5 players who ruined their career with substance abuse

#1 Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona could've been even better had he avoided drugs

Another one of the greatest players of all time, Diego Maradona is another player who it’s hard to label as a failure. El Diego, of course, dragged a relatively average Argentina side to victory in the 1986 World Cup and almost repeated the feat in 1990, reaching the final where they were narrowly beaten by West Germany.

At club level he also saw monstrous success, winning both Serie A twice and the UEFA Cup while playing for Napoli. In 2000 he was even voted FIFA’s Player of the Century.

Unfortunately, though, the Argentine genius suffered from major issues with drugs throughout his career, beginning in the mid-1980s. Maradona became addicted to cocaine while playing for Barcelona in 1983, and while he was somehow able to keep playing at a remarkably high level – the best in the world – for the majority of his time using the drug, by the early 1990s he was having major problems.

It all came to a head when he tested positive for cocaine in March 1991, and was banned for 15 months. This led to him leaving Napoli in disgrace and heading back to Argentina.

By the time the 1994 World Cup rolled around though, Maradona had begun a career renaissance in his early 30s. Unfortunately, it was all built on a lie. His skills helped to tear Greece apart in a World Cup group game, but post-match saw him test positive again, this time for the banned stimulant ephedrine. Maradona was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace and his career was essentially ended.

Despite all he did achieve in the game, Maradona himself has stated that he could’ve been even greater had he not become involved with cocaine, which is in itself a scary thought.