The world's top athletes work very hard to play at the highest possible level, but where do they get all their strength and inspiration from? Some are driven by sheer ambition, others aspire to be rich and famous, and others... Well, others are just looking forward to getting back home and play with their beloved pets.

From NFL to soccer, our pet-loving athletes would do everything for their cats and dogs and we understand why. Some of the pets on our list are so utterly cute that you will probably end up feeling like they're the real champions!

Tom Brady – 3 Dogs

The New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is arguably the world's most famous American football athlete. But few people know he's a dedicated dog lover with 3 furry friends in the family: Lua, Scooby, and Fluffy.

Taking a chilly walk with his wife Gisele Bundchen and his youngest son Benjamin, Brady was kind enough to support Lua (supposedly his favorite dog) with everything she needs! Ironically, Brady was bitten by dogs twice, but he still loves his pets to death and often shares pictures of them on Social Media. We only feel sorry for poor little Benjamin, who's gonna have to walk for the rest of the way home.

Joseph Fauria – 1 Dog

American football tight end Joseph Fauria is a one-dog man. The former Detroit Lions athlete has a furry friend with so much personality that he doesn't even think about getting a new one. His dog's name is Lil' Rufio and you can tell by the way he looks that he's one of those little rascals you cannot avoid loving!

In 2018, Fauria made headlines after blaming poor Lil' Rufio for an ankle injury he suffered while playing a friendly game of volleyball. Fortunately, he came clean with the press, restoring the flawless reputation of one of the cutest furry pets on our list.

Klay Thompson – 1 Dog

The Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson is a highly-successful NBA athlete, with 3 championships and 5 NBA All-Star appearances on the curriculum. But does he owe it all to his best friend, the wrinkly English bulldog Rocco?

Thompson and Rocco play ball together often, and we guess Rocco's skills must be off the chart. After all, it's not easy to play against one of the best shooters in NBA history, but the English bulldog can somehow pull it off. Thompson often shares heartwarming pictures with Rocco via his official Twitter page.

Michelle Wie – 2 Dogs

Korean-American golfer Michelle Wie is one of the biggest stars of the USGA circuit. With 5 major LPGA tours in the curriculum, she's been making waves online thanks to her 2 lovely dogs. Wie's the owner of Lola, a very cute little Pomeranian, and Gatsby, a very large Old English Sheepdog with over 1,000 Instagram followers!

Yes, Gatsby has its own Instagram page, and it's one of the cutest things we have seen in a while! Lola and Gatsby have both attended Wie's wedding ceremony in 2019. She tied the knot with Jonnie West, who is also a dog lover and works as the Golden State Warriors' director of basketball operations.

 

David Backes – 2 Dogs and 2 Cats

Professional ice hockey player David Backes and his wife Kelly have 2 children, but they're all about parading a different set of "toddlers" on Social Media. The word "toddlers", however, hardly fits the characteristics of Backes' two lovable dogs, who both all decently large and adopted.

There were four dogs in the past, but according to Boston Herald, there are only two as of 2019. Backes and his wife, Kelly, also have two cats. By adopting their pets, they are making their family cuter while helping animals in need. Well done!

Lindsey Vonn – 3 Dogs

American athlete Lindsey Vonn is one of the world's most famous—and successful—alpine skiers, with 1 Olympic downhill gold medal in her record. To get the comfort she needs after a long training session in the cold, Lindsey can count on the ever-present love of her 3 super cute dogs: Leo, Bear, and Lucy.

More than a lovable company, Lindsey's 3 rescued dogs have helped her to beat depression. Pets, and cats and dogs particularly, are known to help in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and are often used in the treatment of mental health diseases.

Allyson Felix – 1 Dog

Every pet story in our list is a story of love between a man or woman and his/her pet. But not all stories have a happy ending. In 2016, Olympic track athlete Allyson Felix mourned the passing of her beloved Yorkshire Terrier Chloe. Chloe was Felix's faithful companion and a Social Media pet-celebrity before sadly passing away.

Felix and Chloe were so inseparable that they were even featured in a commercial together. Chloe was always there for Felix as she paved her way in the track and field, becoming one of the 2 most decorated female athletes in the history of the sport.

