Era’s really do come to an end

[Botnake]

The mindset has changed. In this sport, you never know how long you’ll last, an injury can end everything in an instant. Just think about it: if you pass up a massive contract because of pride and then suddenly suffer a career-ending injury, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. 

At the end of the day, we just have to accept reality, sports have evolved, and for most players now,  (money is 99% of the focus).

[Zigabel]

From the very old time, professional football has been played for the purpose of getting paid as a profession, although those period the pay weren't as high as this so it felt like it was more of a passion driven stuff but then they had that as a basic factor because it turned out their profession so the fact that now more interest are in football and so many have delved into investing in it because they now see the economic importance and benefit does not make it any much more different from the former, its just a normal human tendencies to want to go towards where they get a higher pay on whatever job or profession they do, even with the passion, pay is a very much considerable driving force.

[Marvelockg]

if playing football was all about fun and excitement, most footballers would not inconvenience themselves to playing in an environment that is not favorable to them in terms of religion and other conditions and still continue playing even when cases of racism keep repeating year after year and some of them even get treated wrongly by the club and fans. as an athlete or one that is skilled at a thing, while working on playing for big platforms, you can never factor out the consideration of money from the deal.

the issue starts from club owners and managers that will push you out and treat you like you have never added value to their club ones they feel that they no longer need you and that they already have a replacement for you. would you rather wait to be treated badly or move out at the time you are still relevant and go after the pay? the likes of Ronaldo and Messi has made all the money they need, what they need now is just stats and for Ronaldo, he doesn't care much if his team wins or not, what he is after is just to score more goals and get to the target he is hoping to reach before retiring. times have changed and at present, priority divers, anyone that has the means of playing for a club or league that pays better should go because it is more of business that what it used to be.

[coin-investor]

So many headlines has been flying around, about players either wanting to change clubs because they want to secure a huge paycheck. While others still in their current club demanding a pay rise to a new contract.

The Saudi Arabia side has now made it more obvious by opening the door to players who are more interested in money than passion to come in.

I think players have realized their worth as players, and they have seen how clubs and franchises made a lot of money from their talents, so they want to have good bargaining power by asking to negotiate about their price. This is not only on football; this is also the case on other sports like basketball and individual sports like boxing.
If a player or a fighter has seen his big contribution to the team, they will ask for a good deal for their skills and passion because these players or fighters are putting all their effort and risking injury to make the team win.

[crwth]

Well, we can't really blame them if that's what they are interested in. It's most likely that as the years go by, something will really change, and the importance of money is in everyone's mind. It's definitely a decision-maker when playing for a club. Sometimes it's for loyalty, and other times it's money. It's just different. I agree with you that Messi, being in FC Barcelona for the majority of his career, is just loyalty and speaks volumes.

It's just the way of life now, I guess.

[madnessteat]

I don't see anything wrong with an athlete moving from one club to another because it pays more. Few people are willing to work only on enthusiasm. They have to support their families just like us and I'm sure almost everyone would do the same. Someone has labeled sports as having no politics, money hunger and deceit, but in fact all of this is present in sports and has been for a long time, so I am not surprised at all by this choice.

[Oluwa-btc]

I also can strongly say that passion for football ends in Ronaldo and Messi ERA.
So many headlines has been flying around, about players either wanting to change clubs because they want to secure a huge paycheck. While others still in their current club demanding a pay rise to a new contract.

Aside Passion I think everyone always have a target to be in a better place and position so even with much passion for the club they aim for things higher and bigger of course no one wants to be stucked in a place and besides you can't compare the era of then and now cause there's huge difference in every aspects. This days people tend to stay where they can benefit more aside the fact that they are showcasing their skills or the other so it's applicable to the footballers they want to get the big bag and be in the top winning clubs and all that so they are actually responding to changes of life.

[cabron]

Could the economic situation in the region contributes on why these athletes demands higher pay? Because to me, it is often the case. Its not about the lack of passion, they do have passion for the sport they are into. They are motivated but they are not going to feel as a whole if they think their future aren't secure along with their family. We all want the best for our family.

They still play though and they may give their best if their demands are granted.

