Millions Down the Drain: 7 World Football Stars Who Blew Their Entire Fortunes and Went Bankrupt

1. Ronaldinho: From a football smile to a Paraguayan prison

The Brazilian magician was an icon of the 2000s. He earned tens of millions of euros at Barcelona and Milan, and his Nike endorsement deals brought him a fortune. But Ronaldinho loved carnivals more than tax returns.

• How he lost everything: After retiring, he was mired in debt. Brazilian authorities fined him €2 million for illegal construction in a protected natural area.

• Rock bottom: In 2018, a court ordered his passports confiscated. An audit of his accounts revealed that the once-highest-paid player on the planet had... 6 euros left in his account . In 2020, he hit rock bottom, landing in a Paraguayan prison for entering the country with a false passport.

2. Emmanuelle Eboué: The Perfect Victim of Blind Love

The Arsenal star earned millions, played in the Champions League final, and was the biggest laugh in the dressing room. His story is the most terrifying example of financial naivety.

• How he lost everything: Eboué didn't read the documents he signed. His wife, Aurélie, controlled all his finances. In 2017, during their divorce, the court transferred all his property, including his luxurious London mansion, to her.

• The bottom: Emmanuel hid from bailiffs, slept on the floor of a friend's house, washed clothes by hand because he couldn't afford a washing machine, and seriously contemplated suicide. Fortunately, Arsenal and Galatasaray later offered him a job as academy coach to bring him back from the brink.

3. David James: Bankruptcy by Auction

The former England and Liverpool goalkeeper earned over £20 million during his long career. He enjoyed contracts with Armani, superstar status, and a luxurious lifestyle.

• How he lost everything: A classic cocktail: a monstrously expensive divorce (in 2005, his wife sued him for millions) plus disastrous real estate investments.

• The Bottom: In 2014, James officially declared bankruptcy. To pay off his creditors, he had to hold a public sale of his belongings: his DJ decks, vinyl records, bicycles, and even the jerseys he used to trade with his opponents were auctioned off.

4. Royston Drenthe: Rap, parties and fake friends

In 2007, Real Madrid paid €14 million for this Dutch prodigy. It seemed like the world lay ahead of him. But Drenthe believed he'd already played his game.

• How he lost everything: Royston began squandering his money on endless parties, gold chains, and attempts to build a career as a rapper (under the pseudonym Roya2Faces). He quickly developed a retinue of hangers-on who siphoned off his money for dubious business ventures.

• The bottom: In 2020, a Dutch court officially declared 33-year-old Drenthe bankrupt. He had squandered a fortune of £3.2 million during his career, never fulfilling his sporting potential.

5. Paul Merson: Trapped by His Demons

An Arsenal legend of the 1990s, Merson was a brilliant playmaker on the pitch, but off it he waged a battle with brutal addictions.

• How he lost everything: Alcohol, cocaine, and, worst of all, gambling addiction. Paul would lose tens of thousands of pounds on bookmakers in just a couple of hours.

• Bottom: Over the course of his life, he gambled and drank away more than 7 million pounds. His house was repossessed due to mortgage arrears. He recently admitted that even during the pandemic, he relapsed and gambled away the money he had saved to buy a home for his family.

6. Jon Arne Riise: Bankrupt at the height of glory

The red-haired Norwegian with a cannon-like shot won the Champions League with Liverpool. His story is unique in that he managed to go bankrupt while still a key member of a top club .

• How he lost it all: In 2007, while earning £50,000 a week, Riise was declared bankrupt. The blame lay with his blind faith in his financial advisor (and agent), who lured the footballer into fraudulent investment schemes in Norwegian hotels.

• Bottom line: Riisa had to sue her own agent to prove fraud, while British tabloids mocked the millionaire who couldn't pay his bills.

7. Asamoah Gyan: From Mountains of Gold to 600 Pounds

One of the most famous African footballers, Gyan wasn't just a big earner—during his time with Chinese club Shanghai SIPG, he earned a whopping £227,000 a week, making him one of the top ten highest-paid players in the world.

• How he lost everything: Divorce, paternity test scandals, and a huge number of relatives in Ghana who considered him their personal ATM.

• Bottom Line: In 2018, Gyan told the court he was completely broke and unable to pay child support. He claimed he had only £600 left in his only bank account, and hadn't spoken to his family for months, evading financial claims.

These stories prove the harsh rule of capitalism: it doesn't matter how much you earn. What matters is how you manage your earnings. Professional sports is a very short social elevator ride, and if you don't press the right button in time, you can plummet to the basement.