13 Times Athletes Gave Us Friendship Goals

Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant have become fast friends on a playoff-bound Chicago Cubs team. Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett remain close despite a grueling offseason quarterback competition at Ohio State.

Sports are the backdrop for many great friendships. Teammates and rivals alike can forge great bonds. Athletes often give one another gifts, publicly declare admiration or simply help each other out.

However they put their bromance (or womance) on display, here are 13 times athletes repped #friendshipgoals. First place goes to most painstakingly adorable. 

Ronaldo Buys an Island

Not all athletes have that Jerry Maguire-Rod Tidwell relationship with their agents, but it looks like Cristiano Ronaldo does.

According to Eurosport, the footballer's agent, Jorge Mendes, asked him to be the best man at his wedding. Ronaldo repaid the kindness by gifting the groom a Greek island. That's right, a Greek island.

Draymond Green and LaMarr Woodley

Arizona Cardinals linebacker LaMarr Woodley and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green went to the same high school in Saginaw, Michigan. Despite an age difference and going pro in different sports, the two have maintained a friendship.

They own an AAU basketball program, GreenWood Elite, and they both host summer camps for kids in Saginaw. Woodley even traveled to Cleveland to cheer for the Warriors in the NBA Finals, per Nina Mandell of For the Win.

Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett

Ohio State's Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett were embroiled in a quarterback competition for much of the college football offseason. Yet, they remain close friends, according to their coach.

Doug Lesmerises of the Plain Dealer reported head coach Urban Meyer said before the season, "They're both working their tails off, and it's one of the most refreshing competitions I've ever witnessed. When I say best friends, they're unbelievable how well they get along."

Barry Zito and Tim Hudson

George Nikitin/Associated Press

MLB pitchers Tim Hudson and Barry Zito played together with the Oakland Athletics from 2000-04. Along with Mark Mulder, they made up a dominating pitching force known as the Big Three.

In September, the stars aligned for Hudson and Zito to pitch against each other at their old stomping grounds. Hudson took the mound for the Giants and Zito for the A's.

Hudson told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, "I don't think we could have written a better script. Me, personally, at the end of my career, and Barry - we had some of our best years here in Oakland wearing the yellow and green. I'm really going to enjoy it. When I heard it was going to happen, it really made me smile, for Barry as well."

The Giants won the game, though neither Zito nor Hudson had particularly strong outings. Still, both received standings ovations as they left the game.

Jose Altuve and Miguel Cabrera

According to Evan Jankens of CBS Detroit, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera are pals.

They are pals who like to joke around, apparently. At a June 2014 game between the two teams, Cabrera picked up his friend like a sack of potatoes. This August, the two ribbed each other at first base after an Altuve single, taking turns untucking the other's jersey.

LeBron and Co. Vacation Together

LeBron James once said he only has three friends in the NBA—Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.

Friends who vacation together, stay together, right? This offseason, James and all his noted bros met up for some down time in the Bahamas.  

Sure, James left Wade to return to Cleveland, but anyone who wonders about potential animosity has only to look at this image from the King's first game back in Miami. LeBron and D-Wade are the definition of #friendshipgoals.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh

LeBron James may be back in Cleveland, but two members of the Miami Heat's Big Three still remain.

On Chris Bosh's birthday in March, Dwyane Wade posted a thoughtful message to his teammate on Instagram. The caption read, in part, "I just wanna say thank you for being a good person because good people are hard to come by."

Later, Bosh showed bromance is a two-way street by posting a photo of his own.   

Adrian Beltre and Felix Hernandez

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre and Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez were teammates for five years in Seattle. Despite Beltre's departure in 2010, the two have remained friendly in the most hilarious of ways—by giving each other a hard time at nearly every opportunity.

Recently, Hernandez snagged a liner hit by Beltre and threw the ball back to his old pal. Once, when Beltre goofed on a play at third, Hernandez could be seen ribbing him from the Mariners dugout.

Julian Edelman Loves Tom Brady

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The New England Patriots might not be the most beloved of NFL teams at the moment, but there are indicators of great friendships among members of the embattled franchise.     

Take Julian Edelman and Tom Brady, for instance. In January, Phil Perry of CSN New England reported the wide receiver said of his quarterback, "That's our leader and that's why you have a guy like that leading us. He's an unbelievable person and I truly love that man. I do."

Suarez Chauffeurs Injured Messi

Friends help each other out it times of turmoil. So, when Barcelona forward Lionel Messi went down with a knee injury, his teammate Luis Suarez helped him out.

Shortly after the injury, Suarez was spotted acting as Messi's personal chauffeur, driving him to the training center and looking downright giddy to have the responsibility.

Trae Waynes and Melvin Gordon Exchange Jerseys

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes and San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon grew up together, according to Chargers.com. They forged a friendship through a shared love of football and became teammates at Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Waynes went on to play for Michigan State and Gordon for Wisconsin. In April, they both went in the first round of the NFL draft.

Though it's been years since the two were teammates, they remain friends. When the Chargers visited the Vikings in September, they reunited for a jersey swap after the game.

Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki

Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki have faced each other on the tennis court 11 times, with Williams prevailing on 10 of those occasions. One would think there might be some evidence of animosity or, at minimum, rivalry between the two. But no, instead, there is just social media love and mutual respect.

Williams told Rebecca Johnson of Vogue in March, "Let's just put an end to this myth that women players cannot be friends. We can!"

Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant

Young Chicago Cubs stars Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant have become fast friends in this, Bryant's rookie season. Evidence of the friendship litters each players' Instagram account in the form of Dubsmash videos and bromantic photos. 

Apparently even their families are friendly. According to Blair Sheade of the Chicago Sun-Times, the families met and came together for a group picture at the MLB All-Star Game in July.

It probably helps that the Cubs are winning and quite possibly the most fun team in baseball, but either way, this friendship is adorable.