Luke Littler on the England National Team, Playing Darts at Madison Square Garden, and His Footballing Hero Cristiano Ronaldo: Men in Blazers 06/28/26

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1:52Rog:My guest today is a generational darts phenom, the Laminya Mal of the hockey. The gent who's become the youngest world champion in the game's history. He's the number one ranked player in the world, third on the list of the PDC major title winning rankings. And he's still too young to buy a pint in the United States. Just 19 years old after this weekend's US Darts Masters in New York City. He's also single-handedly lifted darts to incredible new levels of popularity. It's a real joy to welcome the pride of Warrington, England. It's Mr. Luke Littler. Hello, Rog. Luke, it's good to see you, man.

2:30Rog:The day after you wrapped up the Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden, what do you make of our iconic venue? It's not too shabby. Yeah, obviously, I've been coming for three years, and obviously, I've not picked up the trophy just yet. But other than that, the crowd across both days, sold out across both days. And that's what we needed this year. Obviously, it was massive help from the England supporters as well. Other than that, there's still loads of Americans, Canadians and just everyone around the world. And yeah, I can't wait to come back next year to Madison Square Garden. What do you most look forward to when you're in the United States?

3:06Rog:Because that city is still full of New York Knicks energy. Obviously, there's a lot to do. There's a lot to do, but personally for myself, I don't really get enough time to do anything. Obviously, there's a lot of media towards the darts, and then you've got to play darts. Obviously, busy watching England, watching the boxing. But, yeah, we've got a day off tomorrow, so hopefully we can do loads of things before we go home. Is this something that you do look forward to? One of the joys of the World Cup, I've got to be honest, is watching the world come over here and fall in love with America like waffle by waffle, burger by burger, chicken wing by chicken wing.

3:43Rog:Is there anything that you do look forward to doing when you're in New York? Yeah, I mean, I think it's just trying, obviously, the drinks, the drinks that they have over here, obviously, the range of food, because it's so different over here. And like you said there, it's good to see, obviously, plenty of fans getting along with each other. Even the Americans said, obviously, the Scottish have been good, us English have been good, obviously, the Norwegians, the Netherlands. And yeah, I think it's just been, other than a great tournament, the fans are there. And that's what most players need, not only for the darts, but for the football.

4:16The fans is what makes it.

4:18Rog:I want to dive into it. It's almost been like the love of darts fan base has kind of spread into football. I can't remember a tournament where there has just been more welcoming, more joy, more good vibe. It has been amazing. But what did you make of the trip to MetLife this weekend? you watched England beat Panama. What was it like to watch the English national team in World Cup play in an NFL stadium? Yeah, it was good. Obviously, we got off to a very slow start and obviously I think it was half an hour, maybe 40 minutes through, we got the news that Croatia went 1-0 up and then obviously, obviously, sure the players knew that we needed to win this game to obviously top the group and obviously avoid Portugal, which we have done in the last 32.

5:05but yeah it was good very wet in the stands but it was all worth it in the end

5:11Rog:It must have felt like being back home in the north west of England Yeah it was good it was good just to be in the mix as well with all the fans, all the supporters and obviously when we score a goal Chase the Sun comes on and everyone all the fans are looking at me and we're all singing along and yeah a very good day out Watching Harry Kane play the England scoring record was incredible what was that like to experience? It's incredible Obviously, Harry's done a lot of great things, not only for England, but obviously for his club as well. And yeah, obviously Kane and Jude are obviously the main players at the minute.

5:45And yeah, as long as they keep scoring and assisting each other, then we can go far.

5:50Rog:You are close with this English team. I love watching you in March. Thomas Tuchel asked you to come into camp to organise the Three Lions Dart Championship. I believe Tuchel asked you to quote teach these boys a lesson what lesson did you give them and what was that like for you? We had a little game and I think a lot of the players were in teams of four, teams of five just going around the board and I think I went around the board and I don't even know like 12, maybe 13 or 14 darts around the board and everyone was like how have you done that? And yeah it was just obviously it was good to see them before coming over here to the World Cup and yeah, we've done a good job so far.

