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The beautiful game of football produces so much that it is often deemed as 'religion' by its followers. Devotees, rather. Goals, tackles, mind games, tactics and an ever-evolving complexion snowballs into the gorgeous aspect of it.
Football is simply a process. From the technique that has developed to the structure followed by teams, it has all gone through a cycle of an establishment.
Moving on to the individuals who bless the game and are equally venerated by it; the progress of a football player as well begins with baby steps and goes on with similar small steps.
In professional terms, one sharpens their skills at the youth level whilst playing for an academy. After that, the hope of progressing to a senior squad bombards their caliber into the world stage, where the entire fraternity casts their eye on their footballing prowess.
Along with the glitter and glamour that goes hand-in-hand with hard work, every player undergoes hardships in his career.
In the end, it's all about the fire in you that ignites the field, sets it ablaze and burns the opponents to ashes. In the end, it's about grabbing the eyeballs of that one scout who is due to take you places and make you a household name. In the end, it's all about that one performance that wins you a permanent senior contract. In the end, it's all about bringing the best out of yourself.
A huge pool of players have blessed the game with performances that adjectives can barely explain, but they too, have seen the worst of days.
As teenagers, these professionals had been dismissed by world-class clubs. However, they carried the flame and backed their capabilities to go down in the history books as great players.
Here are 10 such conspicuous talents in football who were rejected as teenagers.
#10 Diego Costa
Until the age of 15, Diego Costa hadn't even received proper coaching from any club. Neither did he manage to join a renowned team in Brazil, nor could he sharpen his skills at an academic institution.
The striker traveled to Sao Paulo to play for a local club which was run by his uncle. Not only did this prove to be an escape route for the Spain international, but also kick-started a career that is encircled by goals and trophies.
With a salary cap of just around £100, Costa saw himself turned down by Corinthians, Palmerias and Santos.
One year later, star player agent Jorge Mendes scouted his talent and took him to Braga. After a host of loan spells and an impressive stint at Valladolid, Costa was snapped up by Atletico Madrid in 2010.
Since then, the 30-year-old went on to win individual and team honors at Spain and England. His hunger, commitment, finishing and work rate have made him a feared attacking force in European football.
#9 Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli needs no introduction. A player with unquestionable talent, he has gone through tough times and controversial situations on and off the pitch, owing to his volatile and direct nature.
In 2006, his family prepared him for a trial at FC Barcelona. He struck five goals in a practice game, but the Italian's mentality and attitude issues led to a collapse in the deal.
Balotelli has plied his trade at Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan, Liverpool and OGC Nice. All in all, the sharpshooter 138 senior goals in just under 350 appearances. Gifted with pace, physicality and technical ability of the highest degree, Balotelli can rip any defence apart on his day.
The 28-year-old still has a few years in him and if he can religiously showcase his true potential on the field, we all know 'Super Mario' can do.
#8 Luke Shaw
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't sometimes think about stopping playing football, but I had a lot of good friends and family around me and they helped me through it.
I nearly lost my leg, I was actually really close to losing my leg and I never knew that until six months after when the doctor told me. Of course, if I knew that I would [still] never have stopped, even if he had told me there was a worry, I would have tried."
These words were quoted by former Southampton boy Luke Shaw after he broke into Mourinho's Manchester United squad and impressed at left back. Injuries hampered his career and despite the hindrances, the Englishman is going strong in the ongoing season. Now, what's your excuse?
Shaw's dreams were torn apart many years ago as well when he wasn't offered a place in the Chelsea academy. A boyhood Blue, he developed at the club's Guildford center but never weaved his way into the youth setup.
The full-back then joined Southampton, played a huge role under Mauricio Pochettino and went on to sign for Manchester United.
#7 Marcus Rashford
Old Trafford's wonder kid, Marcus Rashford, was brought onto the scene by Louis Van Gaal when some of the first team stars weren't providing the goods.
In a Europa League game, the versatile forward was included late into the playing XI because Anthony Martial sustained an injury during the warm-up.
Boy, he impressed. Rashford marked his debut with two goals. A couple of days later, he was handed a Premier League debut against a formidable Gunners side. The 21-year-old became the darling at Manchester by scoring two and creating another in a 3-2 victory.
Since then, he hasn't looked back.
Manchester City albeit, couldn't see what Van Gaal did, as they rejected him when he was just nine years of age. They termed him 'too small'.
Fast forward to the present date, Rashford is one of the brightest prospects in England, if not Europe. And he's only 21!
