Best rags-to-riches story?

[AndSomeAreAngels]

I'm curious, does anyone have any good stories of footballers who rose from poverty and destitution to stardom in the world of sport? I'm looking for stories of S. American players specifically. I realize most players come from very little, but are there any stories that stand out?

I'm also curious as to what sort of football non-profits or academies exist in S. America that give underprivileged children the opportunity to play football.

Thanks!

[Hartfield]

ppretty much all South American players...

I heard Ronaldo didnt even have soccer shoes...or shoes to play. Now he has soccer shoes with his name on it

[Neo¹]

Robinho used to sleep on the floor when he was a kid.


And Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid, Espana) was also quite poor as a child.

[Cassano]

Antonio Cassano grew up in the old section of Bari and was very poor. He stole car radios as a kid and sold them for money. He then went through the Bari youth system and is now a superstar. They're actually making a movie on his life in Italy.

[GoodDead]

Liedson of Sporting C.P. was bagging groceries in Brazil up until he was noticed at the age of 22 I believe.

[joto 3]

Robinho used to sleep on the floor when he was a kid.

and robinho looks like he has never eaten in his life... does that count?

[Excape Goat]

I forgot his name exactly. One of the fullbacks on Brazil's 1998 World Cup team was selling water melons on the street about a year before the World Cup. He was with some smaller club in Brazil. They did not pay his salary which was peanut to begin with. He had to become a street vendor to earn a living. He was then picked up by a bigger club in Brazil. Within a year, he made a name for himself and got onto the NT.

[Krutch]

I forgot his name exactly. One of the fullbacks on Brazil's 1998 World Cup team was selling water melons on the street about a year before the World Cup. He was with some smaller club in Brazil. They did not pay his salary which was peanut to begin with. He had to become a street vendor to earn a living. He was then picked up by a bigger club in Brazil. Within a year, he made a name for himself and got onto the NT.

Now thats a rags to riches story...anybody know his name?

[jayro75]

Now thats a rags to riches story...anybody know his name?


I believe it's Kurt Warner...... :p

[joto 3]

I believe it's Kurt Warner...... :p

mwahahahah

[Kaushik]

Now thats a rags to riches story...anybody know his name?

Ze Carlos, iirc.

[guado]

Ze Carlos, iirc.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/07/lequipe_zecarlos/


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/08/cafu_back/

check out the links.

[Kaushik]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/07/lequipe_zecarlos/


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/08/cafu_back/

check out the links.

Ze Carlos is quite possibly the worst footballer to play for Brazil along with Guilerhme.

[Dominican Lou]

I heard Rivaldo was malnourished and had tuberculosis as a child.

There are A LOT of South American players that actually lived in the stadiums of the clubs they played in, especially if they are from the countryside and first move into the big city and have nowhere to go.

I think I read that Ariel Ortega did this.

[sangreazul]

I heard Rivaldo was malnourished and had tuberculosis as a child.

There are A LOT of South American players that actually lived in the stadiums of the clubs they played in, especially if they are from the countryside and first move into the big city and have nowhere to go.

I think I read that Ariel Ortega did this.

You are correct. Gabriel Batistuta did the same for Newell's Old Boys.

From an ESPN Deportes article (in Spanish)

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/perfiles/entrevista/gabrielbatistuta.html

He tells about having to live with Newell's Old Boys reserves and 4th category when he first started when Marcelo Bielsa was a coach for the youth system. Bilesa made him go on a diet and would give him a box of chocolates once a week if he kept his weight down as well as knowing that Bati loved sweets. Bati says that from the celing where they lived, you could see the stars because of the holes in the ceiling.



BATISTUTA
No, se acuerda siempre, aparte que el decía que yo era un gordito, un día me apuró, me hizo hacer una dieta y yo como orgulloso, como soy ahora, antes era más orgulloso, adelgace mas de lo que tenia que adelgazar, creo que llegue a 75 kilos no estaba parado y el bueno, como premio, una vez por semana me venia con una caja de alfajores y como sabia que me gustaban los fantoches?

QUIQUE
¿Y de ahí a Newell's?

BATISTUTA
Bueno en Newell's estuve un año en una pensión que era feísima, una tristeza impresionante?

QUIQUE
Dos estrellas, esa del cielo se ven las estrellas? BATISTUTA
Si, si, dos estrellas porque el agujero era así, si te corrías veías otras?no era tristísimo, bueno estuve un año ahí y después tuve la suerte de encontrar un departamento y me fui, pero a los 6 meses me vendieron.

[AliKarimi]

Ali Karimi didnt even play on grass with proper shoes and equipment until he was 17

[Saukrates]

Amaral played for Brazil 96 olympic team,by the time he was in the Brazil team he was a former street urchin,shoe shiner, gravedigger etc I think he still plays in Italy,last I heard he played for Parma
Rivaldo was also quite poor, lost his front teeth as a result of Malnourishment.

[Excape Goat]

Carlos Llamosa was an interesting one too. He gave up soccer in Colombia and ended up as a janitor in World Trade Center, NY. His story probably was not as sad as the ones mentioned, but we are talking about a guy who moved to a country with no professional soccer league and ended up playing in the WC Finals. He also worked as one of the most degrading jobs in his new country.

http://www.ailf.org/notable/iaa/llamosa.htm

[Froggy316]

yeah, rivaldo was supposed to be really poor. lost his teeth, and i think he had to run to practice everyday (15 or 20 km round trip). then when he turned pro his dad got run over by a bus.

[tomas_brolin]

Ze Carlos is quite possibly the worst footballer to play for Brazil along with Guilerhme.

even worse than roque junior??