The tragic life of the player once compared to "better than C.Ronaldo"

Fabio Paim is known as a close friend of C. Ronaldo. This player is 3 years younger than CR7 but trained at the same training center at Sporting Lisbon at the same time. Fabio Paim and C. Ronaldo went through days of hunger, to the point that they both picked up leftovers at McDonald's every night to fight hunger.

C. Ronaldo once admitted that Fabio Paim is better than him.

In terms of talent, Fabio Paim was once considered to have more potential to develop than C. Ronaldo. Even the Portuguese superstar admitted that Fabio Paim was better than him.

Sharing at the time of playing for Man Utd in 2003, C. Ronaldo admitted: "If you think I'm good, watch Fabio Paim". It should be emphasized that this is the only player CR7 admits is better than himself.

In fact, Fabio Paim has many opportunities to create a brilliant career no less than C. Ronaldo. At the age of 13, this midfielder was favored by Sporting Lisbon with a salary of up to 4,400 pounds/week. That is a very high income for a player at that age. Fabio Paim's salary increases every year, not to mention the bonus worth 130,000 pounds.

At the age of 20, Fabio Paim moved to Chelsea on loan and received a salary of 10,000 pounds/week. The player born in 1988 should have seized this opportunity to "step into the light" like C. Ronaldo. However, he never had that chance.

Fabio Paim was once considered a prodigy of Portuguese football and had more potential to develop than C. Ronaldo (Photo: Getty).

Fabio Paim makes no secret of his talent: "I was a special player. I should be humble but it's true. There was no Facebook or Instagram to record my skills back then but I'm sure that to this day, no one has achieved the qualities I had.

I am considered a mini Ronaldinho and better than C. Ronaldo. Cristiano reached his current level thanks to his hard work and effort. If I had the perseverance and hard work like him, I would probably be able to reach the same level."

Fame and money at such a young age were the enemies that pushed Fabio Paim's career back. This player admitted that he was "blinded" by money and constantly wasted his energy on all-night parties. Alcohol, women and luxury cars extinguished the career that was just beginning to shine for the Portuguese prodigy.

In 2008, C. Ronaldo began to rise to the level of a world superstar. That was also the time when Fabio Paim's career began to decline after his debauchery.

At the age of 22, Fabio Paim "retired" at Real Massama Club in Portugal. Then, this player went on a journey of wandering in China, Angola, Lithuania, Qatar, Malta and Brazil, and ended his career in Poland in 2020.

Fabio Paim looks back on his sad career with a sorrowful mood: "Possessing natural talent was not a blessing for me. When I earned too much money, I had illusions about myself and thought I didn't need to try anymore. I regret my choices.

Now that my career is over, I see things differently. I had talent but my mind was not on football. I was always thinking about parties and girls. If I had worked hard, I could have played for Barcelona or Real Madrid."

Fabio Paim at this time, after a troubled career and a stint in prison for drug possession (Photo: The Sun).

In 2019, Fabio Paim's life hit rock bottom when he was arrested for possessing 5g of cocaine. A year in prison helped the player reflect on many things.

Now a father of two, Fabio Paim struggles to make ends meet. There are times when Fabio Paim wishes he could start over. Unfortunately, he can’t undo the mistakes of his past.

"My time in prison made me realize that anything that comes too easily is not good. Now, I choose a peaceful life. I don't want anyone to pity me for my wrong choices in the past. To me, family is the most important. Now, I know what happiness is. Sometimes money can't buy happiness," Fabio Paim confided.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/cuoc-doi-bi-tham-cua-cau-thu-tung-duoc-vi-gioi-hon-cronaldo-20231027182728965.htm