6:31So hopefully they can carry on and hopefully bring it home.

6:34Rog:What players impressed you with their darts mentality? I don't know about mentality, but Phil Foden was probably one of the best. Obviously, Phil's not in the squad, but yeah, I'd say Phil's the best. I think he hit a 180 minutes before I walked in. Did he really? He's got some serious, he's put some serious time in. Yeah, I think him and Ramsdale were the most like practicing. They didn't want to get off the board. I think when everyone went for dinner, I think I was stood with Foden, Ramsdale and I think Stones. We just kept practising and kept practising. It was like, oh, the food's on. So we went and sat down, had some food in and played again.

7:11Rog:What's that like for you? Because I know you're a massive football fan, as we're about to discuss. You're with these guys who are iconic in England, but you're on your terrain. You're kind of dazzling them with what you can do. Yeah, it was just another brilliant opportunity for myself to see the players before they came out here. to America and obviously see a lot of the United players there as well. And yeah, just overall a good opportunity for myself and obviously for my social media for England as well. We'll get back to the football in a moment, but this is the fifth year that the US Dartsmasters have stopped into New York City.

7:49Rog:But this is the first time that the tournament, which is just a joy of its own, has overlapped with the World Cup. with an England game, a New Jersey train ride away. So you had England supporters filling many of the sold-out 5 ,000-seat venue. How did that change the experience for you to have this massive darts moment collide with just the World Cup energy? This is my third year here, and obviously the atmosphere has been incredible year after year, but I think it was just that bit special with the England fans. It felt a bit like home. and obviously in one of my games, my first game I hit a 180 to leave double one and then hit double one with the next shot in my first start.

8:30So yeah, I was just having a bit of fun and then yeah, I didn't get the job done. I got beat by Luke Humphries 8-7. Luke went out in 11 darts. So realistically, I had to go out in nine to lift the trophy. But yeah, the fans was just unbelievable and like I said, yeah, felt like at home.

8:48Rog:I love this. You said there's times that you wish you could just join the crowd and be with them. Can you explain what that feels like in your own words? You've got the table seats and then obviously the people in the tears. And there was, yeah, I don't think I could not spot an England shirt in them tears. And then obviously through the walkway, I think it was just all England fans. And if someone tried getting past them, they had to move around. And yeah, they just stood there with the bears. They weren't moving. and yeah, the atmosphere was good all night long. There's a lot of talk in the United States about just how terrible our football chants are.

9:24Rog:Like our footballers, they're doing pretty bloody well in the US. The chants, they need work. You walk onto, it's Greenlight by Pitbull, right? What goes through your mind when you hear that? Can you tell us what a good song does? Does it flip a switch in you mentally? It flips a switch, obviously it gets the crowd going but obviously it brings back memories from coming up to nine years ago now since WrestleMania 33. When I was 10, me and my dad came over for WrestleMania and that was the theme tune for that year. And then luckily, last year in Dublin, went to go watch Pitbull and even met him backstage.

10:02And yeah, even with any player, they'll say it. I think you need a good walk on, get the fans going and then obviously you've got to do your job and kick on.

10:09Rog:And it gives you like adrenaline, gives you rush. Does it tighten your focus? I wouldn't say tighten the focus. I think it's just more enjoying it and obviously get the fans involved as much as you can before you actually do have to sort of lock in and do your job. I know that while you were in New York, you went shopping for some sports trading cards, picked up a Max Dowman card, signed, I think. Yeah, you got an Adam Wharton rarity. You got a Zinedine Zidane autograph that I'm a little bit jealous of. What is the secret to a good collector? What are you looking for? For myself, I think anything just, anything United or ex-United players.

10:48But yeah, it's just for the love of the sport. Obviously, it's gone bigger and bigger. And I think everyone that's big into it now, they all start on match attacks, collecting the book. It's just come on leaps and bounds. And obviously, it's an expensive hobby. Yeah, it's more enjoyable as well. It's just have a bit of fun and see what you can get.

