In discussions of the most gifted footballers of the postwar era, George Best, Gazza, and Diego Maradona are amongst the names frequently mentioned, with their silky skills and awe-inspiring ability lasting long in fans' collective memory.
But why does it seem that those with the most natural talent end up suffering off the pitch?
Non-footballing difficulties ultimately cost Best his career; his fight with alcoholism is well documented. Both Gazza and Maradona waged their own battles against mental illness and addiction, leaving many pundits to describing theirs as a "talent wasted."
And the phenomenon does not seem to be limited to footballers.
Andrew Flintoff's alcohol-fuelled exploits during the World Cup were the latest in a string of drunken misadventures, whilst Rugby Union's newest sporting genius, Dan Cipriani, was recently removed from his first England squad after being spotted leaving a nightclub in the early hours, albeit under disputed circumstances.
Even more troubling, the trend doesn't seem set to end anytime soon. Just ask Brazil's Adriano.
When Adriano burst onto the scene as a lightning-quick striker, Fabio Capello was in awe of his ability.
"Imagine what he could do if he brought his right foot up to a decent standard," the coach said. "At that point I think we would need to change the rules of the game. Otherwise it would just be a mismatch every time he steps on the pitch."
Adriano's promise was exponential; he produced 25 domestic and nine international goals in just one season. Yet it appears that this potential may go unfulfilled.
Following the death of his father and a separation from his long-time girlfriend, Adriano sought the comfort of a long-term foe of the professional footballer: alcohol.
"I felt abandoned and I began to look for comfort elsewhere," Adriano said of his drinking. "I wanted alcohol to absorb all my problems."
The downward spiral led to his removal from Inter's Champions League squad and a loan spell back to Sao Paulo in his native Brazil, where he's currently trying to get his career back on track.
A return to Inter might never materialize if Adriano cannot repair his relationship with coach Roberto Mancini, despite the striker's obvious desire to return and his great form for the Tricolor Paulista.
In any event, as rumors abound about Ronaldinho's nighttime exploits and stories emerge about Barcelona's No. 10 taking young Leo Messi with him on the town, the curse of the naturally talented footballer seems likely to recur into the new generation.
Why is it that those with innate aptitude for a sport are so often prone to personal downfall? Is it the pressure to perform at the highest level at such a tender age—and being thrust into the limelight when too young and naive, or not characteristically suited to it?
Best admitted to suffering from shyness, an obstacle he overcame with booze. Does his fate set a precedent for other shy sportsmen who are forced into the public eye?
There are obvious exceptions to this rule, such as Real's Alfredo di Stefano, whose glittering career continued to the ripe old age of 40. Still, it seems that many of football's brightest prodigies will continue to be dogged by off-field problems.
It can only be hoped that it doesn't cost another brilliant player his career.
Why do you think football's greatest talents suffer off the pitch? Do you disagree—and believe that troubled stars are merely a visible minority? Please post your comments below.
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2 months ago
It's very difficult to say. The likes of Shearer and Owen have come through the modern game unscathed with normal family lifes. David Beckham is as famous as any but he didn't hit the bottle.
You get bankers and estate agents turning to the bottle so it's more a human problem then one of exceptional talent I think.
Fame definately has it's evil's though.
2 months ago
They act just like all young millionares in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview (soon to be an article) Romario admits to having sex in just about every hotel he ever stayed in with the Brazilian team ...and also on the airplane while off to play in Europe....and also hours before key world cup qulifiers.
They live movie star lives ....with babes falling at their feet....and money for nothing.....playing football which they love and you could not pay them enough to stop playing.
A charmed life really....some handle it differently to others....I won`t judge and say if its better to do the same Spice girl every night or two or three ....if boose is bad ..or other substances....whole other debate.
2 months ago
Its a human issue more than anything. However, if we had point to a factor, I would think it had something to do with certain footballers living in poverty before bursting onto the international scene. Most of these South American footballers have all had a taste of poverty and it the sudden chance from "No money" to "Too much money", that affects them...
