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Today's top 5 is a sad one. It is about players who made millions throughout their career but eventually went broke and in some cases suffering from homelessness.

1- Diego Maradona

This one and the next are probably the easiest ones to know.

Diego Maradona filed for bankruptcy in 2009 after the taxes he was required to pay reached over 50 million. Maradona is perhaps the worst person who capitalize on his fame and fortune, living his life carelessly and living off rich and powerful people gifting him money.

A life of alcohol and drugs and personal problems.

2- Ronaldinho

I have written a post detailing Ronaldinho's decline here before.

In 2018, it was revealed that he has only 5 Sterling Pounds in his bank account. It turned out that he also has a debt of 3 million dollars he wasn't unable to pay. Ronaldinho went from a magical player who made millions love football into a man who couldn't pay his bail when he was arrested in Paraguay.

3- Brad Friedel

Perhaps the saddest one for me personally. Even as an Arsenal supporter I can't help but admire what this ex-Spurs keeper was trying to do.

While the rest blew their income and fame due to personal habits, Friedel started a football academy to help underprivileged people play and develop their football for free.

His only mistake was that he relied on the academy getting sponsors and that would be his way of paying for its cost. It was done in the early 2000s so not many wanted to take the chance on it.

Friedel accumulated debts that went up to 10 million and filed for bankruptcy.

4- Paul Gascoigne

Nicknamed Gazza, Paul Gascoigne was one of the greatest talents produced in the world of football. Anyone who has read up about the history of the Premier League or the English national team must have read his name.

Paul Gascoigne had his demons outside the pitch. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental illness have ravaged a player who once was great. He accumulated a lot of debts, his taxes reached up to 400,000 Sterling Pound. All of that has resulted in him filing for bankruptcy twice.

5- Emmanuel Eboué

One of the beautiful spirits who made me love Arsenal, Emmanuel Eboué's story took a tragic turn after making millions in his career.

Suicidal thoughts while living his life in fear of his ex-wife claiming the house he was sleeping in after the divorce.

The tragedy in his story came crashing down at the same time. His grandfather died of cancer, his brother died in an accident, and many more things resulted in the man coming out in saying that only God could help him at that point.

Even his agent sued him and denied him playing for a year. Eboué slept in the street, he also slept in the houses of almost 30 different people at different stages of his life.

The Sad Conclusion

These are all examples of players who didn't know how to manage their fame and success properly. Something that is perhaps should be taught more to players playing currently.