Who Are The Greatest Soccer Champions In The World?

The status of champion is one that is expressed by others. Champions are not self-appointed are they? You would look ridiculous if you announced to the world, “I am a champion”, unless your name is Muhammad Ali.

Champions exist only through achievements, which are highly valued by many and even the world. A champion is not necessarily a player that comes first, but rather someone who has put 100% into the game and given back as much as he has taken.

But what makes a champion?

A champion is a player who makes a difference. Gives back to the soccer community and makes their mark on history by displaying exemplary human values.

Has the ability to turn negatives into positives, disadvantages into advantages and defeats into victories. So how does one go about this?

This might sound a little “left of field”, but give me a chance.

All players should set goals and create a plan to achieve them. What separates champions from the average is decisions or choices they make.

What choices you ask?

The choice between stopping, quitting and conceding defeat or rejecting anything but your goal is the choice. Players that have graced the biggest stadiums in the world didn’t quit when they were confronted with a problem or with the smell of defeat. Did they?

What about the ego? Soccer at the highest level is starting to resemble Hollywood. Player’s choices and goals are influenced by personal reward, recognition and money. These are a big motivator but they do not make a champion.

Lets illustrate with an example.

A new player has signed for your club and reports suggests that he plays in your position. How would you react? How would you feel?

If a player views obstacles or new players as a threat to them rather than a threat to their goal, what would happen? The reaction would be distorted by the ego. The ego has no place in any dressing room or club.

The perfect example of this is Manchester city. Best players money can buy but doughnuts in terms of silverware. The new appointed coach Mancini clearly suggested that Manchester City has a serious ego problem in the dressing room.

When you react with your ego you’re destined for some difficult decisions and a spectacular ending. The choices range from giving up, changing your goals to suit, declaring your hate for the game and in the worst-case scenario, cheating!

Cheating such as drug use may result in success, sometimes spectacular short-term success. But remember this, choices made for the wrong reasons can never endure.

This is only my opinion so please don’t take it as gospel.

The greatest evils in sport have been witnessed when personal goals have been replaced with objective goods such as money, sponsorships and contracts.

Does anyone agree?

When you started playing soccer it was never about the money, was it?

As you got older you learnt to compete and was excited by the feeling of winning and the proud looks you received from your father watching your every step.

Throw in money and all of a sudden your goals and dreams change. The smile that once satisfied has been replaced with the ego pursuing the endless supply of money.

So what separates a champion from the rest of the soccer community?

A champion has the ability to make the distinction between personal goals and objective goods. A champion identifies that if he stays true to himself and his own personal goals, the rest will fall into place. The champion is always ego free and uses obstacles or new players as leverage points, not as personal attacks.

The champion also has clarity, vision and inner balance. This stuff isn’t anything new; this was identified by the Ancient Greeks and taught for many generations. But how many youth players are aware of this? How many young soccer players have clarity, vision, inner balance and have set goals? If you don’t know, ask them next time at training.

Will they substitute personal goals for objective goods before they even grasp the concept?

Lets hope not!

Soccer champions always display balance and show determination and desire for their personal goals, rather than the fame or fortune. If you get your goals right from the start, the fame and fortune will inevitably follow whether you like it or not.

Last but not least, what is the definition of a champion?

A champion is defined in the dictionary as the winner or titleholder, a person who has defeated all opponents in a competition so as to hold first place.

But what people tend to forget is the other definition, a person who fights for or defends any person or cause.

By definition there can only be one title holder, but there are countless numbers of the latter, who work everyday to give their children an opportunity to play soccer and to pursue their dreams. These workers/parents are the greatest soccer champions in the world and more important than any billboard superstar endorsing a label.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”