[Jaycoinz]

Well, it's a normal thing, times have indeed changed and we can't expect it to remain the same, change is constant. I have actually noticed this for a long time but I didn't really think it was an important observation. Athletes are not as energetic and passionate like the legends in Old times. There are focused on making money now because the world isn't what it used to be, money has become the order of the day. This isn't just happening in football it's happening in every sport right now but I wouldn't generalize this, there are still players who put in energy and passion in what they do.

[Miles2006]

I thought it was just a mere opinion or rumor people share nothing else not until op mentioned Saudi Arabia, at some point players run after the money, it’s really affecting most players for example playing for a team with low competition and potential will actually reduce a player not minding the kind of money they earn. In all this we still have the real ones so I will not accept the fact, although I will not mistaking this words “knowing your worth and playing for the money not just the passion” it’s different when big teams sign big names because they know the worth and how valuable a good player can be.

[Marykeller]

Before you judge football players for not having the passion for football again, have you thought of other works of life people find themselves in? How is it? Don't people get paid according to their worth, what they can offer, or the impact they can make in the working environment they find themselves? Take, for example, office work; people get paid according to the degree certificate and the level of experience they have gathered. In this forum, also, don't you see how higher-rank forum members are paid higher than lower-rank members in signature campaigns, despite having a passion for this forum.

What I am trying to say is everyone on earth has their worth because they have put in their time, money, strength, talent, knowledge, and skills for years before they get to the level they are. You don't expect them to get paid with an average amount, not to accept or consider higher pay when it comes. They will grab it with open arms since it still has the same work etiquette

[Rruchi man]

Observation - It’s been going on as a gossip or will I say argument.
That players of nowadays are more focus on making money rather than playing for passion like the old days.

Players have a right to choose their focus.

There are still footballers and sportsmen who are engaged in sports for the passion they have for it. Some of these people have refused huge financial deals that they knew would steer their career away from the target they had set for themselves. Money is not as enticing to every sportsperson as you will think.

[swogerino]

Observation - It’s been going on as a gossip or will I say argument.
That players of nowadays are more focus on making money rather than playing for passion like the old days.

I also can strongly say that passion for football ends in Ronaldo and Messi ERA.

So many headlines has been flying around, about players either wanting to change clubs because they want to secure a huge paycheck. While others still in their current club demanding a pay rise to a new contract.

The Saudi Arabia side has now made it more obvious by opening the door to players who are more interested in money than passion to come in.

I need more clarity on this matter, which is the reason I brought it on here.
Please when commenting let there fact that will be helpful

Even in the time of Ronaldo and Messi same shit. A lot of surprise results, this has not ended nor started now, it has started the moment soccer teams were being quoted in bookmakers with different odds for a win, draw or lose. It is exactly there that surprise results started and not so good football overall. I will make the same example I have made previously when answering other people in the same matter, back in time of Maradona in Italy and a few years later do you think were these much surprise results as we see now in Serie A, absolutely not, games were coming as expected because no money and betting was involved, as soon as betting started, surprise results almost every week started happening, only blind people do not see this.

[Ojima-ojo]

Do you think the players just like to play in those top European leagues clubs? The players are chasing good career so that they can play in those good clubs. If they are not chasing career, they could just stay in the country league if it is about passion. There is nothing like passion when it comes to money, but the players can enjoy playing in the clubs they are.

Players get paid based on what they bring to the table and clubs are Willing to offer such amounts because of the results they expect from such a player, for example, players like Harry Kane who is getting a whooping £400, 000 per week from Bayern Munich is rated as the world's best strikers, so the higher the money the bigger the player's ratings.


You can't expect clubs to offer huge amounts to average or poor-performing players, so the players themselves will have to first know their own worth and clubs price tag them as offers in the market.

[MrEazyLife]

Observation - It’s been going on as a gossip or will I say argument.
That players of nowadays are more focus on making money rather than playing for passion like the old days.

I also can strongly say that passion for football ends in Ronaldo and Messi ERA.

So many headlines has been flying around, about players either wanting to change clubs because they want to secure a huge paycheck. While others still in their current club demanding a pay rise to a new contract.

The Saudi Arabia side has now made it more obvious by opening the door to players who are more interested in money than passion to come in.

