that comes with wearing the name Zidane.
Jordi Cruyff: Imagine the amount of pressure that comes with being the son of the legendary Johan Cruyff. We can understand the reasoning behind this one.
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Jordi Cruyff: Imagine the amount of pressure that comes with being the son of the legendary Johan Cruyff. We can understand the reasoning behind this one.
Clinton N'Jie: We’re going to go ahead and guess this was a strategic play to get himself a little more press during the election cycle. Well played Clinton.
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Clinton N'Jie: We’re going to go ahead and guess this was a strategic play to get himself a little more press during the election cycle. Well played Clinton.
Raul Gonzalez Blanco: Like many Spanish players, Raul decided to make things easier by going by his first name. We appreciate it, Mr. Gonzalez Blanco.
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Raul Gonzalez Blanco: Like many Spanish players, Raul decided to make things easier by going by his first name. We appreciate it, Mr. Gonzalez Blanco.
James Rodríguez: The name ‘James’ is surely less common than ‘Rodríguez’ in Colombia, so we can assume it’s much easier to differentiate him from other players.
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James Rodríguez: The name ‘James’ is surely less common than ‘Rodríguez’ in Colombia, so we can assume it’s much easier to differentiate him from other players.
Kevin-Prince Boateng: If we had the option of being addressed by Prince, we would take it in a heartbeat.
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Kevin-Prince Boateng: If we had the option of being addressed by Prince, we would take it in a heartbeat.
Sergio Busquets: As is the case with Raul and other many other Spanish players, Sergio chooses to go by his first name.
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Sergio Busquets: As is the case with Raul and other many other Spanish players, Sergio chooses to go by his first name.
Lalaïna Nomenjanahary: Take a look at the two names and decide for yourself which one would be easier for commentators to say in the heat of the moment.
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Lalaïna Nomenjanahary: Take a look at the two names and decide for yourself which one would be easier for commentators to say in the heat of the moment.
Dele Alli: Abandoned by his father before his birth, he was placed in a foster home at the age of 13. He opted to take his first name to distance himself from a name he feels no connection to.
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Dele Alli: Abandoned by his father before his birth, he was placed in a foster home at the age of 13. He opted to take his first name to distance himself from a name he feels no connection to.
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