10 footballers who nearly quit before playing at the World Cup

For millions of footballers around the world, appearing at the FIFA World Cup is the ultimate dream. But for some stars, that dream almost never happened.

Long before they became household names, several players considered walking away from the game entirely. Some were plagued by injuries, others battled rejection, homesickness, poverty, or crushing self-doubt. In a few cases, they were just one bad decision away from choosing a completely different life.

Yet they persevered—and eventually stood on football’s biggest stage.

Here are 10 footballers who nearly quit before going on to play at the World Cup.

1. Didier Drogba

Before becoming one of Africa’s greatest strikers, Didier Drogba struggled to find stability in his early years in France. Repeated injuries and inconsistent form left him questioning whether he had what it took to succeed professionally.

By his early twenties, he was still far from the spotlight and considered giving up on his football ambitions. Everything changed when he joined Guingamp, where his career finally took off.

Drogba went on to captain Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the country’s first-ever appearance at the tournament.

2. Luka Modrić

As a child, Luka Modrić lived as a refugee during the Croatian War of Independence. His grandfather was killed, and his family was displaced from their home.

In addition to these traumatic circumstances, many youth coaches doubted his potential because of his slight build. Rejection and uncertainty nearly derailed his dream.

Modrić refused to give up and became the heartbeat of Croatia, leading them to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final and winning the Golden Ball.

3. Miroslav Klose

Miroslav Klose was not a teenage prodigy. He played in lower divisions and even worked as a carpenter and apprentice tradesman while trying to establish himself in football.

With little recognition and no guarantee of success, he seriously considered focusing on a conventional career instead.

His breakthrough eventually came with 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and he went on to become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 16 goals.

4. Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy’s story is one of football’s greatest underdog tales. Released by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager, he was told he was not good enough.

He dropped into non-league football and worked in a factory making medical splints. At several points, the dream of becoming a top-level footballer seemed over.

Vardy’s rise culminated in representing England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

5. Sadio Mané

Coming from a small village in southern Senegal, Sadio Mané faced strong family resistance. His father wanted him to focus on traditional education and did not initially support football.

Mané ran away to pursue his dream, arriving in the capital with little money and no guarantee of success.

His persistence paid off, and he helped Senegal return to the World Cup in 2018 FIFA World Cup.

6. Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez endured an incredibly difficult childhood in one of Buenos Aires’ toughest neighborhoods. He suffered severe burns as a toddler and grew up amid poverty and violence.

The hardships surrounding him could easily have pushed him away from football.

Instead, Tevez became a key player for Argentina and played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

7. Harry Kane

Released by Arsenal F.C. as a child, Harry Kane was told he lacked athleticism and explosiveness.

Those early setbacks deeply affected his confidence, and there were moments when he questioned whether he would ever reach the top.

Kane persevered and eventually captained England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot.

8. Riyad Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez’s journey to the elite was anything but straightforward. After his father died when he was young, Mahrez faced both emotional and financial hardship.

Often overlooked due to his slender frame, he came close to accepting that he might never become a top professional.

He later starred for Algeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

9. Tim Cahill

Before becoming Australia’s most iconic World Cup player, Tim Cahill endured repeated rejection and uncertainty.

His family made enormous sacrifices to support his football ambitions, and there were periods when the odds of success seemed slim.

Cahill became a national hero by scoring at four different World Cups for Australia.

10. Edinson Cavani

Raised in modest circumstances in Uruguay, Edinson Cavani once considered taking a more practical path to help support his family.

The uncertainty of a football career nearly caused him to abandon the sport.

He stayed the course and became one of Uruguay’s most prolific strikers, representing his country at four World Cups beginning with the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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