Roy Hibbert – 3 Dogs

Roy Hibbert is a former professional basketball player who is now working as the Philadelphia 69ers player development coach. The owner of 3 lovable dogs, Hibbert could count on the company of his 2 german shepherd friends since his days of playing as the Indiana Pacers center.

But there's a new addition to Hibbert's pet family. The cute french bulldog Nala has joined recently and she's already wearing the family's red scarf. With so much love at home, are there any reasons for Hibbert to leave the house anymore? We would just stay in and cuddle with these 3 cuties!

Elena Delle Donne - 2 Dogs

Playing as the Washington Mystics' small forward, professional basketball player Elena Delle Donne is one of WNBA's highest-praised athletes. The 2019 WNBA champion was named the MVP of the competition twice and selected as a WNBA All-Star on 6 occasions.

To make history in female basketball, Elena can count on the support of his loving wife Amanda and the company of her 2 irresistible dogs - the Great Dane Wrigley and the mutt Rasta. The unique combination of 2 beautiful blonde women and 2 lovable black dogs can only mean one thing: happiness!

Stephen Curry - 2 Dogs

Playing as the Golden State Warriors point guard, Stephen Curry is one of the world's best active basketball players, a 6-times NBA champion, and a 2-times NBA MVP. On the pitch, Curry is best known for his regular three-point shots. But back at home, he's a dedicated husband, a father of 3, and the owner of two utterly cute dogs.

The labradoodle Reza was Curry's first dog and his faithful companion since 2013. In 2017, however, the Curry household welcomed a second labradoodle, by the name of Rookie. Rookie was bought from a Florida breeder called Murphy's Doodles and cost almost $4K.

JuJu Smith-Schuster - 1 Dog

NFL's wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster is a one dog man but he makes the most out of his one furry friend. The French bulldog Boujee is one of the most famous fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Smith-Schuster's companion of all occasions. The little pup has his own Instagram profile, with over 234K followers!

One of the most exciting new athletes in the NFL, Smith-Schuster was the second pick on the 2017 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old loves spending time at home playing videogames and said that, if he wasn't a professional athlete, he would try a career as a professional gamer.

Alexis Sanchez - 2 Dogs

The Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez has played for a different number of clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, and, most recently, Internazionale Milan. Sanchez may be up for a change once in a while, but there's one thing that will never change in his life: his love for his two faithful golden retrievers.

Atom and Humber follow Sanchez's family everywhere they go and count with over 100K followers on Instagram. The two golden retrievers are so famous that they even have fake Instagram accounts made by fans! Sanchez's career may be going down, but his two lovely dogs are on the rise.

Kevin Durant - 1 Dog

Kevin Durant is the 2014 NBA MVP, the Brooklyn Nets power forward, and a 2-times NBA champion. Off the pitch, Durant is the owner of a little English bulldog that he often parades on his favorite social media account: Twitter!

Durant's Twitter account is weird enough to make his little English bulldog feel confused. Admittedly, Durant has claimed that Twitter is better than "da club" and has entertained his Social Media fans with publications that include a story about being robbed by a dog and a couple of love declarations to Rihanna and Scarlett Johansson.

Lionel Messi - 1 Dog

The FC Barcelona magician Lionel Messi is often considered to be the best soccer player of all-time. His stats, skills, and game intelligence are off the chart, and so is his very special furry companion: a gigantic mastiff that goes by the fitting name of Hulk.

Hulk is not only a massive drooling cutie, but he's also a talented soccer player just like his owner. Messi and Hulk often play together in their backyard, and Hulk shows some serious skills with the football! The mastiff was given to Messi as a gift from his all-time partner and wife, the beautiful Antonella Roccuzzo.

Michael Phelps - 2 Dogs

American swimmer Michael Phelps is not only one step ahead of the competition; he is one step ahead of the whole game! The most decorated Olympian of all-time, he is a sports god and one of the most talented athletes ever seen. And yet, back at home, he's just another sensitive and loving dog owner.

Juno and Legend are the names of Phelps's cuties, and reportedly, Legend loves swimming as much as Phelps does. The swimmer and his wife Nicole have been public supporters of Nulo Pet Food, a brand selling dog food that focuses on natural healthy ingredients and in fighting pet obesity.

