Talent Without Temperament: When Arrogance Threatens Football Careers »

Last week, following the match between Nigeria and Mozambique, there was a flurry of opinions, criticism, and outright disdain directed at the conduct of Victor Osimhen. Many commentators described his behaviour as indisciplined, uncouth, and unprofessional. While emotions often run high in competitive sport, there is no gainsaying the fact that Osimhen’s perceived arrogance has become increasingly pronounced, and this disposition does not only affect his trade on the pitch but also his reputation off it.

Football history is replete with immensely talented players whose careers were either stalled or completely derailed by poor attitude. Arrogance, when not matched with discipline, humility, and consistent professionalism, has often proven fatal to even the most gifted footballers. Such players frequently clash with management, alienate teammates, and struggle to sustain the work ethic required at the highest level. Talent may open the door, but character determines how long one stays inside the room.

It must also be stated, without malice, that Victor Osimhen is not Nigeria’s all-time greatest footballer and may not even rank among the country’s top ten when weighed against longevity, achievements, and overall impact. Greatness in football is not measured solely by goals scored in isolated moments, but by consistency, influence on team play, and the ability to elevate others around you.

Several high-profile players serve as cautionary tales. Mario Balotelli, once regarded as one of Italy’s most gifted strikers, is perhaps the clearest example of wasted potential. Despite possessing immense natural talent, his career was undermined by indiscipline, off-field antics, and persistent clashes with managers. Roberto Mancini and José Mourinho both publicly struggled to manage him, with Mourinho famously describing him as “unmanageable.” As a result, Balotelli drifted from club to club, never settling long enough to fulfil the promise his talent once suggested.

Similarly, Hatem Ben Arfa, celebrated for his extraordinary dribbling ability and technical brilliance, failed to maximise his potential due to inconsistency, questionable attitude, and an apparent lack of commitment to collective play. Managers at Newcastle United and Hull City found it difficult to integrate him into a team structure, as he was often accused of sulking and refusing to contribute defensively or tactically. His career serves as a reminder that flair without discipline rarely survives elite football.

The list extends further. Nicolas Anelka, Antonio Cassano, and Ravel Morrison all suffered career setbacks attributable, at least in part, to behavioural issues, strained relationships with coaches, and an inability to subordinate personal ego to team objectives. In more recent discussions, Victor Osimhen has increasingly been cited in fan and media debates as an example of how perceived disrespect toward coaches, teammates, or club structures can damage market value and limit opportunities with top European teams.

That said, there are rare exceptions; players whose extraordinary output has earned them tolerance despite controversial attitudes. Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimović are often referenced in this category. Both men exude supreme self-confidence that sometimes borders on arrogance, yet they consistently backed it up with relentless work ethic, elite performance levels, and trophy-laden careers. The critical distinction lies in output: while their confidence was unmistakable, it was never empty. They delivered, season after season. For those whose careers faltered, the disconnect between attitude and consistent excellence proved decisive.

There are also nuanced examples where individuality coexisted with indispensability. Mauro Camoranesi, a brilliant Italian midfielder, was known for his strong personality. Ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, coach Marcello Lippi instructed him to cut off his trademark ponytail. Camoranesi pleaded for permission to keep it, promising that Italy would win the tournament and that he would cut it immediately after the final whistle, before the trophy presentation. Remarkably, Italy went on to win the World Cup against France, and Camoranesi kept his word. In this case, individuality did not disrupt team harmony because it was matched by discipline, sacrifice, and performance.

Conversely, Fernando Redondo’s case highlights how personality clashes can abruptly end international careers. The elegant Argentine midfielder was asked by coach Daniel Passarella to cut his flowing hair ahead of the 1998 World Cup. Redondo refused, was sent home, and promptly retired from international football. Rather than descend into controversy, he returned to Argentina and enrolled in an LLM programme, choosing personal principle over national team politics. While dignified, it underscored how rigid standoffs on either side can fracture careers.

At Napoli, during the peak of his powers, Osimhen publicly projected himself as being bigger than the club. That posture carried consequences. Despite interest from elite clubs such as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli effectively stalled potential transfers, partly as a disciplinary response to what they perceived as unethical or destabilising conduct. In modern football, clubs are institutions, not stepping stones to be publicly diminished by any individual player, regardless of talent.

Osimhen must understand that football is not merely about scoring goals; it is about reading the game, respecting its history, and understanding the collective intelligence that sustains success. Football is fundamentally a team sport. A striker does not score in isolation; every goal is the culmination of movement, positioning, sacrifice, and service from teammates. Midfielders create space, defenders initiate build-up play, and even goalkeepers can start attacking sequences. There is no rule in football that restricts goals to strikers alone; defenders and midfielders have won matches, tournaments, and titles through decisive goals.

An acute obsession with receiving every pass into the box, or behaving as though the team exists solely to serve one individual, is both pedestrian and myopic. Great strikers make others better; they press defenders, create space, drag markers away, and celebrate assists as much as goals. Football rewards humility disguised as intelligence. Those who ignore this truth often learn it the hard way; when teammates stop trusting them, managers lose patience, and opportunities quietly disappear.

If Victor Osimhen truly desires lasting greatness, he must not only play football; he must study it. History is unforgiving, and the game has little patience for ego that outpaces contribution. Talent earns applause; character sustains legacy.

Onogwu Muhammed – Lawyer, Public Policy Analyst, Multimedia Journalist, and Public Relations Expert
10th January, , 2026