This is only a 'possible' explanation and only 'certain' footballers fall under that category...
from 2 months ago
good point Salomon - could definitely be a factor. I think it definitely is relevant that you get young men only just out of living with their parents suddenly having more money than they can spend and as famous as anyone else in the world. I just think it's such a tragedy that players like Best ended their careers at 28 when they had so much obvious ability. If he had lived like a celestine monk he could have played til he was 50!
from 2 months ago
Yeah but still does not explain Gascoigne going Frootie Tootie.
I don`t know if his case really has anything to do with this article.
2 months ago
I know you wouldnt have had the talent of the above players, but Paul Mcgrath was a world class player in his day and he turned to the bottle regularly and even trained drunk. Yet he was man of the match 9 times out of 10 for United and Aston Villa and the backbone of the Republic of Ireland team.
Because of this it was ignored and there was also the factor of boozing in the game being acceptable in those times.(Norman Whiteside and Bryan Robson other examples) With Mcgrath it was due to a tough chidhood and like Best, an element of shyness.
An example Ron Atkinson once gave of Mcgrath: when in the dressing room he asked to mark Alan Shearer, Mcgrath just shrugged and went out and played, destroyed Shearer and said nothing. When asked to present medals for a local schoolboys league, he physically couldnt do it.
2 months ago
*I know he wouldnt have had the talent*
from 2 months ago
you're absolutely right Keith - I was thinking of Whiteside as well while I was writing this. I think sometimes personality can be a crucial element to it - sometimes you get players like Scholes who keep themselves out of the limelight and still produce great performances throughout their career without getting caught up in booze or drugs.
I can't see what it is that separates him from those that fall victim to it - maybe it is just a certain mentality that keeps players on the straight and narrow.
2 months ago
Everyone has an addiction, either they are positive addictions or they are negative addictions, Before these players become famous their addictictions are limited by their budgets and lifestyles, once they make it big there is nothing that they cant afford, so they do not have the strength of character to withstand all the temptation. Those who do like Scholes, Gerrard etc. surprize us at their normalcy. We seem to talk about peer pressure when it comes to teenagers, but even as adults we seem to suffer from peer pressure especially if we are in a new team and want to fit in.
Just a few ideas.
2 months ago
In Brazil we say....To die is no big deal but to not live is unforgivable.
Party on Adriano!!!
2 months ago
Its nothing to do with the greatness of the player. Its just different personalities.
They are very poor and mediocre players who have the same personal problems as the famous ones, you just don't hear about them because they are not 'newsworthy'.
Likewise there are stupendously talented players who have little or no personal problems: Pele, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Puskas etc etc.
I actually think the amount of news some players get because of their personal problems means that the myth of their ability gets taken to ridiculously over the top levels because they are always in the limelight. Cantona and Gascoigne are both examples of this in my opinion. Gascoigne was unusual for an English player because he could float past players, use both feet, and was strong. But in global terms he was never that outstanding. Was he better than his contemporaries Stoichkov, Hagi, Matthaus? I doubt it. Was he more talented than Matt Le Tissier? Again debatable in my opinion.
Cantona meanwhile never produced anything of note on the biggest stage, International football and the Champions League/European Cup, yet he is revered as if he was one of the greatest players ever to play the game. The media hype surrounding both of these players as examples, certainly helped them gain the mythical legendary status they have attained.
from 2 months ago
Geeez...I totally agree with ever word of this.......OK ......which one of you is impersonating Simon....I`m on to U.
Well spoken......cheers.
from 2 months ago
Heh heh, glad I am not conforming to your stereotypes Darlon, or S, or whoever you are :-)
2 months ago
**There** are.... not 'they' in the second line. oops.
2 months ago
After all of these wonderful comments I`d also like to add that the phenomenon is not NEW.........It goes way back in Brazil to our very first star and world cup winner ...Garrincha.
He was in my and many other people`s opinion better than Pele or Maradonna in that he was truely unmarkable.
Died young inside a bottle.
A little trivia.......Brazil never lost a match with Pele and Garrincha playing. Not one.
2 months ago
Garrincha also never played in Europe ...never got any million dollar contracts.....and never really changed his lifestyle.
He grew up as a drunk genius............and pretty much died a drunk genius.
I`d still trade 100 years of my life for 20 of his.
about 1 month ago
Adriano gotr called to the Brazilian team today. There`s nothing wrong with him.
Just missed home.
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