If asked to name your favourite footballer, you’d probably opt for one of the all-time greats. The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona would top most lists, with the occasional hometown hero or fan favourite thrown into the mix. One thing is for sure, not many would put forward Aaron Mooy into the all-time favourite conversation, but ex-porn star Mia Khalifa rates the Aussie higher than most.
Mia’s interest in Mooy dates back to 2019. In an interview with Arsenal Fan TV, she was asked to name her top three favourite footballers of all time. Surprisingly, Mooy made the list, coming in at third. Mooy has been a solid player throughout his career, which has taken him to the heights of the English Premier League and he recently starred for the Socceroos at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but naming him as a top three all-time favourite might be a stretch.
Mia’s reasoning for her Mooy praise was even more bizarre, “He’s like the Kawhi Leonard of football,” Mia said. “Well, he doesn’t look like him, but he acts like him. He’s kind of camera shy, he’s a little goofy but you never see it and I don’t know he just reminds me of him.” Guys take note. Mia Khalifa wants a guy that’s camera shy and goofy.
In today’s bizarre #htafc-related news: @AaronMooy is Mia Khalifa’s third favourite current player ????????♂️ pic.twitter.com/ABly6GxwrQ
— Oli (@olifisher) January 14, 2019
NBA Superstar Kawhi Leonard is clearly also in Mia’s good books. The Los Angeles Clippers small forward has won two NBA Championships and is a two-time NBA defensive player of the year. Kawhi is known for his ball-hawking defensive abilities and Aaron Mooy also has a reputation for his defensive ball-winning prowess in midfield, maybe that’s what caught Mia’s eye.
Aaron Mooy made his name in the A-League. He was one of the Western Sydney Wanderer’s inaugural signings and set the league record for most assists in a single season with Melbourne City. English giants Manchester City took notice of Mooy’s outstanding form and signed him in 2016.
Mooy could never break into Manchester City’s first team. He spent most of the next four years with Huddersfield Town and was instrumental in their promotion to the Premier League in 2017. After Huddersfield Town were relegated two years later, Mooy joined fellow Australian Maty Ryan at Brighton & Hove Albion. He then played in China before joining former Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou at Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.
To round out Mia’s top three favourite footballers, the legendary David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane drew the former porn-star’s praise. It’s fair to say that Mooy is in good company. “I’ve got to say Becks because I’m a girl,” Mia said. While her admiration for Zidane draws from the player’s infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final. “That was the most exciting thing I’ve seen happen in a football match. I love violence!” Mia said.
That 2019 interview wasn’t the only time Mooy’s name has popped up with Mia. In 2020, she named the Aussie in her fantasy premier league starting 11. In a star-studded team featuring the likes of Harry Kane, Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, Mia justified Mooy’s inclusion. “He’s unassuming, he’s kind of nice and he’s pretty fucking good,” she said. Mooy wasn’t the only Australian who made it into Mia’s fantasy 11, with Maty Ryan, Mooy’s teammate at Brighton, first on the team sheet.
Penny for Mia Khalifa’s thoughts on Aaron Mooy’s transfer. pic.twitter.com/suz9VnhAsB
— Alex Zaia (@zaiaalex) August 29, 2020
Mooy has made 57 appearances for the Socceroos, bagging seven goals in the process. He’s played every minute of every match in the Socceroos last two World Cup campaigns. And his playmaking ability and endless stamina were crucial aspects of the Socceroos knockout stage run in Qatar.
Unfortunately for Mia Khalifa, Mooy is married with two kids. So her long-time crush looks likely to remain just that, a crush. But if there’s any consolation for the rest of us, it looks like she has a thing for Aussies.
