Football (soccer), like many sports, is a game not only of skill but also of confidence. The machinations of a player’s mind, when properly managed, can elevate them above the rest to the pantheon of football greatness.
“When you win, you don’t get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far.” Diego Maradona.
Today’s footballers (soccer players) are often accused of possessing too much ego or self-confidence. Kylian Mbappe, the PSG and French international footballer is a good example of someone who exudes confidence in his ability. Understandably so, as the World Cup winner has had plenty of success in his career.
Why Players Need An Ego
Most top-level footballers play out their careers in front of television cameras and have their every touch and movement analyzed by pundits and coaches. Mistakes are talked about just as much as goals or great tackles, so a thick skin and an ability to overcome criticism and maintain a belief in their abilities is vital.
“I am not a man. I am Cantona.” Eric Cantona.
Football is a competitive sport with players matching up against each other all over the pitch. A striker such as Mbappe has to believe he is better than the defender in front of him if he is to score a goal or make a match-winning contribution. Without self-confidence, a player could not successfully perform at a professional level.
“I can play in the eleven positions because a good player can play anywhere.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
One scientific study discovered that as ego increased, so did a player’s perception of their self-worth, which is vital if players are to be able to handle the pressures of a professional soccer career. But every player, even Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, have suffered from a drop in their confidence levels at some point in their careers.
Causes of Loss of Confidence:
• Family issues
• Injury
• Loss of form
• Not getting on with the manager
• Media criticism
• Fall out with teammates
However, those with greater self-belief in their abilities experience fewer losses of form or periods of self-doubt.
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How To Build An Ego
Researchers discovered that as players got older their egos increased. It’s believed this is caused by the need to develop a greater self-belief as their careers progress or face failure. However, the only way to successfully build an ego as a sportsperson is to practice hard and become the best player you can be. That will in itself create confidence and self-belief.
“Ego is the foundation of greatness but only if it is still open to being coached and criticized and there’s a structure in place to help them grow.” Mike Forde.
Once they are at the top of their game, many top athletes utilize a simple alter-ego strategy to enhance their performance on game day. Kobe Bryant famously invented his Black Mamba alter ego to get through what he claimed was the lowest point of his career.
“To sum up what mamba mentality is, it means to be able to constantly try to be the best version of yourself.” Kobe Bryant.
The basketball star took on the mantle and used it to block out outside noise and focus on being the best player he could be, irrespective of everything else that was happening in his life. It worked.
The Pros and Cons of Ego in Sport
Having great self-belief will allow a player to perform at the limit of their abilities in a game. It will maximize their potential and enable them to block out negativity and mistakes while out on the pitch. However, there are negatives to ego in sport. Too much ego at a young age can stop the player from continuing to develop, as they believe they are already the best player and no longer need to work hard in training or during a game.
“It’s true I don’t know much about the players here, but they definitely know who I am.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Having the right amount of self-belief can prove to be a fine line to tread in sports. It’s important that the teams and players who are the odds on favorites in the football betting have confidence in themselves to perform, as too little belief and they won’t maximize their potential and risk failure, but too much and they can be overconfident and risk under performing due to complacency.
A key trait among soccer legends such as Cantona, Kane, and Ibrahimovic, is the unwavering confidence they possess in their own abilities. But while the superstar players may take the majority of the plaudits for their performances, soccer is a team sport that cannot be won by a single player.
So, no matter how skilled they are or how big an ego they may have, Haaland, Mbappe, and Ronaldo, would all be nothing without their teammates.