Didier Drogba - A Hero Known On and Off the Pitch

By JEHAN BOER ‘21

Idolized by many, athletes hold tremendous power in the world of sports. With such strong influence, however, they must also choose carefully how to exert it. Athletes who use their fame for the wrong reasons may become bad role models and negatively impact on those who idolize them. Nonetheless, athletes who use their fame to amplify the voices of the silenced or the oppressed can have an enormous impact on society. The latter usage of fame is epitomized perfectly by Didier Drogba, the soccer player who ended a war. 

Born in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire and raised in France, Didier Drogba is considered by many to be the best African soccer player ever. Drogba was the definition of a late bloomer. Up until about 2004, he hopped around midtable soccer clubs in France, playing as a defender. His career didn’t take off until he was 26, an age considered “past the peak” of a soccer player’s career. In 2002, because of his immense physicality, Drogba was asked to change positions from wingback to striker. Many doubted Drogba, but he managed to take the new position head on. In 2 years, he scored 39 goals as a striker and had more of an impact on the game then ever before. His fierce knack for goalscoring earned him a move to the huge London club Chelsea, where he played for 8 years, scoring 100 goals, winning 11 major trophies, and earning himself a place in English history books. Drogba completed his accomplishments from the ages of 26-34, when soccer players are usually considered “past their prime.” He demonstrates why you should never let anyone write you off. Drogba’s story makes him a fan favorite, and what he did with his incredible reputation was even more inspiring.

In 2006, Didier Drogba helped Côte D'Ivoire qualify for the World Cup, an amazing feat for the African country. At the same time, a Civil War was raging through Côte D'Ivoire, one that had begun 4 years prior. This war started when Côte D’Ivoire was split into two: the Government-held south and the Rebel-held North, who were both unhappy with the effects of the government's choices. Drogba recognized that between the violence of the government and rebels were the civilians, who found themselves dangerously trapped inside the warfare. When Drogba, a captain and star player, led Côte D’Ivoire in qualifying for the World Cup, the entire country had their eyes on the team. Drogba wanted to use his spotlight for social change, and he pushed for peace. He begged the combatants to cease fire, and because of Drogba’s immense influence, they listened. He facilitated the creation of a temporary truce that ultimately led to the end of the civil war.

Didier Drogba is a class example of an idolized athlete, and many people can look to his story for inspiration; he succeeded in becoming a multifaceted star despite those who doubted him. With such an elevated reputation, he chose to push for social change and end a civil war in his home country, making him an immaculate example of how sports can impact society for the better.