It’s not all bad in the sport.
Recent stories stealing the headlines in football have shone an increasingly dim light on the sport and makes many despair about those playing the game.
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So CaughtOffside decided it was time to cheer you up and here are the nicest footballers currently in the game.
10. Gareth Barry
The Everton midfielder did his bit for charity back in 2011 when he made his luxury villa in Spain open to children’s fund ‘Sun and Happiness.’
Barry has handed over the keys and said it is available to the kids whenever he is not using it.
9. Craig Gardner
Famous for travelling to a Sunderland match with the fans, whilst with Birmingham City this midfielder started helping a young boy with CHARGE syndrome after a chance meeting.
Gardner’s daughter was staring at the boy in a restaurant and after apologising and learning more, the 27-year-old West Bromwich Albion star helped fund the equipment needed for the child’s treatment.
8. Mesut Ozil
The Arsenal club record signing made the headlines in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup by donating his fee from the tournament to 23 children in host nation
For his efforts Ozil was given the Laureus award.
7. Zinedine Zidane
The legendary Frenchman is considered to be among the best who have ever played the game and having come from humble roots the Real Madrid coach is using his fame for good.
Zidane was one of the key figures behind the Match Against Poverty.
6. Dirk Kuyt
Quiet and hardworking are probably the first things that come to mind when thinking of this former Liverpool forward, but the Dutchman also does his bit off the pitch.
Kuyt has his own foundation which helps children with disabilities enjoy sport.
5. Jack Wilshere
The Gunners midfielder is greatly improving on the pitch and is a regular for both club and country and the 22-year-old is also quite the ambassador off it.
After befriending a young boy suffering with a brain tumour called Jack Marshall and his family, Wilshere has donated generously to the fund and worked tirelessly to promote the charity.
4. Samuel Eto’o
One of the most famous and best African players to have even featured in the game, Eto’o’s foundation has helped people across the continent.
At one time the Cameroonian was the best paid footballer in the world and he has been using that to set up scholarships, improve education and health and donate ambulances to hospitals in dire need.
3. Michael Essien
The AC Milan enforcer also has his own foundation which is looking to improve things in his home nation of Ghana.
Once a hugely well paid midfielder at Chelsea it has been reported that Essien pays a third of his wages to the charity to improve education, healthcare and provide clean drinking water.
2. Billy Sharp
The Leeds United striker set up his charity after a personal tragedy when his two day old son died of Gastroschisis.
Sharp requested to play for then club Doncaster Rovers just days later in order to score for his child and did so and has since setup The Louie Jacob Sharp Foundation to help families in the same situation.
1. Didier Drogba
Not many take philanthropy quite as seriously as the Blues legend however, who has done huge amounts to help improve his home nation of Ivory Coast over the years.
Drogba has personally paid for hospitals and orphanages to be built and has been named in Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people in the world.