Former Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain has revealed he almost quit football following the 2014 World Cup, where he was part of the Argentina side that lost to Germany in the World Cup final.
The Juventus forward squandered a huge chance in the final in Brazil, when the game was still goalless, skewing a volleyed effort of target when one-on-one with Manuel Neuer.
He attracted vast criticism after the game, as well as after defeats in two Copa America finals, and he has now revealed how that almost led him to quit the game.
"It's not easy to be told "this guy's no good anymore, he's a failure, he can't play football'. It hurts. Yes, it's true that we didn't achieve our objective, but to have been a failure? Reaching three finals isn't failure," he told Marca.
"I was about to stop playing, but my mother told me to keep going. If it was up to me, I would've quit football. It's something I love, but I love my mum more. She said she wouldn't let me to leave what I love.
"I've always regretted locking myself away and not going outside, afraid of what people might say.
"The chance dropped unexpectedly, I had to take it and unfortunately I couldn't. I went with the first thing that popped up in my head. I don't know if I'd do the same thing now.
"It came my way with my back to goal. It was given to me by a defender 15 yards away and, as soon as I turned around, the goal was in front of me. It looked easier than it was.
"I've played in the best leagues, for the best teams, at three World Cups and the Copa America. I didn't imagine even 10 percent of this when I was five and I did it. Why should I worry about what people say? When I started to understand that, I started to go out and live more."
