Luis Edu
Not all Hispanic athletes inspire pride in their respective countries, due to their links to controversies that end up affecting their legacy.
In this list, we will mention 5 Hispanic stars who are not role models, despite having a career full of great sporting achievements.
José Canseco
José Canseco had an explosive start to his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics because of his superb home runs. However, he gradually lost focus until he became a type of player that nobody wants to have on their roster.
The Cuban was not only involved in the steroid controversy, but also he took it upon himself to expose other Hispanic athletes who were involved in a book, something that definitely ended up making him a very hated person in the world of the Major League Baseball.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona is considered, by many, to be the greatest soccer player of all time, despite having had one of the most scandalous careers in the history of sports due to his drug addiction.
He was an idol on the field with the Argentine national team and with Napoli in Italy’s Serie A, but off the field he was not an example that should be followed by children starting out in football.
Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, millions of people around the world paid tribute to him through social networks.
Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez owns one of the best offensive statistics in MLB history, but his repeated involvement with steroids may keep him out of the Hall of Fame.
In addition, we are talking about a player who during his career earned the disgust of many Latino fans, especially for hesitating to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, something he ended up doing in the 2009 edition.
Rodriguez is currently sparking controversy with his comments during MLB broadcasts.
Guillermo Coria
Guillermo Coria is one of the greatest Hispanic athletes that Argentine tennis has produced, but the mental issues ended up burying a career that promised great things for him.
“El mago” managed to stand out in the main tournaments of the ATP circuit, especially on clay. However, after losing the 2004 Roland Garros final to compatriot Gastón Gaudio, things were never the same for Coria, who ended up hanging up his racquet in 2009 at the age of 27.
Despite the fact that he never starred in fights or unfortunate events on the court, the fact that he practically “wasted” his talent is something that definitely makes him enter this list.
Yasiel Puig
Yasiel Puig shocked the MLB when he came to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2012 season, but his confrontational attitudes gradually drove him away from the fields of the United States.
The powerful Cuban is capable of standing out in any team, although the “bad reputation” he has gained in recent years has prevented him from returning to Major League Baseball. Currently, he is content playing in the winter leagues or in Asian baseball.
However, at age 31, he could still receive one last chance in U.S. fields.
It’s definitely not all about talent. In the world of sports, Hispanic athletes must be careful about what they do in their personal lives, as it can directly influence their careers.