11:09Rog:Were you ever a World Cup Panini sticker kind of man? That was never for you. I opened all the packs and then I tried to sort them into teams, but yeah, I've not sorted them out. I can't be bothered. There's too many. I'd bite your arm off for a Vizinha sticker. And as the world arrives in the United States for the biggest spectacle in sports, we're going coast to coast, host city to host city to meet the world with the Men in Blazers Matchday Live Tour. These are free college game day style live events taking place just before kickoff at some of the biggest games of the summer. But we'll be taking the stage with celebrity guests in front of thousands of fans.

11:50Rog:It's going to be amazing. Come and be with us in person or from afar on YouTube. And let's celebrate this summer the way it's meant to be celebrated. Head to the events tab on meninblazers.com for all the details. To the football, to more together courage. I do want to touch on the darts but we have to say you were once quite a good footballer darts took over completely I think by around the age of 11 and you had to drop it but my sense is you were a striker you were a left midfielder tell us what kind of player was Pete Luke Littler take us there I think it was like seven a side and then moved up to nine a side when we were little and yeah I could really just really played anywhere the left, the right, or even up front.

12:37But usually I'd like it on the right where I could cut inside on my left foot. And yeah, like I said, and like you said, I've obviously hung the boots up at a young age, but here I am now. I couldn't ask for anything better.

12:50Rog:It's a tragedy in many ways. What footballer would you compare yourself to? What footballer were you the Warrington version of? I don't know. Anyone who plays on the right and cuts inside of the left. Did you have a hero when you were growing up? you're like that that's what I want to be my hero is Cristiano Ronaldo um just what he's done um for the game obviously some say Messi's better some say Ronaldo's better um but yeah personally I think Ronaldo is you are hashtag team Ronaldo yeah god Luke Littler that is I would have had you down as a Messi man any day um but we'll dive into the darts quickly because that's been a remarkable journey.

13:31Rog:18 months old, at the age of most kids are like trying to work out how to hold the sippy cup. You are just casually chucking darts, wearing a backwards baseball cap, throwing them at a magnetic board. I'll be honest, I've rarely seen a more intimidating toddler than you, Lou Littler. And you grew 10 years old. You're playing local pub tournaments by the time of 16. And you're regularly beating growing men. 40 and 50 year olds are being taken out by you. What did that feel like, sending seasoned men out of a pub when you're that age? Did it just start to feel normal to you or was there a special giddy pleasure in it?

14:09I don't think most of them enjoyed it, getting beat by a little kid, but that's the commitment we took as a family. Monday night would be the St. Helens Arts Academy. Tuesday we'd go to St. Helens again. I'm pretty sure Wednesday was our only break, and then Thursday, Friday, we'll be back in St. Ellen's and then on the weekend there might be some sort of competition that you pay£10 into and you could win two, 300 quid. But yeah, beating old men at the age of 10, 11, it was a good feeling.

14:42Rog:Did you ever feel nervous, man? What do you do with fear? Yeah, I mean, I think it's just more enjoying it. You've just got to enjoy yourself. Obviously, first time going into a pub, I don't really remember it, but I just wanted to play darts, just wanted to practice, practice. And yeah, I can say that the practice definitely paid off. 16 years old, you make your World Darts Championship debut, threw your way all the way to the final, became like the youngest player to ever reach that last stage. And you start this march towards being the world's number one player. I mean, we are living, Lou, in an era of so many young athletes, so many prodigies like you, Arsenal's 16-year-old Max Dowman, Laminia Mal made his Barcelona debut as a 15-year-old and bossed the team.

15:30Rog:You're all under such a singular kind of pressure, prodigy pressure. Do you look at them and relate to them? There's some sort of relations, obviously, as a footballer. And obviously, the youngsters within Max and Laminia, they're expected to go on and score goals every game. They're expected to go on and assist every game. And yeah, for myself, I think the position that I'm in and the trophies that I hold. And yeah, I think the bookies do have me expecting to go on and win every tournament. But with darts, it's a crazy old game. And yeah, anything can happen. You were ranked 164th in the world when you introduced yourself to that world audience.

