How to Draw a Soccer Player: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to hit the field? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up who want to draw their own soccer star. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to get started. Follow along to build confidence in your character design and sketching skills.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished drawing of a cartoon soccer player ready for a match.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Face

Start by drawing the profile of the face. Use curved lines to outline the brow, nose, lips, and chin. Teacher's Tip: Keep the eye shape simple—a curved triangle with a small shaded circle inside creates a focused, athletic look.

Step 2: Adding the Neck and Hair

Drawing the neck and spiky hair outline for the soccer player character.

Draw the neck and hair using smooth, curved lines. For the hair, use jagged, overlapping strokes to create a sporty, textured look. Tip: Don't worry about perfection; hair is naturally messy!

Step 3: The Jersey and Arm

Outlining the soccer player's jersey collar, sleeve, and arm position.

Sketch the collar using a triangle shape, then add the sleeve and arm. Use teardrop shapes for the sleeve opening. Tip: Draw the fingers with small, overlapping curves to make them look natural.

Step 4: Defining the Torso

Sketching the torso and fabric folds of the soccer jersey.

Continue the jersey by drawing the front of the torso. Add a curved line across the chest to represent a fold in the fabric. Tip: Adding these small details makes your drawing look more 3D.

Step 5: Completing the Upper Body

Completing the soccer player's upper body and second arm.

Finish the rectangular shape of the shirt and add the second arm. Ensure the arm matches the proportions of the first one. Tip: Use light, overlapping lines to sketch the arm before darkening your final lines.

Step 6: Drawing the Shorts

Outlining the soccer player's athletic shorts.

Draw the shorts using overlapping curved lines to create a rectangular shape that sits just below the shirt. Tip: Keep the lines slightly rounded to show the movement of the fabric.

Step 7: The First Leg and Cleat

Drawing the first leg, sock, and soccer cleat with spike details.

Outline the leg muscles, knee, and the soccer cleat. Add small triangles at the bottom of the shoe for the spikes. Tip: Focus on the curve of the knee to give the leg a natural, bent posture.

Step 8: The Second Leg

Adding the second leg and cleat to complete the player's stance.

Draw the second leg using the same technique as the first. Make sure the sock and shoe align with the player's stance. Tip: Shading the spikes helps them stand out against the ground.

Step 9: Adding the Soccer Ball

Drawing a soccer ball with the classic pentagon pattern.

Draw a circle near the player's feet. Add pentagon shapes on the surface and connect them with short lines to create the classic soccer ball pattern. Tip: Use a light touch for the circle so you can easily adjust the shape.

Step 10: Color Your Player

A fully colored cartoon soccer player standing with a soccer ball.

Your outline is complete! Now, bring your player to life by coloring the jersey in your favorite team's colors. Tip: Use bold colors for the jersey and neutral tones for the shorts to make the player pop.