Mythmaking has always been a big part of soccer, especially when all eyes are on the best players in the world in a very nationalistic competition like the World Cup. This mythmaking can transform players into things greater than just pure men or women; they become icons that transcend their normal role of being athletes. Instead, these people become heroes and villains that help to define certain World Cups, teams, and play styles.
The World Cup is a global spectacle that is celebrated in many countries all around the world, and this diversity allows for different ideas and play styles to flourish and create a very diverse playing style amongst teams. These differences in play styles between countries can allow for a player to be both a hero and a villain. While they might be a hero for their country because of how well they play, they can also be viewed as a villain by their opponents because they don’t like their play style or how the player presents themselves.
Alot of things can create the doctrine of a player being a villain, such as playing too aggressively, diving, complaining to the referees, trash talking, being overly confident, and instigating problems with other players who are loved. Every good hero needs a villain to contrast their good with evil. But the thing about heroes and villains in the World Cup is that there is no objective good or evil for soccer fans to base their love or hatred of these players on; instead, it is much more driven by nationality and personal feelings about a player that fans harbour. For example, in the Bleacher Report article that ranks the twenty-five worst villains in World Cup history alot of beloved players were on the list, like Ronaldo and Antonio Rattin, who were loved by the countries they represented but not by the masses who watched the World Cup. Ronaldo is widely recognized as one of the best players to ever touch a soccer ball, and his accolades back that up, but when it comes time to play in national competitions with his home country of Portugal, Ronaldo transforms into a global villain. In the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo got Wayne Rooney sent off for England after complaining to the referee, and this made him seem like a crybaby in the eyes of alot of English fans and really fans all over the world. While Ronaldo didn’t really do anything that heinous to warrant becoming a villain, the fact that he complained to the ref was enough for some fans to turn their backs on one of the best players of all time. When the stakes get higher in international competitions, the narratives of players can transcend the game itself, and when all eyes are on you, there are bound to be differing opinions on whether you are a hero or a villain.
Despite how different public opinion can vary in such a global competition like the World Cup, some players find a way to navigate the sport without doing anything to have them looked upon as a villain. For example, in the CNN article about Lionel Messi and how he won over the hearts of Argentinians by winning the World Cup in 2022. Messi found a way to touch Argentians ‘ hearts before even winning the World Cup; he found a way to make the people feel something by watching him play. Argentina is a soccer nation having won World Cups on the back of the legendary Maradona. Messi managed to touch fans’ hearts by just focusing on what he can control in the game and playing with such passion that the fans can feel how much he wants to win. If you’re willing to give it all for your country, then your country will be willing to give its all to support you. Messi never made himself bigger than soccer, and he recognized his place amongst the Argentine people, and the fact that he’s one of the greatest soccer players, and he has no ego, makes him marketable and loved all over the world. When Messi put it all on the line in the 2022 World Cup and left it all out on the field to win the World Cup for his country, that earned him respect not only in his country but all over the world.
When the stakes get higher, emotions can tend to take over certain players, and that can lead to them doing whatever it takes to win. And when you care more about winning than being a good person and a respectable soccer player, you can be viewed as a villain by some people. This is a weird paradox because you have to give it all for your country to be considered a hero, but you have to do that with grace to be considered a true hero on the global stage.
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