As a potential striker playing in the Bundes Liga, Lena Güldenpfennig is also a pioneer in the movement of sports athletes entering Esports.
At the age of 20, Lena Güldenpfennig is extremely busy with 2 lives, by day she is a professional player playing for RB Leipzig club. After training sessions or matches, this German girl is busy with the work of an Esports player of the RBLZ Gaming team. Being so busy, Güldenpfennig did not feel tired at all:
“It’s my daily life. I love and enjoy every day. I enjoy all my activities and don’t feel stressed even though I’m busy.”
Turning point from the pandemic
Joining the RB Leipzig academy as a teenager, Güldenpfennig excelled on the virtual soccer field during her days at the boarding school. Her passion for football games stems from matches with friends, and it grows stronger, taking her to a new arena as harsh as her digital shorts career. .
During the COVID-19 pandemic, football activities were halted, Güldenpfennig had more time to spend on games, she even participated in a FIFA 21 tournament of the German Football Association. Winning the tournament led to one of the turning points in her life: RBLZ Gaming offered a contract she couldn’t refuse.
Affirming feminism in the world of Esports
In March 2021, Güldenpfennig made history when she became the first female player to enter the professional Esports arena when joining the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL). She is also the first female face to participate in the traditional FIFA tournament system organized by the Bundesliga since FIFA 18.
“I want to encourage you to have the courage to prove yourself.” Güldenpfennig said: “Don’t hide, don’t be afraid to confront the men. I am the first woman here, and you could be the next.”
The gaming community is also a toxic environment, especially for women who are directly involved in esports like Güldenpfennig. The female striker of RB Leipzig admits that she has been attacked many times on social networks, even heavily insulted about gender:
“Offensive messages still appear on Instagram from time to time, or during my matches, but I don’t mind them and any girl active in the field of Esports should not let these attacks affect me. to myself.”
FIFA brings more stress than real football
As someone who has experienced both real and virtual football, Güldenpfennig asserts that FIFA is the most psychological challenge:
“In fact, FIFA is more intense than real life matches. You always have to stay focused, no matter what the moment. Just a second of lack of concentration can lead to mistakes that make you fail.
Goals or defeats make me feel quite upset. In addition, I also feel quite annoyed with the way the opponent celebrates goals and buys time.”
However, after all, Güldenpfennig still feels very lucky because the techniques in FIFA can be applied in real football:
“A lot of things can be applied from the game to the actual football. Not only the technique but also the tactics or pressing situations, they are all related to real life.”