Achieving international fame in football often sets one up for a life of success and contentment. Representing your country or participating in a World Cup is typically seen as a stepping stone to a worry-free existence.

However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, the lives of former football legends take a turn for the worse. These icons have faced hardships like poverty, illness, addiction, and even untimely deaths due to accidents or suicide.

This compilation presents 12 of the most heart-wrenching stories in recent football history. It's a journey through the lives of soccer heroes from various countries and eras who faced dire circumstances post-retirement.

These tales span the early days of professional football, the fervent period between 1945 and 1970, and the globally interconnected football world of the past five decades.

The stories encompass diverse players - talented forwards, elegant midfielders, unique goalkeepers, and tough defenders.

Their post-career struggles might have stemmed from missing the limelight, the adoration of fans, or simply the inability to adapt to life beyond the field. These are the stories of soccer greats to whom fate was unkind.

Icons 12 - 10: From a tragic Brazilian revolutionary to the “Bomber of the Nation.”

Icon 12: Sócrates: Brazil's Tragic Football Philosopher

Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, famously known as Dr. Sócrates, was a Brazilian footballer and pediatrician. His life, mirroring that of a tragic hero, ended on December 4, 2011, in São Paulo from sepsis.

His battle with alcoholism came to light in August 2011 when he was hospitalized with severe gastric and liver issues.

Beginning his journey with the Brazilian national team in 1979, Sócrates played in 60 games, scoring 22 goals. He led Brazil as captain in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, becoming integral to the team's midfield. Alongside Zico, Falcão, and Toninho Cerezo, he formed the "magical midfield quartet," or the "Fantastic Four."

Despite their potential, especially in the 1982 World Cup, the team never secured a World Cup victory. Yet, they are celebrated as one of Brazil's finest teams, comparable to Pelé's 1970 squad.

The 1986 World Cup saw a poignant moment for Sócrates. During the quarterfinals against France, he missed a vital penalty. Reflecting on this, he said, "Sócrates, who always shot penalties from a standing position, missed." His retirement from international football followed, signaling Brazil's end of a significant era.

Sócrates' lifestyle was unconventional. He admitted to smoking 20 cigarettes a day and minimal training. His influence extended beyond the field at Corinthians São Paulo, where he implemented Democracia Corinthiana, promoting player empowerment. His stand against Brazil's military dictatorship was significant, using football to advocate for democracy.

A unique aspect of his life was balancing football with medical studies. As a result, he missed the 1978 World Cup but was affectionately called Dr. Sócrates. In 1983, he said, "I want to die on a Sunday and for Corinthians to become champion."

Fatefully, Sócrates passed on a Sunday, and Corinthians won the championship, fulfilling his wish in a tragically poetic manner.

Icon 11: Paul Gascoigne: Triumph and Turmoil in Football

Paul Gascoigne, once celebrated as England's greatest footballer, now grapples with the ghosts of his past, evident in his harrowing public appearances and struggles with alcohol rehabilitation.

His descent from football legend to a life marred by addiction raises the question: How did it reach this point?

Gascoigne's penchant for mischief, evident in his antics like swapping teammates' boots or driving a bus full of tourists around Piccadilly Circus, made him a beloved figure in England. However, these humorous episodes masked the darker side of his life that emerged post-football career.

His manager's dire warning to the BBC, "He urgently needs help," highlighted the severity of his situation. Gascoigne's journey from a humble background, where he learned to play football with a tennis ball, to becoming the "Young Footballer of the Year" in 1988 and leading England to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, is a tale of both inspiration and tragedy.

The unforgettable scene of him crying into his jersey after receiving a second yellow card against Germany in the 1990 World Cup epitomizes the height of his emotional and professional journey. Despite his brilliance on the field, Gascoigne's self-destructive tendencies were already surfacing, as he confessed in his autobiography about being restless and playing tennis the night before the crucial Germany match.

Gascoigne's battle with insomnia and injuries worsened over time, driving him to seek solace in alcohol. His career, which took him from Lazio Rome to Glasgow Rangers, was repeatedly overshadowed by his private life troubles, including a violent incident with his wife Sheryl and subsequent rehab stints.

In England, where binge drinking cuts across social classes, Gascoigne's public struggles with alcohol addiction highlighted a broader societal issue. His remarkable ability to perform on the field, even under the influence, as described in an incident from 2002, could not mask his declining athletic career and personal life.

Gascoigne's journey through various clubs, and eventually as the manager of Kettering Town, was marred by alcohol-related issues, leading to his dismissal. His confession of consuming excessive amounts of whiskey and cocaine daily painted a bleak picture of his life.

His multiple admissions to psychiatric wards and rehab facilities, interspersed with brief moments of apparent stability, reflect a continuous battle with addiction and mental health. Despite efforts by friends and colleagues, including Chris Evans, Ronnie Irani, Gary Lineker, and Piers Morgan, to support his rehabilitation in Arizona, the uncertainty of his future looms large.

As the public and media continue to follow his story, the question remains whether Gascoigne will find redemption or succumb to his demons, a fate reminiscent of other football legends like George Best. The hope for Gascoigne's recovery and well-being persists amid these uncertainties.

Icon 10: Gerd Müller: A Journey from World Cup Glory to Personal Struggle

Gerd Müller, known as "The Bomber of the Nation" or playfully as "little fat Müller" by his first coach, Tschick Cajkovski, died on August 15, 2021. He faced the challenges of Alzheimer's disease in his last years.

Despite not being the most physically imposing player, Müller was once the world's top striker, scoring an astonishing 398 goals in 453 league games and 68 goals for Germany in 62 international matches.

Müller retired as the leading scorer in World Cup history with 14 goals. His remarkable ability to maneuver in tight spaces and score in seemingly impossible situations made him an icon, especially among strikers who prioritized agility and anticipation over physical dominance.

However, Müller's life post-football was fraught with challenges. He moved to Florida in the late '70s, where he began struggling with alcoholism, unable to find the same fulfillment he had on the pitch. After a three-year stay in the US, he returned to Munich, but his personal and financial life was in disarray.

The public became aware of Müller's issues in 1991 when he appeared intoxicated at a Bayern Munich training session amid personal and legal troubles. Described by Franz Beckenbauer as a man of few words who let his goals do the talking, Müller's quiet nature was a stark contrast to the typical post-football career paths.

Müller's descent into despair was a painful process, as he candidly expressed, "You’re on top, feeling like you’re on cloud nine. And then you keep falling lower and lower. Suddenly, you find yourself in hell." Former teammates and friends supported his recovery, including Uli Hoeneß, Franz Beckenbauer, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Analyzing his downfall, Müller recognized his inactivity and lack of purpose as contributing factors to his alcoholism. The support from Bayern Munich in 1992, with a modest contract, marked a turning point in his life. Returning to the club in various roles, including training the youth team, he found a sense of happiness and busyness that had eluded him for years.

Unfortunately, the latter part of Müller's life was overshadowed by Alzheimer's disease, which began around 2014, marking another challenging chapter for this football legend.

His story is a poignant reminder of the complexities and trials faced by sports icons beyond their illustrious careers.

Next: Icons 9 - 7: From the “Joy of the Nation” to the World Cup own-goal that turned into a death sentence

To be published on Wednesday, November 28, 2023