Simone Biles - 5 Dogs

American artistic gymnast Simone Biles is a 4-times Olympic gold-medalist and she's so good that she makes doing gymnastics seem like an effortless job. Besides being a naturally gifted sportswoman, Biles is a dedicated dog lover with 5 furry friends back at home.

Biles had four dogs (all german shepherds) before getting a lovely french bulldog with her boyfriend Stacey Ervin Jr. Now Megan, Atlas, Lily, and Bella can count on the company of the much-smaller Lilo. Born to be a star, the little Frenchie Lilo has his own Instagram page with close to 40K followers.

Patty Mills - 1 Dog

The 2014 NBA champion Patty Mills is an Australian professional athlete playing for the San Antonio Spurs. A dedicated dog owner, Mills can often be seen in the company of a cute labradoodle that goes by the name of Harvey. Harvey is supposedly a great guard dog, but he's also a spoiled furry friend with a lot of love to give.

Regarding the devastating recent wave of wildfires happening in Australia, Mills decided to use Instagram to praise Patsy, "the Wonderdog". Patsy is an Australian dog credited for having saved the lives of over 200 sheep during the disastrous fires.

Kyrie Irving - 2 Dogs

Kyrie Irving is an American professional basketball athlete currently playing for the Brooklyn Nets. A 2016 NBA champion, Irving is a 6-times NBA All-Star and won 1 Olympic gold medal after representing the United States in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games.

A former Rookie of the Year, Irving is now an experienced athlete and the owner of two lovable dogs: Drew and Rocky. Drew was named after 'Uncle Drew', a nickname associated with Irving ever since he dressed as an old man with remarkable athletic abilities for a 2012 Pepsi commercial.

Gordon Hayward - 2 Dogs

Professional athletes, like the Boston Celtics' small forward Gordon Hayward, are often subjected to nasty and troubling injuries. But did you know that athletes' dogs can sometimes experience similar issues? In 2018, Hayward was recovering from an injury when his dog Bubbie underwent surgery after tearing his ACL.

Dogs can often reflect their owners' personalities, and that's certainly the case with Bubbie and Hayward. Besides Bubbie, the 2017 NBA All-star is the owner of a german shepherd called Siber. Luckily, Siber has never injured his knee and is all about having lots of fun with his owner.

Ben Simmons - 1 Dog and 2 Cats

Australian basketball player Ben Simmons is a former NBA Rookie of the Year, one of the Philadelphia 69ers main stars, and one of the most promising athletes in the game. In 2017, he started a craze amongst 69ers fans after creating the hashtag #RaiseTheCat. The goal was simple: upload a picture raising your cat in the air (Simba style) after every 69ers win!

The trend is now long-gone, but it did work for a couple of months! Since 2 cats were not enough for Simmons, he decided to get himself an adorable little canine companion by the name of Chief. Is there any chance he'll be #RaisingTheDog in the future?

Aly Raisman - 1 Dog

 

American gymnast/model Aly Raisman has worked very hard for a place in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games, but it was all worth it: she came back home with a total of 6 medals, including 3 golden ones. Less than a year before traveling to Brazil for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Raisman adopted a lovely terrier mix called Gibson.

Raisman and Gibson's story is one of love-at-first-sight, but it comes with a sad background... In 2015, shortly before getting Gibson, Raisman mourned the passing of her long-time family dog, Coco. Fortunately, the too-cute-to-be-true Gibson has certainly helped Raisman to cope with the loss.

Lonzo Ball - 1 Dog

The Ball household is all about playing basketball, and out of the 3 talented Ball brothers, Lonzo has the reputation for being the most skilled. Playing for the New Orleans Pelicans after a disappointing Los Angeles Lakers spell, Lonzo is the owner of a lovable rottweiler called Deuce.

Deuce was named after Lonzo's jersey number - 2 - and he is one of the 3 baby rottweilers that were gifted to the Ball brothers in 2017. Apparently, Lonzo is not joking around when it comes to educating his dog correctly, and the easy-learner Deuce knows how to sit, bark, jump, and lay down on command.

