5 players who had the biggest falls from grace

Professional football is a high-pressure arena. Some might even say it has been a business longer than it has been a sport to enjoy.

The stresses of performing in front of thousands of expectant fans can sometimes be lost on those that don’t take to the field one weekend after another. It can not be easy to put personal struggles to the side, to dazzle the television cameras, do one’s job to full effect and be the best version of themselves as entertainers and athletes.

With that, it’s only natural for a select number of stars to fall by the wayside. The constraints of juggling the demands of being a role model as well as a consummate pro can cause even the most talented of individuals to experience slumps from which there is no return.

Let’s take a look at five examples of players who simply lost their natural ability.

#1 Adriano

Once the toast of European football, Adriano was a rising star who looked capable of becoming one of the most prolific strikers the game had ever seen. Alas, he’s now 34 years of age, trying to earn his crust with fourth-tier American outfit Miami United FC. Needless to say, his best days are behind him and he has no chance of reclaiming his formidable form – the only hope now is that he can rediscover his love for the beautiful game and reach a calm state of living.

Anybody who loves football hates to see its likable characters get stuck with the tragic storylines, but that’s what happened to the former Brazil international.

He used to score goals for fun with Parma and during the early years of his second stay with Serie A superpower Inter Milan, but the death of his father, coupled with an increased expectancy by the fans, saw him spiral into a crippling depression which resulted in a spectacular loss of form.

Since then, he experienced a number of really unimpressive sojourns with a variety of clubs thanks to alcohol, depression and personal demons. Forced to return to his homeland, he turned out for Sao Paulo, Flamengo and Corinthians among others but he couldn’t reignite his spark again. His tale is one of a waste of genuine potential, but he will always be fondly remembered as a player who created great memories for the neutrals.

#2 Paul Gascoigne

The former England international might well have suggested that some of his best performances came following marathon benders, but it’s clear that the now 48-year-old’s career was cut short thanks to a personal battle with alcoholism and the downsides that came with it.

Having enjoyed his time at the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Rangers, some might think it unfair to suggest that Gascoigne wasted his talents completely, but his rather selfish self-implosion definitely hampered his ability for a number of seasons.

Turmoil seemed to be always bubbling under the surface for Gazza. Whether it was wobbly performances or public catastrophes, he was rarely far from chaos.

His inflammatory outbursts on the field of play are as memorable as some of the great goals he scored, even when he was at his peak and he was charged with violent conduct and fined on more than one occasion, not to mention the reported physical and emotional abuse he directed at his ex-wife.

By the time he had entered his 30s, the magic had long since faded which was a real shame because he could potentially have kept on playing for another few years at the very least. His story is a cautionary one for so many youngsters who have to deal with so much at once but it still doesn’t offer much comfort to those who saw him throw his potential away.

#3 Mido

There was once a time when Mido was touted for big things. Initially starting off his journey as a fresh-faced 16-year-old with Egyptian side Zamalek SC he impressed there for a time before Belgian team Gent came calling and he seized the opportunity with both hands. It was supposed to be the start of a wonderful era of prosperity for the teenage sensation and for a time he lived up to the hype.

Eventually joining Ajax in the Eredivisie, he teamed up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The pair dovetailed wonderfully when they got on, but Mido would quickly wind up on the bad side of his manager Ronald Koeman (as well as tussling with Ibra). A war of words and some public bust-ups fueled by Koeman’s insinuation that the then 19-year-old didn’t try hard in training caused their relationship to go sour and the player was rapidly banished to the reserves.

Possessing a rather self-centred attitude, Mido seemed to always look out for himself. If things weren’t going his way, he would have his say and let people know exactly why he was unhappy. In the end, his outbursts and lack of respect for those around him got in the way of his football ability.

Issues with weight also plagued him badly for a number of seasons and the once celebrated Egyptian found himself frozen out of the game before he eventually retired at the age of only 30. Having been such a bright light in the beautiful game in his formative years, his fuse had blown all too early and he quickly wound up in the dark with nowhere left to turn.

#4 Freddy Adu

The informed consensus these days is that Freddy Adu’s fall from grace was really not his fault. Deemed by many as a victim of over-bearing expectation and the pressures of the increasing commercialisation of American soccer, Adu was never going to stand a chance as a naive teenager who just wanted to score goals and play with fun.

When he became a professional, it was so easy for everyone – including himself – to dream of how big a star he could become. The early signs painted promising tales of his future greatness as he became the youngest-ever Major League Socer debutant and the youngest goalscorer at the time of his first season. If the razzmatazz was eye-popping, Adu was doing his best to live up to it all.

A pin-up for what MLS could achieve, he was the genuine poster boy but it took a while before his potential became viewed as nothing more than an over-hype star. Yes, he had good technical ability, but a combination of incorrect club destinations as well as the real possibility that his sponsors and exaggerators didn’t have his best interests at heart, combined to make life difficult for him.

Now 26 years of age, Adu is on the books at Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL. The nomadic ex-superstar who has played for 12 pro clubs has certainly tumbled along way since the days of being touted as “the next Pele” and despite how well-known his downfall has been, it’s still sad to think about how much things have changed for the worse.

On the plus side, age is on his side and he has never given up on forging a living from the game which really should be applauded more than it is.

#5 George Best

The Northern Irish legend is fondly recalled as one of the best players to ever kick a ball. Producing moments of sheer audacity, he regularly wowed crowds with feats of outrageous craft that oozed effortlessness. Sitting proudly alongside the likes of Johann Cruyff, Lionel Messi, Marco van Basten, Garrincha and so many others as an otherworldly talent, he is in talented company – and rightly so.

During his time with Manchester United, Best won the European Cup, two English Championship medals as well as helping the Red Devils to two Charity Shields. What’s more, he also picked up the European Player of the Year award in 1968 after scoring 28 goals in 41 matches that season. At his peak, he was unplayable and one of the most innovative, tricky players around.

However, alcoholism played a major role in the way he wasted so much of his potential, something most elegantly put by the man himself (per BBC Sport):

I was born with a great gift, and sometimes with that comes a destructive streak. Just as I wanted to outdo everyone when I played, I had to outdo everyone when we were out on the town.

His days in Manchester are the stuff of legend, but not so discussed are the times that proceeded them, such as his stint with League of Ireland outfit Cork Celtic, Hibernian, Hong Kong Rangers and the Brisbane Lions. He should have played at the pinnacle for years and years but instead, he threw it away for spells at mediocre clubs in order to live the high life.