I need more clarity on this matter, which is the reason I brought it on here.
Please when commenting let there fact that will be helpful

Even in the time of Ronaldo and Messi same shit. A lot of surprise results, this has not ended nor started now, it has started the moment soccer teams were being quoted in bookmakers with different odds for a win, draw or lose. It is exactly there that surprise results started and not so good football overall. I will make the same example I have made previously when answering other people in the same matter, back in time of Maradona in Italy and a few years later do you think were these much surprise results as we see now in Serie A, absolutely not, games were coming as expected because no money and betting was involved, as soon as betting started, surprise results almost every week started happening, only blind people do not see this.

Man I use to have this thought but was not really convinced that it was true. Now you’re making sense

[Zlantann]

Observation - It’s been going on as a gossip or will I say argument.
That players of nowadays are more focus on making money rather than playing for passion like the old days.

I also can strongly say that passion for football ends in Ronaldo and Messi ERA.

So many headlines has been flying around, about players either wanting to change clubs because they want to secure a huge paycheck. While others still in their current club demanding a pay rise to a new contract.

The Saudi Arabia side has now made it more obvious by opening the door to players who are more interested in money than passion to come in.

I need more clarity on this matter, which is the reason I brought it on here.
Please when commenting let there fact that will be helpful

Many players who played football decades ago were not rich. Most of them claim that they played for passion but I am not sure all of them had such mindset. Many of them never had the opportunity to make money because most clubs were not paying as high as they pay currently. It seems that almost all clubs have a minimum wage all players regardless of their quality will earn. I am sure that many of them would have played for money if they had the chance.

These days there are many mediums by which clubs can make money, so paying players high is justifiable. I don't also blame players who play for money because the world is going through severe economic problems. They need to make enough money to sustain themselves and family.

However, there are still many players who play for passion, therefore I don't agree that the era has come to an end. Many players have refused to go to the Saudi Professional League because they still have a passion for the game.

[Porfirii]

I know several cases of players of my favorite team that have been tempted with many millions and prefer to stay at home, with much less money, but with the people, friends and family near. Which is what I think that I would do too, but that I'll never truly know because you have to live that situation to know it for sure.

[MrEazyLife]

I thought it was just a mere opinion or rumor people share nothing else not until op mentioned Saudi Arabia, at some point players run after the money, it’s really affecting most players for example playing for a team with low competition and potential will actually reduce a player not minding the kind of money they earn. In all this we still have the real ones so I will not accept the fact, although I will not mistaking this words “knowing your worth and playing for the money not just the passion” it’s different when big teams sign big names because they know the worth and how valuable a good player can be.

The Saudi Arabia new this and decided to use their money to bring in what they want even knowing their league isn’t a top competitive league.
One can say Ronald worth is what’s earning him a huge paycheck after so much hard work and passion in years back.
Can’t say same for most players that had decided to go there even when they have no major legacy in the world of football.

[Cityhunter34]

Observation - It’s been going on as a gossip or will I say argument.
That players of nowadays are more focus on making money rather than playing for passion like the old days.

I also can strongly say that passion for football ends in Ronaldo and Messi ERA.

So many headlines has been flying around, about players either wanting to change clubs because they want to secure a huge paycheck. While others still in their current club demanding a pay rise to a new contract.

The Saudi Arabia side has now made it more obvious by opening the door to players who are more interested in money than passion to come in.

I need more clarity on this matter, which is the reason I brought it on here.
Please when commenting let there fact that will be helpful

Actually we can never compare now and before, because during Ronaldo and Messi's time they were playing with passion and skills. Although things was not really as it is right now, but even as that they were just trying their best to make their teams proud and it normally takes time before you hear anything like injury on them. However, I think one thing that is killing most players today is just injuries, when they just play one or two games before you no it they enter injury again. Of course the Saudi Arabia side have really make it more easier for players now, because most of them don't really care about the passion again, they are just after the huge amount of money.

[OgNasty]

Soccer players definitely seem to have longer eras than other athletes in other sports. My favorite dynasties are the ones in the NBA with teams though. The 90s Bulls. The 80s Celtics. The 2000s Lakers. The 2010s Golden State Warriors… Some of those teams were real fun to watch and left a lasting impact. Love to see it.