MILLIONS OF BOYS AND GIRLS ALL OVER THE WORLD HANG POSTERS WITH MESHI AND RONALDO ON THEIR WALLS. THEY REPEAT THEIR CELEBRATIONS AFTER GOALS. THEY ASK THEIR PARENTS TO BUY SHOES "LIKE NEYMAR'S." A FOOTBALLER IS MORE THAN A SPORTSMAN. HE IS A WORSHIPPER. AN ICON. A ROLE MODEL. BUT SHOULD WE ALWAYS WORSHIP THOSE WHO KICK THE BALL? AND HOW CAN WE TELL A GOOD EXAMPLE FROM A BAD ONE? LET'S FIND OUT WHY FOOTBALLERS BECOME GODS FOR MILLIONS AND WHAT RESPONSIBILITY THIS IMPLIES. WHY EXACTLY A FOOTBALLER IN THE WORLD THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PROFESSIONS. SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS, PILOTS, ASTRONAUTS. BUT WHY IS IT THAT FOOTBALLERS MORE OFTEN THAN OTHERS BECOME IDOLS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS? FIRST OF ALL, FOOTBALL IS THE MOST POPULAR GAME ON THE PLANET. IT IS WATCHED, PLAYED, TALKED ABOUT. SECONDLY, A FOOTBALLER IS A VISIBLE SUCCESS. HE RUNS, SCORES, WINS. THIS IS EVEN UNDERSTANDABLE TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD. THIRDLY, THE CAREER OF A FOOTBALLER LOOKS LIKE A FAIRY TALE: A POOR BOY FROM THE SLUMS BECOMES A MILLIONAIRE AND A STAR. FOURTHLY, A FOOTBALLER IS ALWAYS ON SCREEN — ADVERTISEMENTS, INTERVIEWS, MAGAZINE COVERS. HIS IMAGE IS TRAITSFORMED. BUT THE MAIN THING IS EMOTIONS. A FOOTBALLER BRINGS PEOPLE JOY, THE BITTERNESS OF DEFEATS, THE EXULTATION OF VICTORIES. AND THIS EMOTIONAL CONNECTION IS STRONGER THAN ANY RATIONAL ARGUMENT. THE IDEAL IDOL: HOW HE SHOULD BE WHAT FOOTBALLER DESERVES TO BE AN IDOL FOR THE YOUTH? LET'S TRY TO DRAW A PORTRAIT. FIRST — TALENT AND HARD WORK. LEGENDS OF FOOTBALL ARE NOT BORN, THEY BECOME. MESSI INJECTED GROWTH HORMONE, RONALDO STAYED ON TRAININGS AFTER ALL. THE IDOL SHOULD SHOW THAT SUCCESS IS NOT ONLY A GIFT FROM THE GODS, BUT ALSO SWEAT, BLOOD, EARLY WAKINGS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS ON THE FIELD. SECOND — CHARACTER. RESPECT FOR THE OPPONENT, REFEREES, FANS. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR DIRTY SLIDE TACKLES, SIMULATIONS, PROVOCATIONS. EXAMPLES: KAKA, WHO NEVER ARGUED WITH REFEREES. MIROSŁAW KLÖZÉ, WHO ADMITTED TO THE REFEREE THAT HE SCORED WITH HIS HAND AND ASKED TO ANNUL THE GOAL. THIS IS A TRUE LESSON IN SPORTSMANSHIP. THIRD — INTEGRITY OFF THE FIELD. THE IDOL FOOTBALLER DOES NOT SCANDALIZE IN NIGHTCLUBS, DOES NOT DRINK, DOES NOT USE DOPING, DOES NOT EVADE TAXES, DOES NOT BEAT WOMEN. HE HELPS CHILDREN, BUILDS HOSPITALS, SUPPORTS CHARITY FUNDS. MARCUS RASHFORD ACHIEVED FREE MEALS FOR POOR SCHOOLCHILDREN IN ENGLAND. DIDIER DROGBA STOPPED THE CIVIL WAR IN THE Ivory Coast, SIMPLY KNEELING ON THE FIELD. THESE ARE LEGENDARY ACTS. FOURTH — LONGEVITY. THE IDOL IS NOT A FLASH IN THE PAN FOR ONE SEASON. IT IS A PLAYER WHO MAINTAINS THE LEVEL FOR 10-15 YEARS. SOMEONE WHO CAN BE FOLLOWED FOR YEARS WITHOUT DISAPPOINTMENT. BUT THE OPPOSITE SIDE: IDOLS WITH ROTTENNESS UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERY FOOTBALLER DESERVES WORSHIP. THE WORLD KNOWS STARS WHO HAVE ACTED DISGUSTINGLY. THE SAME MARADONA — A GENIUS PLAYER, BUT A DRUG ADDICT, ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAFIA, WHO CAUSED PEDESTRIANS IN DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS. HE WAS LOVED, BUT IS THIS A ROLE MODEL? OR MODERN FOOTBALLERS WHO SIMULATE INJURIES, FALL FROM A LIGHT BREEZE, PROVOKE REFEREES. THEY TEACH BOYS THAT LYING AND DECEIVING IS NORMAL. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ARE CASES OF VIOLENCE. SEVERAL WORLD FOOTBALL STARS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF BEATING WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND FANS TURNED A BLIND EYE: "HE'S A GOOD PLAYER, WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE?". THIS IS A TRAP. IF WE FORGIVE CRIMES FOR BEAUTIFUL GOALS, WE WILL TRAITSFORM THE IDEA THAT SUCCESS JUSTIFIES ANY DIRTYNESS. HOW THE ROLE OF THE IDOL CHANGED FROM PELE TO MBAPPÉ IN THE 1950S, PELE WAS A LIVING GOD. HE WAS TALKED ABOUT AS A SAINT. HE DID NOT DRINK, DID NOT SMOKE, SMILED, WON. HIS IMAGE WAS IDEAL FOR THE COLD WAR: CAPITALIST WEST AND SOCIALIST EAST APPLAUDED THE KING OF FOOTBALL ALIKE. IN THE 1980S, MARADONA SHOWED ANOTHER MODEL: A GENIUS HULLABALOO. THE PEOPLES' LOVE FORGAVE HIM EVERYTHING — THE HAND OF GOD, COCAINE, THE MAFIA. HE WAS "HIS OWN," FROM THE DIRT TO THE PRINCE. BUT FOR MANY CHILDREN, HE BECAME A ROLE MODEL FOR "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IF YOU'RE COOL." IN THE 2000S, ZIDAN, RONALDO, BECKHAM — COMMERCIAL IDOLS. BECKHAM TURNED FOOTBALL INTO SHOW BUSINESS. HIS HAIRSTYLES, TATTOOS, MARRIAGE TO A POP STAR SET TRENDS NOT ONLY ON THE FIELD BUT ALSO IN LIFE. 2010-2020 — THE ERA OF MESSI AND RONALDO. HYPERPROFESSIONALS, ASCETICS, ROBOTS-GOALKEEPERS. THEY SHOWED THAT HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN DIRTY TALENT. AND THIS IS THE RIGHT MESSAGE. NOW IT'S TIME FOR MBAPPÉ AND HOLLAN. THEY ARE ALREADY MILLIONAIRES AT 20, LIVE ON INSTAGRAM, BUT THEY STILL HOLD THEMSELVES IN HAND. WILL THEY BE ABLE TO REMAIN PURE IDOLS WITHOUT SCANDALS — WE'LL SEE. FOOTBALLER AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BECOMING AN IDOL, A FOOTBALLER AUTOMATICALLY GETS A HUGE SOCIAL LOAD. HIS POST ON SOCIAL NETWORKS IS READ BY MILLIONS. HIS ACTION IS DISCUSSED IN THE NEWS. THEREFORE, EVERY MOVEMENT OF THE STAR SHOULD BE WEIGHTED. GOOD EXAMPLES: RAHIMOV, WHO TRANSFERRED HIS FULL WAGE TO CHILDREN'S HOMES. LUCA MODRICH, WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST CORRUPTED OFFICIALS OF HIS CLUB. MESSI, WHO PAID FOR THE SURGERY OF DOZENS OF CHILDREN. BAD EXAMPLES: FOOTBALLERS WHO ORGANIZED PARTIES IN THE PANDEMIC WHILE FANS SAT AT HOME. OR THOSE WHO RAISED THEIR HANDS IN THE LOCKER ROOM ON YOUNG PEOPLE. APOLOGIES WILL NOT HELP. AN IMPORTANT RULE: THE IDOL CHOOSES NOT TO BE AN EXAMPLE OR NOT. HE IS ALREADY AN EXAMPLE. BY DEFAULT. AS SOON AS YOU ARE LOOKED AT BY CHILDREN, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY STEP YOU TAKE. PSYCHOLOGY OF ImitATION: WHY CHILDREN COPY FOOTBALLERS THE CHILD PSYCHE IS SUCH THAT IT NEEDS IDENTIFICATION WITH A STRONG, SUCCESSFUL, NOTICEABLE ADULT TO FORM. A FOOTBALLER IS IDEAL: HE IS IN THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, HE WINS, HE IS PRAISED BY MILLIONS. THE CHILD SAYS SUBCONSCIOUSLY: "I WANT TO BE LIKE HIM. THEN THEY WILL ALSO LOVE ME." EVERYTHING IS Imitated: THE WAY TO RUN, HAIRSTYLES, TATTOOS, CELEBRATING GOALS, EVEN THE BRAND OF GUM. BOYS START SHAVING THEIR LEGS LIKE PROFESSIONALS. DO COMPLEX HAIRSTYLES LIKE CHRISTIANO. SPEND HALF OF THEIR INCOME ON SHOES "LIKE MESSI'S." THIS IS NOT BAD AND NOT GOOD — THIS IS A MECHANISM OF GROWING UP. BUT PARENTS CAN GUIDE THIS Imitation IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. FOR EXAMPLE, ENROLL THE CHILD IN A FOOTBALL SECTION AND SAY: "YOUR IDOL TRAINED