With them, there’s no need to dust: cobwebs don’t stand a chance. With a heavy floating strike, or a curling full of touch, they panic the skylights as much as the counters. Followed by more than four million subscribers on TikTokthe two stars of the account Pitch Addict devote themselves to their passion with constant good humor. The concept is not rocket science: the young men challenge themselves to score the best goal according to shot criteria (outside of the foot, curled, after two touches, etc.) and chain long shots. The most efficient is declared the winner.
Their videos provoke a delightful feeling of satisfaction, as their shots border on the sublime. “We want our videos to be perfect,” explains Victor, aka “Vicoss”. Even if it means spending an extra hour on set. A shot into the top corner, a fabulous save from the goalkeeper, a post, a bar: something crazy has to happen. » Even if, when taking out his bag of balls, he admits, “around ten ended up at the neighbor’s house”, whose garden is just behind their favorite goal.
Originally from Yvelines, Victor and Thibault, known as “Thib’z”, met in their football club. The two young men of 23 keep the name of their land to themselves – in order to avoid crowds during filming – but share a number of memories. “I arrived in the city at 8 years old,” remembers Victor. Thibault is from the year above (the first was born in January 2001, the second in July 2000). In U11, he was already 1m80 tall and was very technical. He impressed me a little. »
“I was a substitute in the district”
Their journey in football took a very different turn. If Victor can boast of having played for Paris Saint-Germain in U6-U7, as goalkeeper and attacker, his glory stops there. “Afterwards, I was a substitute in the district,” he laughs. The truth is there. When it comes to football, I let Thib’z speak. » No doubt, the latter knows how to handle the ball. When he starts juggling, “Vicoss” describes him as “the sea lion of the group”. A winger with a silky left foot, he has long dreamed of a professional future.
“In Yvelines, my club was in partnership with Stade Malherbe in Caen,” explains Thibault. I did some testing there. But I was only 13 and my mother was a bit blocked. She’s a mother hen, she didn’t want to let me go! » The Ile-de-France resident finally joins a sports-study section in Brétigny-sur-Orge and plays in the national U17. Despite a few attempts with professional clubs, he failed to achieve his goal.
“For my last two years of high school, I returned to my local establishment, and I found Vicoss. What a failure! », he adds with a burst of laughter. The two TikTok stars willingly throw barbs at each other, but do not show an ounce of malice. However, they admit that they only became friends late in life. “After my baccalaureate, I did a DUT at Paris Descartes University,” continues Thibault. Victor made his in the same place! In fact, our destinies were linked, our whole life was made so that we could do something together. »
Today, “Vicoss” makes a living from the Pitch Addict project: “I stopped studying in September 2022. At the time, our income allowed us to fill up on gas, no more. It was a real gamble. I felt like something could happen. » The 23-year-old launched the social media account exactly four years ago. “I was bored, I was doing strikes to keep myself busy. I didn’t anticipate it would get this big. » He was quickly joined by Thibault on the videos and Pitch Addict gained ground over time.
From a million to… 50,000 views
A year and a half ago, the two Yvelinois decided to review their formula. Previously, the videos were shorter – around twenty seconds – with background music. From now on, “Thib’z” and “Vicoss” put themselves on stage more, display their nicknames and speak, in order to create a French-speaking community. “It was difficult because overnight, our videos went from a million views to 50,000,” remembers Victor. We took a turn that had to be taken. »
But the new recipe pays off and Pitch Addict is definitely there. The public demands strikes, so Victor and Thibault give them some. “I don’t even know how many we’ve done since the project started! », exclaims the first. From the start of 2023, the counters start to panic and, thanks to TikTok remuneration and partnerships, the business becomes viable.
