Professional footballers are known for their exceptional talent and impressive skills on the pitch. However, many of these footballers had humble beginnings and had to overcome several obstacles before achieving stardom. In this article, we will take a look at 10 footballers with surprising beginnings and learn more about their journey.
1. Lionel Messi
Considered one of the best footballers of all time, Lionel Messi had a rough start to his football career. Born with growth hormone deficiency, he struggled to find a club that was willing to pay for his treatment. However, at the age of 13, he was discovered by Barcelona and signed as a part of their youth academy.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in a small island in Portugal and grew up in a poor family. He started playing football with a homemade ball, which was made of socks and rubber bands. His talent was noticed by a local club, where he started playing at the age of eight.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic grew up in a rough neighborhood in Sweden and started playing football to escape his troubled surroundings. He was initially rejected by several clubs due to his unorthodox style of play, but eventually, he landed a spot on the Malmo FF team.
4. Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez grew up in France as the son of Algerian immigrants. He started playing football at a young age, but his parents did not support his dream of becoming a professional footballer. However, he persisted and eventually signed with French club Le Havre.
5. Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk had a difficult start to his professional football career. He was initially rejected by several Dutch clubs and had to work odd jobs to make ends meet. However, he continued to train hard and eventually landed a spot on the Groningen team.
6. N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante grew up in a small village in Mali and moved to France at a young age. He started playing football on the streets and worked odd jobs to support his family. Despite his humble beginnings, he eventually signed with the French club, Boulogne.
7. Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez grew up in a poor family in Uruguay and had to work odd jobs to make ends meet. He started playing football at a young age and eventually signed with the Dutch club Groningen.
8. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah grew up in a small village in Egypt and started playing football on the streets. He moved to Cairo at a young age to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer. After several rejections, he finally landed a spot on the El Mokawloon team.
9. Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy started playing football at a young age but was rejected by several clubs due to his small stature. He had to work odd jobs to support his family and continued to play in local clubs. He eventually landed a spot on the Fleetwood Town team.
10. James Milner
James Milner grew up in a working-class family in England and started playing football at a young age. He initially played for Leeds United but was eventually sold to Aston Villa due to financial troubles. He later signed with several Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Liverpool.
In conclusion, these footballers with surprising beginnings overcame various challenges to achieve success in their professional careers. Their stories serve as an inspiration to aspiring footballers and highlight the importance of perseverance, determination, and hard work.