EVERY DAY FOR THREE HOURS. WILL YOU DO THE SAME?". WHEN THE IDOL DISAPPOINTS THE MOST PAINFUL FOR A FAN IS TO LEARN THAT HIS HERO IS AN ORDINARY PERSON WITH DIRTY SIDES. EXAMPLE: THE HISTORY OF A FOOTBALLER WHO WAS CAUGHT IN FIXED MATCHES. OR WHO BEAT HIS WIFE. OR WHO WENT TO PRISON FOR NOT PAYING TAXES. THOUSANDS OF FANS FALL INTO COGNITIVE DISSONANCE: "HE'S THE BEST, HE COULDN'T DO THAT! ". OR, WORSE, BEGIN TO EXCUSE: "HE'S RIGHT, TAXES ARE ROBBERY, DON'T PAY! ". PSYCHOLOGISTS ADVISE: SEPARATE THE PLAYER FROM THE PERSON. ADMIRE HIS DRIBBLING, SHOT, GOAL INSTINCT. BUT DO NOT EXCUSE HIS CRIMES OR IMMORAL BEHAVIOR. IF THE IDOL FALLS INTO THE MUD, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP WORshipping HIM. AND YOU EVEN OWE IT TO YOUR CHILDREN TO EXPLAIN THAT HEROES ALSO MAKE MISTAKES AND YOU HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEM. HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT IDOL FOR A CHILD IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER ARE IN LOVE WITH SOME FOOTBALLER, DO NOT PROHIBIT OR MOCK. INSTEAD, DO THREE THINGS. FIRST — STUDY HIS BIOGRAPHY. TELL YOUR CHILD HOW LONG THE IDOL WORKED IN THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL. THROUGH WHICH TRAUMAS HE PASSED. WHO HE THANKS AFTER VICTORIES. SECOND — LOOK FOR INTERVIEWS AND REPORTAGES OUTSIDE THE FIELD. YOU WILL SEE HOW HE COMMUNICATES WITH FANS, WITH HIS FAMILY, HOW HE BEHAVES IN GUEST PROGRAMS. THIRD — FIND A MOMENT WHERE THE IDOL PROVED HIMSELF ETHICALLY: FOR EXAMPLE, PICKED UP THE OPPONENT FROM THE GRASS AFTER A HARD FIGHT, OR REFUSED A PENALTY, ADMITTING THAT THE FALL WAS NOT THERE. SHOW THIS TO THE CHILD AS AN EXAMPLE. AND DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DESTROY MYTHS. IF THE IDOL TURNED OUT TO BE A FRAUDSTER, A DRUG ADDICT, OR AN AGGRESSOR, EXPLAIN: "I LOVE HIS FOOTBALL, BUT I DO NOT LIKE HIS ACTIONS. LET'S LOOK AT OTHER GREAT ONES — FOR EXAMPLE, LIONEL MESSI, WHO NEVER SIMULATES". WHO AMONG MODERN FOOTBALLERS IS THE EXAMPLE OF AN IDOL IF YOU NEED TO NAME A FEW NAMES WITHOUT RISKING A MISTAKE, HERE IS THE LIST. LIONEL MESSI — HUMBLE, FAMILY MAN, DOES NOT SIMULATE, DOES NOT DRINK, ENGAGES IN CHARITY. CHRISTIANO RONALDO — AN UNBELIEVABLE WORKOHOLIC, WHO WEARS BLOOD ON TRAININGS, HELPS CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS. ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI — INTELLIGENT ON THE FIELD AND OFF IT, A MODEL PROFESSIONAL. SUN HYN MIN — DOES NOT SIMULATE, RESPECTS OPPONENTS, PAYS SALARIES TO THE KOREA NATIONAL TEAM OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE FOLLOWED WITHOUT SHAME. AND WHO NOT TO SET AS AN EXAMPLE — THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN FOR SIMULATIONS, AGGRESSION ON THE FIELD, LEGAL SCANDALS. WE WILL NOT NAME NAMES, FANS ALREADY KNOW. CONCLUSION: IDOLS ARE NEEDED, BUT WITH A LOOKOUT A FOOTBALLER AS AN IDOL IS A GREAT FORCE. HE CAN RAISE MILLIONS ON THEIR FEET, MAKE CHILDREN GO TO TRAININGS, DROP BAD HABITS, BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. BUT HE CAN ALSO DESTROY ORIENTATIONS IF HE TURNS OUT TO BE A SCOUNDREL. THEREFORE, NOT BLIND WORSHIP, BUT CRITICAL ADMIRATION — THIS IS THE RIGHT PATH. LOVE THE GAME, RESPECT THE MASTERS, BUT DO NOT PUT THEM ON A PEDESTAL WITHOUT CRITICISM. AND THEN FOOTBALL WILL REMAIN A PURE ART, NOT A RELIGION WITH DOUBTFUL SAINTS.
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