16:1022 months later, you became the youngest player

16:14Rog:to ever become the world's number one. So you're no longer that underdog. You're no longer that unknown quantity. you just said that you're the favourite at every tournament you enter how does that affect your mentality? I wouldn't think it affects me really because I don't really look at it but yeah even after that first world championships going to obviously my first floor competitions, the behind closed doors ones and then obviously into the Premier League I had that monkey on my back as soon as I got beaten in the final everyone knew and obviously I knew that I was going to be on the tour.

16:53Yeah, I think I kind of just deal with it at that stage. I just wanted to enjoy my darts and obviously it's everything I've dreamed of, going to the Premier League, going to the Pro Tours, going away to a European tour in Europe somewhere and yeah, you've still got to enjoy it now.

17:09Rog:What's harder, getting to the top or staying there? Definitely harder getting there because it's obviously a lot of prize money and a lot of trophies to win. It's a lot of darts to be thrown, a lot of travelling to do. And obviously at the top, you kind of want to relax, but at the same time, you've still got to try and earn a few more quid and increase that gap to number two. You've spoken to former team phenom Wayne Rooney about the incredibly singular challenges. I'm sure you share a lot of the same experiences of excelling at a sport and being in the spotlight at such a young age. He told you that you needed a bit of arrogance so you can perform at your best.

17:48Rog:Is that something that comes natural to you? Or do you have to train developing that kind of attitude the way you train the rest of your game? Yeah, I think it all just comes natural on stage. It does. If you hit a 180, obviously you'll celebrate. Or if you hit a big finish, then obviously you're going to celebrate and show a bit of arrogance. You can't really just go on and win 6-1, 6-2 and just go off stage. You've still got to celebrate and give a bit of arrogance. Wayne's own son, Kit, he's 10, I think. He told Wayne he wants to follow in your footsteps. He wants to become a professional darts player.

18:25Rog:You've gotten quite entwined with the football world. You get messages before tournaments from Sir David Beckham. You've shown your trophies to the crowd at Old Trafford. What's been your favourite darts football crossover moment that you've really experienced? Yeah, I mean, I think it's got to be going to Old Trafford and lifting the World Championship trophy yet again. Yeah, I think that was just to go on the pitch. I think it was one of the games was, I think it was at Spurs, Spurs at home. I think they beat us in the Europa League. So I had to kind of go over there and tell them that I've got two of these and they've only got one big trophy.

19:07Rog:Does that feel, I always wonder what that's like for the players from the other sports being paraded around. Are you feeling like Luth Little at age six would never believe this is happening in this moment? I just take everything, take everything as it comes, take the opportunities, obviously go to Manchester United or go to all these awards and obviously go on all these podcasts. Then, yeah, it just comes natural. And as long as I keep winning and keep me following there and keep the fan base there, then, yeah, I'll get even more opportunities. Let's talk about England yesterday. You were at the final group stage, right?

19:45Rog:It's a Panama game. Nervy first half, as you said, eventually quite comfortable 2-0 win. Got around the 32 game coming up against first time as DR Congo. What were your expectations for England going into this tournament, honestly? Yeah, I mean, obviously we've got a strong opportunity. Obviously, we've got a very strong squad. But if you look at the right-back position now, we've got no right-back. Rhys James is injured, Leveramento's had to go. And then, obviously, Tuchel goes and calls up Chalaba from Chelsea, who's a centre-back. So, as fans, you're kind of questioning, where's Trent? Or even, I said it, where's Kyle Walker?

20:27Obviously, he's been at Burnley this season. but we all know Kyle is rapid, he can get a crossing, he can get a passing. But yeah, I don't know if we can make any more changes or bring anyone in. But yeah, we've definitely got the squad. So yeah, I'd say semi-final, final or even go on and win it. Who's your favourite player, Luke?