LET’S FACE IT — it’s not always easy to be a football fan.
The game is rife with cynicism and general bad behaviour, whether it be in the form of diving, demanding excessive wages or biting.
Yet, it’s not all bad. The 12 instances below, all of which took place during the 2014 World Cup, illustrated that footballers aren’t always money-hungry mercenaries intent on showing us the worst excesses of humanity.
On the contrary, many of these beloved stars are genuinely decent people, if the noble acts presented in this list are anything to go by.
1. Samaras persuading the Greek FA to get a ticket for the Costa Rica game to his biggest fan
2. Serey Die crying during the Ivory Coast anthem
3. Lionel Messi celebrating like a football fan after Argentina won their semi-final penalty shootout
4. Luis Suarez consoling Steven Gerrard after England were eliminated from the competition
5. Arjen Robben taking time out to embrace the Costa Rica coach during the World Cup quarter-final
6. All those upsets
7. Samuel Eto’o giving a heartfelt hug to a Cameroon fan
8. Brazil players belting out the anthem prior to every game
9. Mario Balotelli not being afraid to laugh at himself
10. David Luiz giving the most passionate celebration, possibly ever, after scoring against Colombia
11. Colombia genuinely looking like they were having fun (especially when celebrating)
12. All those insanely passionate fans
