Eric Abidal and a History of Footballers Who Won Battles Against Adversity

The return of Eric Abidal to the Barcelona team last weekend rightfully dominated the post-match headlines, despite his side's impressive 5-0 victory over Real Mallorca.

Just a year after undergoing a liver transplant to overcome the return of cancer, the France international returned to the pitch to complete a second comeback in just a matter of a couple of years. It is a courage in the face of adversity that should be widely celebrated for its bravery.

The hope must now be that Abidal's health problems are consigned to the past, with the talented defender allowed to live life to the full and make the most of his remaining career in professional football.

Abidal's story is one of bravery and hope that can inspire those facing difficulties of their own. He is, though, not alone in having overcome adversity in football and now would appear a suitable opportunity to pay tribute to such individuals.

Adversity comes in all shapes and forms—not all of which are physical. A number of notable players have overcome poverty, violence, addiction and other such impediments to succeed, and each is worthy of much respect.

It is the ability to battle back from physical adversity, though, that garners most attention mainly due to its rarity. Most serious conditions end careers prematurely. Some, though, are fortunate to be given a second chance.

Garrincha and Hector Castro, early South American icons

Perhaps the most famous example of all is Brazilian legend Mane Garrincha. The man many consider as being a true rival to Pele for the honour of being considered the best player in his country's history, Garrincha was born with both bowed legs and a crooked spine.

"People would say when I was out walking: 'Poor boy, he is lamed. Poor little cripple.' All because I was bow-legged," Garrincha told the Daily Express in 1962. "But I never felt different from anyone else. My bow-legs didn't stop me 'dribbling' my handcart between the narrow rows of machines." (ESPN)

The "Angel with bent legs" was different to everybody else, though. Garrincha was a footballing sensation who lit up the 1958 and 1962 World Cups with his natural talent and remarkable dribbling abilities.

While off-the-pitch battles with alcohol brought a premature end to his footballing journey at the top level, and ultimately brought about his early demise, Garrincha can still claim to have overcome immense difficulties to make himself the best player in Brazil—at least for a few years.

The 30th anniversary of the death of the "Joy of the People" recently passed and the affection felt for the Botafogo icon is still very much visible. Garrincha was unique and, while he may have not always made the right lifestyle choices, his initial bravery to succeed as a footballer must be hailed.

Another remarkable achievement from the footballing past is that of Uruguayan forward Hector Castro—a World Cup winner in 1930 and Olympic gold medalist from 1928.

Castro, an idol of Montevideo giants Nacional, overcame the loss of his right arm during his teenage years to achieve greatness. His "El Manco Divino", or "Divine One-Armed [man]," nickname was a direct reference to his notable physical impairment.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, indebted to medical science

In more recent times there have been a number of players to have overcome career-threatening impediments to reach the top—including, to some extent, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi, but for the use of expensive growth hormones paid for by Barcelona, would have been too short to make a career in professional football. Prodigiously talented as a child, it would have been little use had the Catalan side not entered the scene with money for the treatment required.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, had feared his career as a footballer was over at the age of just 15. The Real Madrid star suffered from issues with an irregular heartbeat, requiring laser surgery to solve the issues.

Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, told reporters: "His heart raced a lot when he wasn't running. The people in charge at Sporting alerted me and I went to Portugal where I had to sign some papers and authorise him being treated in hospital.

"They used a sort of laser to cauterise the source of the problem. He was operated on in the morning and came out at the end of the afternoon. Before we knew exactly what he had I was worried because there was the possibility of him giving up playing football." (The Sun)

While neither player faced deformity or the need for organ replacement, both overcame potentially career-ending issues to make their names. Now, just over a decade on, both sit at the top of the world game.

Nwankwo Kanu and Antonio Cassano, high-profile successes of heart surgery

Heart conditions have been a big issue for football in recent years, with the deaths of Marc-Vivien Foe, Antonio Puerta and Daniel Jarque in particular provoking widespread research into the area.

The 2012 case of Fabrice Muamba, who was thankfully saved having collapsed on the pitch in a cup tie at White Hart Lane, is just another salient reminder of the seriousness of the issue. (The Sun)

While Muamba has been told that he cannot continue his career, there have been others who have been able to make a career thanks to early intervention—like in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo.

One such recent example, from just a year ago, is that of Italy and Inter Milan forward Antonio Cassano. (Guardian) Thanks to the identification of a defect, the Nerazzurri striker has been able to continue his career at the highest level following minor surgery. It is a reason to be truly thankful.

However, it is perhaps Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu who provides the most high-profile example of a footballer overcoming major heart issues to succeed as a footballer.

At the age of 20, when taking a medical with Inter Milan in 1996, a potentially fatal weakness in his heart was detected and Kanu was forced to undergo open heart surgery in order to save his career.

Save his career, though, he did and with Inter, Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth he would go on to achieve plenty more as a footballer. Now, having retired, he is dedicated to charitable work with the Kanu Heart Foundation.

Ivan Klasnic and Salvador Cabanas, true survivors

Paraguayan forward Salvador Cabanas was among the best goalscorers in South American football since the turn of the millenium until his career and life were almost ended at the age of 30 when he was shot in the head by drugs lord, "JJ" Balderas, in a Mexican bar. (BBC)

It was a month before the 2007 South American Footballer of the Year even left intensive care and, although he hoped to be fit for the 2010 World Cup just months later, it was clearly an over ambitious target.

It would be two years before Cabanas would return to a football pitch, with 12 de Octobre in the Paraguayan second division. He may not be at the level he once was, now playing for General Caballero at the same level, but it is remarkable that Cabanas is playing at all.

That, then, brings us on to Ivan Klasnic, another remarkable case of recent years. Klasnic was first diagnosed with kidney issues in 2005, but following over a year of drug use designed to control the condition, was told that a transplant would be needed.

Klasnic's kidney was failing and it was his life, as well as career that were now in danger. It was a situation made worse when a first transplant, an organ donated by his mother, was rejected by his body. (Guardian)

Luckily, a second attempt using a kidney donated by his father was a success and Klasnic has since gone on to enjoy a prolonged career with Bolton Wanderers, Mainz and his country, Croatia.

He is another player who has overcome a threat to both life and career to shine at the top levels.

Footballers are often seen as pampered individuals with little concept of hardship. Sometimes, then, it is worth reminding ourselves of the difficulties that many have faced in their journey to the top of their chosen discipline.