LaMelo Ball - 1 Dog

Not as famous as his brother Lonzo, LaMelo Ball is the Ball family's rising star. At 18 years old, he's already playing professionally in the NBL, representing the Illawarra Hawks. Just like his brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, he was gifted a baby rottweiler in 2017. The adorable cutie goes by the name Dip.

By the time Dip was introduced to LaMelo's fans on Twitter, the young athlete was heading to the far away Lithuanian basketball championship to play for the BC Prienai team. After less than a year playing in Lithuania, LaMelo, LiAngelo, and Dip came back home to the U.S.

Jahlil Okafor - 1 Dog

American professional basketball player Jahlil Okafor has named his faithful rottweiler Natty in honor of the championship he won in 2015, back when he was still playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Now representing the New Orleans Pelicans, Okafor sees Natty as more than just a furry companion.

The 2015 NCAA champion caused a fuzz on Social Media after uploading a video of a training session in which he was crossing up the little Natty. Okafor's skills were impressive, but the thing that really got the fans going was Natty's talent to help his owner getting ready for a big match.

Tiger Woods - 3 Dogs

Professional golfer Tiger Woods is so good at winning tournaments that he has rendered all competition obsolete. Years after the public scandal involving an extra-marital relationship and subsequent divorce, the outstanding sportsman is finally off the celebrity news' hook.

Woods' private life is far from free of controversy, but there's one thing we all can know for sure: he adores his 3-pets family! Posing next to Woods' actual children, Yogi, Bugs, and Taz are the golfer's "other" children and they look irresistibly cute! With champions like these at home, it's no wonder Woods has pulled 82 PGA Tour career wins!

Serena Williams – 2 Dogs

Tennis superstar Serena Williams is a serious dog-lover and adores the company of little Chip in particular. Chip is by far Serena's most popular pet, but she has another dog by the name of Lauralei. Besides, the female athlete mourned the passing of her Jack Russell Terrier Jackie in 2015. He was her faithful companion for over 16 years.

A true dog lover in every sense, Serena's affection for canines has maybe gone too far... She was all over the celebrity news after reportedly feeling horrible for trying a little bit of gourmet dog food. We love cats and dogs too, but we think pet-owners should stick to human food!

Russell Wilson – 3 Dogs

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is a former Super Bowl champion with a taste for big beautiful dogs. He's the owner of Naomi and Prince, two Great Danes that look somehow both adorable and glamorous. But a third big pup was added to Wilson's family of pets...

In 2018, he bought his wife Ciara a beautiful new puppy that will keep Naomi and Prince in good company. Married since 2016, Ciara and Wilson have now 2 small children and 3 huge dogs to keep their days busy and their hearts full!

Russell Westbrook - 2 Dogs

In 2019, point guard Russell Westbrook left his all-time NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to sign for the Houston Rockets. The 2017 NBA MVP, Westbrook is a two-times Olympic gold medalist and one of the best players gracing the game right now.

The little Brodie has been Westbrook's companion for a while, and the two often appear together in all kinds of Social Media publications. In 2013, Westbrook found a new friend for Brodie: the Husky Sasha, named after Beyoncé's musical alter-ego from the 2008 album I Am... Sasha Fierce.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 1 Dog

The world's most famous football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, has recently joined the squad of the Italian champions Juventus after years of playing for Real Madrid. He might have switched clubs, but he wouldn't switch his beloved yellow labrador Marosca for nothing in the world!

This lovable dog doesn't have Ronaldo's talent for Social Media selfies (mainly for being unable to keep his eyes open) but he's an absolute cutie nonetheless! Often involved in numerous humanitarian causes, Ronaldo has donated to a kennel in 2017 to help to save the lives of 80 puppies.

Paul George - 2 Dogs

The Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Paul George was featured in a commercial for the movie The Secret Life Of Pets 2 alongside a very special co-star: his faithful furry companion King. King and George are inseparable friends with a unique chemistry, but the dynamic duo has been a triumphant trio since 2016...

4 years ago, George decided to get a second dog and bought a pitbull named Kobe, out of respect for the NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Now George, King, and Kobe can all enjoy a nap on the couch together and continue producing a whole lot of heartwarming Instagram posts.