“Vicoss” (left) and “Thib’z” no longer count the number of strikes attempted over the past four years… Nor the balloons sent to the neighbor’s house. LP/Olivier Lejeune LEJEUNE
The two French people are among the most followed football-related content creators in Europe. Unexpected for Victor: “I never had the slightest social network. I created my Instagram account six months before launching Pitch Addict. Of everyone around me, in high school or college, I was the last one that I would have imagined having a career on the networks! » With Thibault, however, they are recognized during events, sometimes even in the street.
Above all, popularity now opens doors for them. Many guests take part in Pitch Addict videos, such as comedian Malik Bentalha or rappers Guy2Bezbar and BendoZ. “It always goes really well,” says Victor. We want the guest to have fun and not leave saying to themselves: “It’s okay, I’ve done my promo moment. » With Guy2Bezbar, I think we could have played an hour more, but we had to return the field. »
However, the video with the rapper, National 3 player alongside his musical career, could have ended short. “On his first shot, he made a huge slip. His leg went the other way! I thought he had torn his cruciate ligaments. »
“I had horse treatment”
Pitch Addict’s fame even reaches the professional world. The two videographers have been producing content with players for several months – Benjamin Bourigeaud, Maxence Caqueret, Youssouf Fofana, or Marco Asensio. “He was very cool,” Victor says of the PSG Iberian international. We tried to speak to him a mixture of English and Spanish, he tried French. In the end, you just laugh. Our greatest quality is not football. The fact is that, whoever the guest is, when we arrive on set, in thirty seconds we ensure that they become our best friend. »
Last December, “Thib’z” and “Vicoss” took part in women’s PSG training. Jade Le Guilly remembers it: “I really liked it! It was a good time, even though it was cold that day (laughs). » The 21-year-old right side assures him, the footballing level of the two boys is not usurped. “They still come to see us regularly at the Parc des Princes and they send me little videos. We have a good relationship. »
Most of the time, the players invited by the Pitch Addict duo have already seen images of his spectacular strikes. Even if they sometimes tease him, suspecting the balloons are deflated or the videos faked. A reward for Thibault, who had a herniated disc in 2019 and who thought he had to give up football. “I had a harsh treatment, cortisone, infiltrations. »
With Pitch Addict, he makes up for lost time: “I always had this little remorse, this frustration of not having made enough sacrifices to do something in football. I wanted to be a professional and what I do today allows me to touch this world in another way. » Thibault did not stop his studies. A Master 2 student in Organizational Management, the company in which he is doing his work-study program offered him a permanent contract.
But the 23-year-old plans to devote himself to Pitch Addict once he graduates. To be able to be fully involved in this project, shared with the man he now considers “a brother”. He doesn’t want to miss this train, after his missed appointment with football.
“Football is all I have”
When Thibault describes Victor as “his best friend”, the latter has fun. The two boys act modest, but their mutual affection betrays them. In the future, they hope to be able to increase travel and collaborations with foreign content creators. “I remember, when I launched Pitch Addict, I didn’t even know how to go around the world with the ball,” Victor confesses. I was rubbish! » Today, he juggles with the stars: “Often, in the evening, when the day is over, I lie down in bed and I realize. »
The young man, a central defender during his years in the district, collects jerseys – around a hundred – and souvenirs. “Football is more than passion: that’s all I have. My family and friends have always told me: “It’s okay, we understand with your football!” » All my life, I have only dressed in tracksuits and club jerseys. All my life. » PSG fan, Victor has a dream guest, Neymar, “because it’s [s]our favorite player.”
For Thibault, the answer is just as clear: Cristiano Ronaldo. The left-hander, also a Paris supporter, cultivates total devotion to Real Madrid. He also had the opportunity to see the Portuguese star last January in Dubai. Invited to the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony, the two boys from Pitch Addict were swimming in complete happiness. “When I saw it, I had chills and tears in my eyes! », “Thib’z” is still captivated.
For the occasion, Victor had even swapped the football equipment for a suit. “I still haven’t returned it!” I wanted to put the labels back on to rip off the store. But I made a stain on the sleeve. » Thibault laughs: “He ate too many lobsters and truffles at the buffet. »
