A recently published article in the Spanish As titled “Wonderkids Who Failed” has attracted considerable attention, especially among football fans. The article lists numerous footballers whose careers were destined for stardom but, according to the author, fell far short of expectations. Among them is Alen Halilović, once a highly touted Croatian football talent, whom Barcelona signed in 2014 as a future star. However, as As notes, that bright start did not yield the expected outcome.
This raises the question: How accurate and legitimate are such analyses, and could they potentially serve as grounds for a defamation lawsuit? Where is the line between journalistic commentary and professional character assassination? And what does this mean for a player like Halilović, whose name is now associated with failure?
Between Facts and Opinion
When journalists write about athletes’ professional careers, as they did in this article, they often walk a fine line between stating facts and expressing opinions. The piece on Halilović mentions that Barcelona paid €5 million for him in 2014, but after several loan spells, they sold him to HSV for the same amount. His nomadic journey didn’t stop there – Las Palmas, Milan, Standard Liege, Heerenveen, Reading, Birmingham, Rijeka, and finally Fortuna Sittard. All these are facts. But is that enough to label him a “failed talent”?
What we have here is not the dissemination of false information. Halilović’s career has indeed taken him through many clubs, which, objectively, could be seen as falling short of early expectations. From a legal standpoint, the article meets a key criterion – it presents factual data.
Defamation or Truth?
For a potential defamation lawsuit, it would need to be proven that the claims are not only false but also published with the intent to cause harm. In this case, it is hard to imagine Halilović achieving a legal victory. The article doesn’t contain false information – it recounts a series of transfers and events that are publicly documented.
The term “failed” or “unsuccessful” is subjective, and journalists often have the freedom to interpret athletic careers. It is a matter of personal perspective on someone’s career, based on public and fan expectations. Proving defamation would be difficult, especially since Halilović is a public figure, subject to greater scrutiny than the average person.
The Broader Picture of “Failure”
However, what this article should inspire is not a legal case but a deeper discussion about how the media shapes public perception of athletes. Expectations in football, and professional sports in general, are often ruthless. “Wonderkids” are young athletes who frequently fall victim to unrealistic expectations – they are expected to be the best in the world, to score goals, and to lead teams. But every time they fail to reach those heights, the “failure” label is quickly attached to their names.
Take Halilović as an example: he may not have become Lionel Messi, but he is still a professional footballer playing at a high level. By placing him on such a list, the media makes it harder for athletes to recover and rebuild their careers. Once someone’s name becomes associated with “failure,” it becomes difficult to shake off that stigma.
The Problem of Media Trials
As is not the only guilty party here. Almost all major sports media outlets tend to make premature judgments about athletes’ careers. They demand quick results and high performance, and when athletes fall short, they are labeled as “failed talents.” What is forgotten is that behind every “failure” is a human being dealing with immense pressure.
But is this enough for a lawsuit? Hardly. As long as the information is accurate and based on real events, the media is protected.
Moving Forward
These articles raise questions about the boundaries between journalism and sensationalism. The media should be aware of its responsibility, as its words carry significant weight. Instead of labeling athletes, perhaps journalists should think more constructively about how to write about athletes who have not met expectations, without using terms that can have lasting effects on someone’s professional and personal life.
In the end, we might ask – who is really “failing”? The athletes who continue to build their careers, or the media who rush to judge them?