Hector Bellerin

Hector Bellerin is a Spanish professional footballer who began his career playing for Barcelona before moving to Arsenal in 2011. As a right-back for Arsenal he won three FA Cups. He returned to Barcelona in September 2022 to play for Real Betis – a team in the Spanish Premier Division.

Why Hector Bellerin is vegan

Hector Bellerin is vegan for health, the animals and the planet.

Bellerin initially went vegan in 2016 due to health reasons, after watching documentaries such as What the Health. He discovered that a plant-based diet was better for his body and began noticing he was suffering from less inflammation and could recover faster between games.¹Hector Bellerin. 2018. Hector Bellerin | Discusses His Vegan Diet. Youtube. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3qrQ293H6U [Accessed 16 September 2026].

In 2020, Bellerin invested in the world’s first vegan football club, Forest Green Rovers, owned by green entrepreneur Dale Vince.²Magowan, A. 2020. Hector Bellerin: Arsenal defender invests in Forest Green Rovers. BBC. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54069376 [Accessed 16 September2026]. In 2025, Bellerin was named Global Champion at the BBC Green Sport Awards for being “one of football’s most prominent voices for sustainability”:

“Now playing for Real Betis, he serves as Chief Ambassador for the club’s ‘Forever Green’ initiative, helping position Betis as one of Europe’s leading environmentally conscious teams. In 2025, he launched a sustainable fashion brand and championed the club’s eco-friendly kit. Earlier this year, he was named in National Geographic’s ‘33 for 2025’ list and became an ambassador for Green Football’s Great Save campaign. In addition, he lives his values by embracing a vegan lifestyle, choosing cycling over driving, and famously pledging to plant trees for every Arsenal win. With a global following, Bellerín continues to inspire climate action across sport and beyond.”³BBC. 2025. BBC Green Sport Awards 2025 winners announced. BBC. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/green-sport-awards [Accessed 16 September 2026].

“Health is not the only reason I am vegan. It was the ground zero, but now there are other reasons that push me to do it. The sustainability of the environment and animal cruelty now motivate me just as much as health. The way I feel physically and mentally, knowing that I’m doing the right things makes me really happy to be a vegan.”⁴Veganuary. 2018. Héctor Bellerín – This Is Why I’m Vegan. Youtube. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlVVJbaY8x0 [Accessed 16 September 2026].