Jankto, the footballer and painter who portrayed Kobe Bryant

Footballer, painter, businessman, speaks four languages, studies Russian … all this with only 25 years. Jakub Jankto, Getafe and La Czech national team, is a mine of talent. It is not unusual to find footballers with so many cultural concerns.

Jankto’s great passion is painting. Since he was a child he developed a great facility for painting, drawing inspiration from the great masters of his country. At the same time that he kicked a ball, he handled the brush with art.

Jankto began his football career at Slavia Prague. At 18 he went to Italy. He signed for Udinese, was loaned to Ascoli, returned to Udinese and, in 2018, was transferred to Sampdoria for 15 million. It was there, in Genoa, where he wanted to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant after the death of the Lakers player. La Sampdoria released a video in which a hooded man, with impressive ease, drew a portrait of Bryant. At the end of the painting, the young man takes off his hood and the identity of the artist is revealed: Jakub Jankto. The video is worth watching.

Among Jankto’s works there is also a portrait of Papu Gómez (today at Sevilla) and Petagna when they played for Atalanta. Jankto paints with his right hand but is left-handed playing soccer. Ambidextrous, like Messi. All his paintings are signed with the initials of his name and surname: J J.

Footballer, painter and also businessman. Forbes magazine chose him among the best entrepreneurs under 30 years of age. Jankto invested 1.2 million in a sports academy in Prague that bears his nickname, Sampi, nickname given by his father in honor of Samppa Lajunen, one of the best cross-country skiers in history.

In just a few days (January 19), Jankto will be 26 years old. Few footballers are so clear about what to do with their lives off the pitch.