Love for the Money, Not the Sport

I feel like it was a universal experience for little boys and girls to dream about becoming professional athletes. Their lavish lifestyle, no studying, doing something they loved, and getting paid a load of money; what kid wouldn’t dream about that? However, most of our dreams came crashing down when reality struck, and we realized that we actually had to be talented to make it to the big leagues. And once a small percentage reach their goal of accomplishing their dream, many athletes lose their love for the sport. This ultimately made me ponder whether athletes actually love the sport like professionals used to or if they love the fame, money, and prestige that comes with it. 

Soccer players have become some of the most well-paid athletes in the world, yet it has not always been like this. In 1930, the first-ever World Cup was broadcast to the public, considering the Olympic Games were so popular. There were 13 teams that participated in the World Cup, the host being Uruguay. It was set up in a tournament format like it is today, yet substantially smaller since a fraction of the money was invested in the 1930s World Cup compared to the ones we have now. Since there was no money really being invested into the World Cup, many players were getting paid close to nothing. For example, the players on the Uruguayan team were normal men. Their captain José Nasazzi was a defender for the National team but also a customs official, and  Héctor Castro, who was a forward, lost his right forearm in a freak accident at work, so he became a messenger. Today, people would never see athletes who play for their national team having normal jobs, especially not having an arm like Hector. However, these players were not playing for the money but for the pure love and passion they had for the sport. I assume that many of them would have wished that soccer would have generated enough money to support their families; however, that was not the case. They played to not only represent their country but also because they loved what they did. 

I feel like today, there are still people who are passionate about the sport and are proud to represent their country’s colors, but in the end, they are getting paid millions of dollars to do so. Not to mention, when they play for clubs, one more zero added to their paycheck can make them go from one team to their rival. Many fans get angry at this; however, at the end of the day, money is everything in 2024. Money gets you the car you have always wanted, the trips you were dying to do growing up, the girls that are way out of your league, and so much more. Even though they will be living a life that is materialistic, people today only care about the tangible things others could give to them, not the emotional ones. In addition to that, many players who lost their love for the sport will go anywhere as long as they give them a hefty sum of money. Currently, there is a craze for players to go to Saudi Arabia or other Middle Eastern teams since they are the only countries that can afford the high wages some players demand. This oil money was able to pay huge names in soccer like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, and many more. All because of the money, these players who could still be competing in high-level leagues decided to go to Saudi Arabia for one thing only… the money. 

Some can argue that these players are already quite old, and they might as well make a lot of money now than never. Although, many young players who are full of potential are doing the same. For instance, this young Uruguayan player was full of talent and had a big future. His name was Fabricio Dias, and he was captain of the Uruguay Sub 20 team and Liverpool, a club team in Uruguay. He has won many titles with Liverpool and won the Sub 20 World Cup in 2023. Fabricio was not only a leader but played with heart and passion. My father and I would watch him on TV and guess which European team was going to sign him. “Creo que va a ir a  Barcelona Papá! (I think he is going to Barcelona, Dad) “No, creo que va an ir a Brighton!! (No, I think he is going to Brighton)”. Both of us were excited to see this player unfold right in front of our eyes. He was going to be the future of Uruguayan soccer since Fabricio was only 19 but had the characteristics of a captain at 26 years old. However, everything came crashing down when Fabricio did what many other players did and chose the money. Instead of going to a European team, Fabricio Dias decided to play for a team called Al Gharafa in Qatar. I remember reading the news and being at a loss for words. How can a man with so much potential throw his entire career away for 6 million dollars? Also, how does a player go from almost signing with an English team to a team in Qatar? All these questions were going through my head until my dad told me the truth. My dad understood why Fabricio did it and still supported his decision. He lived very humbly in Uruguay, and so those 6 million dollars would benefit not only him but his entire family substantially. I was disappointed, but in the end, I understood why he risked his career. 

In all, I believe that people today have to understand that soccer is not just a sport where athletes play to have fun but a business. Of course, many players love the game, but many want to reach the level of fame and fortune A list stars have reached prior. So, until fans realize that most players don’t really love the club but love what the club gives them, many of them will not be disappointed with the reality that players only care about money. 

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