10 heartbreaking moments that reduced football legends to tears

Steven Gerrard

Football is an emotional business.

But it’s not just fans that shed a few droplets in moments of agony and ecstasy. There have been a huge amount of players that have let their passion for beautiful game get that better of them over the years, with many having gone down in history as iconic moments.

We might well have seen the latest collection to the prestigious gallery at Anfield on Sunday when an exhausted Steven Gerrard was on the verge of a break down afterLiverpool secured a 3-2 victory over Manchester City.

The skipper quickly composed himself to deliver a rousing speech that will surely go down in Merseyside folklore if a maiden Premier League crown is lifted by the 33-year-old in May.

Breaking down in the comfort of your home is one thing, but on live TV with millions of viewers is a lot harder to explain with your reputation intact.

However, gone are the days of cry baby accusations – apparently, grown men are allowed to cry in this age of metrosexuality.

Considering this is the land of the stiff upper lip, there’s a fair few Englishmen who are, deservedly, on our list. Pass me the tissues.

1. Mario Balotelli

It is hard to imagine any cult corner article not featuring madman Mario, and he’s straight in here for his waterworks after having been substituted against Napoli earlier this season. The Milan striker’s tears were bizarre considering there appeared to be no real reason behind them.

However, although racist abuse was cited as a possible motive it’s just as likely that he decided to eat a raw onion for his post-match meal such are the lengths of Balotelli’s maverick nature.

http://youtu.be/Kx6KQzHo21k

2. Marco Materazzi and Jose Mourinho

Moments after Internazionale’s victory in the Champions League final in 2010, the shrinking violet Mourinho tried to sneak out unnoticed for talks with Real Madrid following his decision to leave the Italian giants, but thought better of it when he noticed Marco Materazzi aka Zinedine Zidane’s nemesis, waiting to board the coach. Cue blubbering and a manly embrace.

http://youtu.be/PV_cXSfeqbY

3. Emmanuel Eboue

Ok – so he wasn’t the best defender in the world. He was quite funny, though. So did he really deserve to be pushed to brink by his own fans after a poor display against Wigan?

The class clown’s luck run out and he was shipped out to Galatasaray. Arsenal fans seem to have short memories considering how the distinctly average Nacho Monreal and his teammates were cheered on Saturday evening..

http://youtu.be/L0Ntn6moW1s

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

I doubt so many people have taken such pleasure in someone else’s tears. A young Ronaldo was cast as the villain when he played a part in Wayne Rooney’s dismissal against Portugal at the World Cup in 2006. (But they’re club teammates – for shame!) The nation decided to ignore the fact Rooney tried to dismember Ricardo Carvalho’s member and focus on Ronaldo’s wink. So when he wailed in pain after defeat in the final, it was a strange sort of justice?

He’s now got his own montage after a string of crying displays over the years..most recently when he picked up the Balon d’Or.

http://youtu.be/fQSHMbfhw-Q

5. David Beckham

Here’s one that slips under the radar sometimes because it took place away from the pitch. Following England’s World Cup exit Becks took it upon himself to give up the captain’s armband with a lengthy and painful to watch statement to a packed press room. The once squeaky voiced midfielder struggled to contain himself on a couple of occasions but left with dignity intact.

http://youtu.be/hsNk4-cXJFI

6. Roberto Baggio

This one speaks for itself. He’s just lost his country the World Cup courtesy of an awful penalty. And then one of the celebrating Brazilians has whispered in his ear that ponytails are not cool and never were. Yeah I said not cool Martin Demichelis.

http://youtu.be/voT5W9Doa-s

7. Stuart Pearce

When Pearce missed his penalty at the World Cup in 1990 it was a bitter pill to swallow. However, six years later he finally forced it down the hatch. When he was given the opportunity to avenge his demons against Spain, Pearce didn’t duck out, he stood up. He wasn’t messing about though, creaming it into the back of the net and then celebrating like, well, a Psycho.

Good luck to anyone stepping out of line at Forest.

http://youtu.be/0L2LGgzJqAg

8. Anaitz Arbilla

An unusual addition, but well deserved. It wasn’t a big occasion but the Spaniard was simply distraught after he was subituted during the 3-2 loss to Real Madrid. The world’s most expensive footballer Gareth Bale had repeatedly roasted by Arbilla throughout the game and literally reduced him to tears. The Rayo Vallecano right-back clearly wanted the ground to swallow him as he hid under his shirt, but it was too late, he had been spotted by the camera man.

http://youtu.be/59LAZDfjWJA

9. John Terry

Chelsea fans, look away now. Everyone else, enjoy.

It’s no real surprise to see Terry on the list considering he boasts the kind of passion that leads to salmon dive defending.

The stage was set for the Captain, Leader, Legend in the Champions League final of 2008. Mr. Chelsea was going to step up and win the penalty shoot-out. It’s in the script, written in the stars, the perfect finish. Oh wait. He’s slipped. It’s over. They’ve lost. He’s crying. Or has it just been raining on his face?

Relive the moment with added fan commentary.

http://youtu.be/8Lh7nA7ml8w

10. Paul Gascoigne

Easily the most iconic tears moment in football history comes from our very own Gazza. When he picked up a yellow card he knew that he would not play in the final if England were to win. The much loved Geordie could not contain himself, prompting Gary Lineker to ask the bench to “have a word”. In the end the Three Lions crashed out on penalties but Gascoigne’s tears went down in history.

Painful to watch. So to end things on a lighter note it, here’s the advert that was born as a result..

http://youtu.be/Z8OLuUjXbsI