Football players who grew up poor you didn't know

Football is a field that has provided people from all walks of life with the opportunity to fight against poverty and live a life they have always dreamed of. Although these players have proven that talent is a God-given path to escape poverty, they have not only avoided risks but also become some of the wealthiest people in the world. Perhaps you are wondering, curious about who Wintips admin is referring to? Let’s take a look at the list of football players who grew up poor below.

List football players who grew up poor ever

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Arguably the greatest footballer on the planet today, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a past that may explain his “me against the world” mentality. Born in a slum in Rosengard to a Croatian mother, Jurka Gravic, and a Bosnian alcoholic father, Sefik Ibrahimovic, Zlatan had to endure all the hardships that immigrants often face in a foreign land.

Things became even more challenging when his parents separated, leaving Ibra just 2 years old at the time. Ibrahimovic later admitted to frequently stealing as a child – living in a destitute slum left him with little other choice. It was on a small dusty plot of land in the same slum that he learned the tricks, tricks and skills of the game with his friends.

2. Luis Suarez – Football players who grew up poor

The earliest memory in Luis Alberto Suarez Dias’ life is playing barefoot football at the age of 6 on the rugged streets of Salto, a city located on the banks of the Uruguay River. Born to Rodolfo and Sandra Suarez in a family of seven children, he migrated to Montevideo the following year, where his father, a laborer, hoped to find work.

In a city known for its rising crime rates and pollution, Suarez felt the hardships of life – he didn’t even have shoes to play football. However, football provided an escape for young Luis. At the age of 9, he was discovered by Nacional scouts after scoring a hat-trick for a local club.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Considered the greatest footballer in the world today, Cristiano Ronaldo was nearly aborted before he was born. These are the candid words revealed by his mother, Dolores, in her autobiography “Mother Courage”. Growing up in a devout Catholic family, Ronaldo later revealed that he lived a life of poverty, sharing a room with his mother and two sisters.

Expelled from school at the age of 14 for throwing a chair at a teacher who disrespected him, Ronaldo was on the verge of having to work to help his family when his mother intervened, urging her son to focus on the sport he loved. Ronaldo built a reputation as a prodigy when he was signed by the local club Andorinha at the age of 8, where his father was a footballer.

4. Alexis Sanchez – Football players who grew up poor

Alexis Sanchez (aka El Nino Maravilla) was born in the Chilean suburb of Tocopilla, a mining town where a large port area prevails. His father left the family when Sanchez was a child, and he grew up with his mother as a cleaner at the school his son attended.

A great talent from an early age, Sanchez had to work several part-time jobs to maintain his family. It was while earning a living cleaning cars that he realized that football could give him a solution out of all difficulties. In a recent HBO documentary, Sanchez said that mom doesn’t like her son working for the family and that. But for football, it’s probably the last option and can’t be otherwise.

5. Dani Alves – Football players who grew up poor

Dani Alves was born on May 6, 1983, in Juazeiro, Brazil, to Domingos, his father, and Dona Lucia, his mother. His mother worked as a housewife, while his father was a farmer, with whom he worked alongside. He would wake up at 4 a.m. to accompany his father to the fields, which were located about 30 km away, helping his father tirelessly.

However, the fields in Saliter often experienced seasonal rain and drought, making agriculture a challenging means of livelihood. Nonetheless, he found time to play football with other kids in nearby fields, which helped him realize his biggest dream of becoming a professional footballer and one of the greatest full-backs in the history of football.

6. Angel Di Maria

One of three children born to Miguel and Diana, Angel Di Maria grew up in the city of Pedriel in Mendoza, Western Argentina. Hyperactive as a child, Di Maria once fell into a well and was lucky to survive. He helps his parents with their jobs at a local coal yard, along with his two sisters Vanesa and Evelyn.

Being an excellent player from an early age, he did not have the money to buy football shoes, much to the sadness of his parents. It was while he was playing for Torito locally that scouts from Rosario Central spotted him. The transfer fee of the winger, who was later sold and bought by two of the biggest clubs in the world, was, at the time, 35 footballs! And, his age at that time? 4.

7. Neymar Jr. – Football players who grew up poor

Neymar is a professional footballer from Brazil, playing as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. His career began in a small district in southern Brazil, located near a local landfill and a few rows of houses. They lived a very difficult life, lacking even enough money for prenatal ultrasound scans before childbirth.

With Neymar’s passion for football, he signed his first contract at the age of 12, a move that caught the attention of top clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid. He made his debut at the age of 17, marking a brilliant start to a career that would go on to make history in the sport.

8. Roberto Firmino

Like many South American players, Firmino grew up in poverty. For them, football was not just a passion but also a pathway to change their lives. Firmino’s full name is Roberto Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira. He was born and raised in Maceio, a coastal city in Northeast Brazil. The city is famous for its beautiful beaches and notorious crime-ridden neighborhoods.

Born into a poor family, Firmino’s childhood was marked by hardships and struggles. Mrs. Adriana Leite, Firmino’s former teacher, recounted a poignant story about the Brazilian forward. Once, she asked Firmino about life at home. Very honestly, the boy revealed that their house had been without electricity for the past week.

9. Sadio Mane – Football players who grew up poor

Sadio Mané is a professional footballer from Senegal who plays as a forward for the Bundesliga team Bayern Munich. He is 30 years old as of February 2023 and grew up in Bambali, a small town in the Sédhiou region of Senegal. Due to their background, Mané never attended school, and his father forbade him from playing football, instead focusing on religion.

However, the boy still found ways to play with the neighborhood kids. Thanks to this, a French scout discovered him and brought him to France to showcase his incredible talent, where he began playing for Metz. Sadio Mané’s career is closely tied to his childhood, and he always strives to help those in need in society. Unlike other sports stars who flaunt cars, jewelry, and lavish lifestyles.

10. Diego Armando Maradona

Considered by many to be the greatest footballer in history, Maradona was born in Villa Fiorriotio, on 30 October 1961. They live in the harsh slums of Villa Fiorito outside Buenos Aires, but Maradona still envisions himself as a great footballer. His father, Don Diego, struggled as a mason and factory worker to support seven children and a stay-at-home wife.

Maradona still gave his best on the pitch and signed his first professional contract at the age of 15 and supported his family afterwards. He had a successful career and at the age of 21, he joined Barcelona for a world record fee. Maradona died in November 2020 at the age of 60 due to cardiac arrest.

Conclude

Poverty can be a powerful motivation to achieve greatness even though its nature is heartbreaking. The world has witnessed magnificent stars rise from the toughest educational backgrounds to become football deities and earn a place among the greatest players. Hopefully, the information provided by the trader bookmaker website will bring you additional motivation in life. Thank you.

See also: What are the best Croatian soccer players in history?