From winning the World Cup to bankruptcy: The champions who went broke

Glory and ruin often travel hand in hand in the world of sports. Countless soccer players have struggled to manage their wealth after retirement. Over time, financial troubles begin to mount, ultimately derailing the life that comes after the game. These are some of the players who reached the pinnacle of World Cup glory only to find themselves later trapped by debt, financial hardship, and never-ending loans.

Ronaldinho and Cafu

They were two of the standout figures from the generation that delivered Brazil its fifth World Cup title. Cafu arrived at the tournament as captain and was the man entrusted with lifting the trophy into the Yokohama sky. Ronaldinho, meanwhile, was the emerging star who dazzled throughout the competition. Even then, there were clear signs that he was destined for greatness. His magic on the ball was unlike anything else.

After retiring in 2008, Cafu and his wife founded a player representation agency called Capi-Penta International Player. In its early years, the company was plagued by failed investments and mounting debts that eventually wrecked the couple’s finances. In 2019, the São Paulo Court of Justice seized five properties belonging to the family and temporarily froze up to 15 assets owned by the Brazilian legend. It was at that point that Cafu declared bankruptcy. Over the years, he managed to settle most of his outstanding debts, but the financial safety net that once underpinned the World Cup-winning fullback’s peace of mind has never truly returned.

Ronaldinho’s case is even more complex. Beyond his financial issues, the Brazilian icon was arrested in Paraguay alongside his brother after entering the country using forged passports. On March 6, his imprisonment became official. He spent five months behind bars and celebrated his 40th birthday in jail.

It is estimated that Ronaldinho earned more than $130 million in salary alone during his playing career. When sponsorship deals and endorsement contracts are added to the equation, his total wealth reaches staggering levels. Yet much of that fortune gradually disappeared. The most serious issue stemmed from his failure to pay a fine of more than $2 million imposed by the Brazilian courts. After Ronaldinho refused to comply, authorities seized 57 properties and several luxury vehicles.

He eventually stabilized his finances after winning a 2021 image-rights lawsuit against Atlético Mineiro. Even so, both his reputation and his financial standing have yet to fully recover. As one of the greatest players in soccer history, Ronaldinho will likely continue to find opportunities thanks to the enduring power of his global profile. Television networks and major sporting events remain eager to feature the man whose dribbling brilliance captivated a generation. It is a luxury many former players in similar circumstances simply do not have.

Garrincha

Any list of the greatest dribblers in soccer history would almost certainly include Garrincha. The Brazilian right winger was a cornerstone of the national team’s first two World Cup triumphs. At Sweden 1958, he played the perfect supporting role to a teenage Pelé. At Chile 1962, he was forced to become the team’s leading figure after “O Rei” suffered an injury. His performances mesmerized the world, earning him recognition as the tournament’s best player and one of its leading scorers.

All the glory he accumulated on the field vanished after retirement. Garrincha’s post-playing life remains one of the saddest stories in soccer history. He began smoking at age 10 and also developed a serious drinking problem. He was sentenced to prison after driving under the influence of alcohol. In the accident that led to his conviction, his mother-in-law died. Garrincha was released on parole in 1969. Combined with mounting debts and ongoing financial difficulties, his future looked increasingly bleak.

In the early hours of January 20, 1983, after days of heavy drinking, Mané Garrincha died alone, penniless, and abandoned in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro. The greatest dribbler many believed the sport had ever seen passed away in complete solitude, burdened by debts he could never repay. Brazil continues to remember him through the words etched onto his tombstone: “Here rests in peace the man who was the joy of the people.”

Andreas Brehme

Scoring the winning goal in a World Cup final and lifting the trophy afterward is the dream of every soccer player. Andreas Brehme is one of the few who can say he achieved it. The moment came in the 1990 World Cup final, when West Germany faced Diego Maradona’s Argentina. Brehme converted a penalty in the 85th minute to secure his country’s third world title.

Following his retirement in 1998, Brehme never ventured deeply into the investment world to grow his fortune. After coaching spells with Kaiserslautern and Unterhaching, he later worked as an assistant coach at Stuttgart. That would prove to be his final role on the bench. As the years passed, he gradually lost virtually all of his wealth and reportedly accumulated debts of around $230,000.

Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest players in the history of the game and a German soccer icon, publicly called for help on behalf of his former teammate: “We have a responsibility to help Andreas Brehme. He did a great deal for German soccer; he won a title for us, and now it is our turn to do something for him.”

Oliver Straube, a former colleague, offered Brehme a job in the cleaning division of a company in which he held a stake. Straube argued that it was precisely what the former player needed: “There he’ll learn what real work is, cleaning bathrooms and toilets. It will help him understand what life is really like and improve his public image.” The comments were harsh, but they ultimately helped rescue a player who never managed to properly protect his fortune.

Pedro Julio Olarticoechea

Nicknamed “El Vasco,” Pedro Julio Olarticoechea was part of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad at Mexico 1986. Within that legendary team, Diego Maradona’s presence overshadowed everyone else - and for good reason. Yet players like Olarticoechea also played a vital role in the title run. He started every single match of the tournament, bringing tireless work ethic and dedication to Argentina’s midfield. Throughout his life, he repeatedly described that World Cup triumph as the greatest joy of his career.

After retirement, Olarticoechea remained involved in soccer. In 2016, he served as interim head coach of Argentina’s Olympic team during its quest for a gold medal at the Rio Games. During the tournament, he revealed that the Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) had failed to pay his salary for months. The situation became so severe that he had to borrow money from his daughter, who worked as a pastry chef, simply to make ends meet. Eventually, the AFA paid what it owed him, but his finances had already come under intense strain.

Alberto Tarantini

Argentina experiences World Cups with a level of passion few nations can match. Each of the country’s three world titles carries its own historical, sporting, and emotional significance. But as the saying goes, there is nothing quite like the first time. The 1978 World Cup delivered Argentina’s maiden crown, elevating Mario Kempes to legendary status and creating heroes whose names remain etched in history - including Alberto Tarantini.

Known as “El Conejo” - “The Rabbit” - Tarantini was Argentina’s starting left back in all seven matches of the tournament. He was dynamic down the flank and reliable defensively. Yet the image for which he is best remembered has little to do with his play on the field. It is the iconic “Soul Embrace” photograph. After the World Cup final, Tarantini embraced goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol. Alongside them stood Víctor Dell’Aquila, an Argentine fan who had evaded security after the final whistle. Dell’Aquila had lost both arms as a child. Upon seeing his heroes celebrating, he dropped to his knees and leaned against the backs of the two players. The photograph, captured by Ricardo Alfieri, became one of the most iconic images in World Cup history.

After retiring, Tarantini openly admitted that his financial troubles stemmed from one thing: not knowing how to manage his money. He often described himself as an overly generous person: “I gave and gave and gave. Then when I needed help, everyone turned their backs on me.”

That criticism included many of his friends and former national-team teammates - with a notable exception: Diego Maradona. Tarantini, who at one point struggled to pay his son’s school tuition, received help from Maradona during those difficult times. Speaking about Argentina’s immortal No. 10, he said: “He was an incredibly generous person in every sense. Money never mattered to him.”

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