Footballers can earn a lot.
Their money habit, however, varies greatly from one player to the next.
Certain footballers do remarkable things with the salaries they receive for example, opening charitable organizations that help in the funding of education and health programs as well as making a positive impact around the world.
Other footballers are less than noble, preferring to spend their money on things that are more expensive like starting their own private automobile collection.
We’re not here for judging who’s spending his money in the right or in the wrong manner. There are numerous footballers who due to various reasons have financial problems and get into serious financial troubles.
We’re less likely to feel sorry for those people, and we’ve made a decision to identify and shame a few of the most financially reckless footballers.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo knows he’s wealthy.
To be fair to the Real Madrid star, he’s not at risk of going bankrupt any time soon as far as we’re concerned.
He is among the most well-known celebrities in the world and earns around $40 million per year in salary and endorsements.
If you are that wealthy, financial responsibility is not likely to be a top priority in your priorities.
Ronaldo’s extravagant spending on houses, cars, and clothes at PS8,000 per month is a bit reckless. Ronaldo spends many hours discussing how he would like to be a role model to his son. Spending a monthly sum of PS8,000 on clothes surely won’t aid in that goal.
Without getting caught up with the private life of Ronaldo it’s safe to conclude that despite his massive amount of money Ronaldo has been a bit negligent with his spending.
Pele
Pele played for 18 years at the Brazilian club Santos prior to his retirement semi-retirement.
However, in 1975, reportedly due to financial issues, Pele decided to come from semi-retirement to join the NASL’s New York Cosmos, before taking a break in 1977.
What I can’t figure out is how Pele was able to get himself in financial trouble in spite of numerous international tours, World Cups and endorsement contracts throughout his career.
Even though football was a far more conservative financial game during Pele’s time certainly money was coming at him from all angles, even prior to his move to the New York Cosmos.
Pele, Brazil’s Minister for Sport in the 90s, was not just financially troubled towards the end of the decade with Santos but also faced financial issues.
According to reports the report, he introduced gambling as a part of soccer’s revenue and money laundering and corruption became more common in Brazil’s FA.
I’m not shocked at the way Pele is acting today.
Mario Balotelli
It seems Mario Balotelli is always losing money.
He was also fined one week’s worth of wages earlier this week for breaking the curfew of his club. In December, he reportedly spent PS55,000 on a stay at the Manchester City Hotel for eight consecutive weeks while repairs were made.
These repairs cost him PS400,000.
Then last year, Balotelli reportedly gave a homeless man the sum of PS1,000 after he won PS25,000 at a gambling establishment that same day. Balotelli followed that strange act of kindness by surprising local drinkers with a PS1,000 bar tab.
Unfortunately, that’s only the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to Balotelli’s fines.
Through the cash he earns from Manchester City, Balotelli earns enough money to cover all the fines he receives, but he sure would have plenty of money to fund his absurd acts of charity should he just pay lesser fines.
Dietmar Hamann
Dietmar Hamann had a solid career that included Bayern Munich, Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City before retiring permanently at the close of the season 2010-11.
Recently, Hamann admitted that he suffered from serious gambling problems toward the end of his career, noting that there was a night where he managed to blow PS200,000 all at once.
Hamann’s issues were first discovered when it was revealed that he owed PS600,000. Hamann could also be taken to the court.
Luckily, Hamann has stated he has returned to happiness, and that with his happiness, his gambling problems have been eliminated.
Obafemi Martins
Remember Obafemi Martins? The man who was rumored to be a world-class striker during his time with Inter Milan and Newcastle. He seemed to be a simple, modest guy who was really into scoring goals, but was not ever mentioned in the spotlight.
But apparently there was more to Martins than what was apparent.
According to Daily Mail Martins, while working for Newcastle, “regularly withdrew PS40,000 on weekends , and another PS25,000 on Monday” and all the while earning a PS75,000-a week salary.
This was not the end.
Martins’ agent was so incompetent that Martins arrived at Newcastle with no money. Martins had “not received a penny for the image rights he had on Newcastle United shirt and cups” and “not received anything from his sponsorship agreements.” Martins also couldn’t find the original contracts that he signed.
Talk about a train crash.
NVA Management offered to step in to manage every aspect of Martins’ life in exchange for a one-time fee of PS300,000 as well as 20 percent of all sponsorship funds earned. And Martins accepted, only to once again show his financial irresponsibility by not paying the fee of PS300,000.
Martins, despite financial difficulties He insisted on having a variety of fast vehicles, including the PS85,000 Porsche Cayenne 4×4 and he used his money to buy luxurious penthouses and fine dining.
He owned a multi-million pound property in Ponteland, Northumbria. A luxurious flat was rented overlooking Newcastle upon Tyne’s Quayside.
Perhaps Martins financial troubles might have prompted him to make ill-fated transfers to Germany and then Russia and now, he often plays for Rubin Kazan.
