There are stories aplenty of stars shining bright and then fading away. We delve deep into how European football handles the one season wonder phenomenon.
“At first I was afraid, I was petrified… Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side… Then I spent so many nights thinking of how you did me wrong, and I grew strong, I learned how to get along…”
– Gloria Gaynor (I Will Survive)
These lyrics sum up the way they feel in the Principality of Monaco right about now. Wondering if they shall ever see another young and talented Frenchman tearing up the grass at the Stade Louis II. A breakthrough season for Kylian Mbappe was around the corner if you believed those who have known him long enough. A precocious talent, a mercurial presence on the field. But haven’t we seen it all before?
Talent (noun) – Natural aptitude or skill. The ability to do a particular job, mundane execution or routine, with exceptional speed or efficiency. On the field of play, in front of thousands of raucous fans? Talent is but one part of a repertoire for every footballer. And just like in life, talent can only take you so far on the pitch. In the end, more has to click. So much more has to be sacrificed, learned and in some cases, un-learned that the 10-year blitzkrieg that is a modern footballer’s career becomes the most significant aspect of their lives.
But in our world of flashbang grenades and equally blinding selfie lighting, perhaps we forget to romanticise more often. After all, how frequently do we see an incredible talent becoming the next big thing? And how many more who fall by the wayside? For every player who made it big, there are dozens in the world who peaked too soon, were thrust into a cauldron of hellish high-pressure too rapidly and carried the expectations of millions when in the spotlight. Every ‘new Messi’ and ‘new Ronaldo’ are not up to the mark.