#6 Kylian Mbappe
Two Ligue 1 titles. One Coupe de France. One Coupe de la Ligue. Golden Boy 2017. Trophee Kopa 2018. Two Ligue 1 Young Player of The Year awards. Young Player of the Tournament at the FIFA World Cup. Representation in the FIFPro World XI.
What were Chelsea Football Club thinking when they decided to terminate a possible place for him in the academy?
Kylian Mbappe played a practice match for the English powerhouse against Charlton Athletic at the age of 11 but was never included in their youth system.
A few years later, aged just 17 years 62 days, the explosive winger became the youngest player to score for AS Monaco as he displaced Thierry Henry. In the World Cup, a 25-yard screamer in the final made him the second youngest teenager, after Pele, to score in a World Cup final.
Right now, Mbappe is one of the best in the business with his blistering pace, maturity, direct nature in front of goal and dribbling skill.
#5 Harry Kane
Tottenham Hotspur have now become a petrifying force in Europe due to a transition orchestrated by Pochettino. From a club that stood behind the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years, the Argentine mastermind has turned them into serious title contenders.
And it is safe to say that the one and only Harry Kane has been the protagonist in this fairy tale. The Golden Boot winner at the World Cup has scored 20+ goals in the Premier League for four seasons in a row now.
In this term too, the 25-year-old is on 11 goals. From a 'promising talent' at the academy, Spurs' very own has now become their talisman and has taken over the goal-scoring burden on his shoulders.
Spurs fans can boast about him with their heads held higher not only for what he has consistently been doing for the club over the past five years or so but also for the fact that Arsenal rejected him in 2004.
According to the Gunners, Kane was too small and short. Remember Gunners, he is the same man who has netted seven goals in the eight North London derbies he has featured in.
#4 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is right up there among the world's best. Neither has he got the pace of Neymar, nor does he own the burgeoning ability to smash goals like Cristiano Ronaldo. He is someone who possesses his own brand of football.
The 27-year-old can finish, shoot from distance, link-up play, dictate the pace of the game, run the extra yard, keep hold of the ball and make defenders look like practice cones. He was also the creator-in-chief at the attacking midfield role for Didier Deschamps' World Cup-winning side.
As a budding football talent, due to his not so daunting frame, Griezmann was rejected by Lyon, Auxerre, Sochaux and Saint-Etienne.
With almost 70 caps for his national side, 175 senior goals and over 430 senior club appearances, the little magician is in line to become one of the best France has ever produced and debatably, win the Ballon d'Or.
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
As a teenager, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined AC Milan as a trainee. Despite being a part of the setup for five years, he didn't play a single game for the Rossoneri.
According to his peers and the hierarchy, he lacked technical quality. After an array of loan spells, the Gabon international settled at Saint-Etienne, before being snapped up by Borussia Dortmund, who turned him into a world-class act and arguably, one of the most clinical center forwards in Europe.
In just 213 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, he struck a mammoth 143 goals. After a controversy, Aubameyang was forced to leave and then started the Arsenal chapter.
He has starred for the Gunners so far, having netted 24 goals in just 37 appearances. At the moment, he is unstoppable, so much that even Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah are trying to match-up with him in the goalscoring charts.
#2 Andrea Pirlo
Even Andrea Pirlo was rejected. In fact, not once, but twice.
At the tender age of 19, the Italian footballing icon moved to Inter Milan after having impressed as an attacking midfielder for boyhood club, Brescia. However, he failed to replicate the same vein at Milan, which led to a couple of loan moves, one of them which was at Brescia.
The midfielder was moved to a deeper role and he ran the game from the same position. He switched to AC Milan, won two Champions League trophies but ran out of favor as the Rossoneri decided to revamp the squad.
Pirlo was snapped up by Juventus and you know the rest!
Success followed him and the midfield metronome went on to win four league titles and two cups. The maestro was also a part of the Italy squad that lifted the 2006 World Cup.
#1 Raul Gonzalez
With over 400 senior club goals and 102 caps for the national time, Raul Gonzalez is largely regarded as one of the best Spanish players of all time.
The Galactico won 16 trophies with Real Madrid, whilst scoring 323 goals for the capital side. He also impressed at Schalke, netting 40 goals in 98 appearances.
We can just go on ranting and praising his prowess, achievements and honors and it would just not be enough. However, he too was given the thumbs down.
At just 13 years of age, due to his father's desire, Raul joined Atletico Madrid. Next year, the striker won a youth title with the Rojiblancos as well.
Unfortunately, the club endured a financial strain and to the foolishness of the club president, the academy was shut down, leaving a host of young talents without a club.
Raul crossed the divide, donned the whites and the rest, as they all say, is history.
