Talent comes with a price

Okay. Mario Balotelli. These two words are enough to sum up the title of this post. You can go on and on with his controversies, antics on and off the pitch and ice cold celebration after scoring goals.

On 24th July 2011, in a pre season friendly against LA Galaxy, Mario was substituted by Roberto Mancini in disgrace.

The striker had gone clean through on goal a few minutes earlier but, rather than finishing off an easy chance, he turned full circle, flicking the ball behind his legs and trying to score with a backheel. It was a remarkable act of self-indulgence and, as the ball went wide, several of his team-mates, particularly Edin Dzeko, were seen remonstrating with him.

See the clip here.------->

Balotelli then became involved in a touchline row with his manager, Roberto Mancini, and angrily threw a water bottle on to the pitch after taking his seat among the substitutes.

Have you heard something like this on the International stage? That too, in the context of World Cup? And, surprisingly by a Legend? Unthinkable in the modern football but not impossible since Mario is around.

This is not about Mario. This is about Brazilian legend Garrincha.

In 1958 he was selected to play in the World Cup in Sweden. In their last warm-up match the team played against Italy’s Fiorentina and beat them 4-0.

Garrincha scored the final goal, going past three defenders including Robotti. With only the goalkeeper to beat he sold him a dummy and faced an open goal.

Robotti chased back, but instead of shooting Garrincha elected to go around him once again before walking the ball into the net. Although the goal was stunning it incensed his team mates and more importantly his coach Vicente Feola. 

See this clip of the goal here. -------->

Feola was so furious with Garrincha and decided not to play him for Brazil's first two matches in the World Cup. He returned in the game against Russia (then U.S.S.R). Brazil ultimately went on to win the World Cup and Garrincha was named in the All Stars team.

Genius comes with the arrogance, and arrogance comes with a price.