I find myself pondering the exorbitant salaries bestowed upon most football players, a phenomenon that often strikes me as unjustifiable. What I often wonder is, what sets them apart from the likes of engineers, doctors, teachers, or programmers? What tangible contributions do they offer to society that warrants such astronomical remuneration? What is the added value they bring that surpasses that of other professions?
Of course, it’s only fair that the highly acclaimed superstar football players command substantial earnings due to their exceptional talents and significant achievements. Neither am I tlking about world classics from history. In my opinion, not every football player attains such remarkable heights capable of altering the course of our lives. A doctor holds the power to save lives, a programmer crafts intricate programs, an engineer’s designs shape our world, and architects craft the skyline. In contrast, the role of a footballer, it seems, is to inspire joy among the masses, injecting excitement into those fervent moments during a match.
Yet, when compared to the meaningful contributions made by chefs who delight with their culinary creations, writers who spark imagination, engineers who enhance daily living, teachers who give knowledge to students or painters who evoke awe with their creations, the question of why footballers earn significantly more becomes all the more perplexing.
The stark reality remains: even those football players who may not have achieved superstar status enjoy handsome paychecks that, in my eyes, defy comprehension. What’s more, a recurring theme in the media is the extravagant lifestyles of many football players – indulging in luxurious cars, indulging in partying with abandon, adopting an aura of larger-than-life heroes or even politicians. And therein lies my bewilderment: is this truly the image they aspire to project?