Football has often been viewed as an escape from the complexities of politics and personal convictions.
However, history has shown that for some players, deeply held beliefs and principles can take precedence over sporting success.
Hakim Ziyech, Johan Cruyff, and Bernd Schuster stand as examples of footballers who sacrificed international glory for their convictions.
Ziyech’s absence from Morocco sparks controversy
Hakim Ziyech, once a key figure in Morocco’s historic 2022 World Cup run, now finds himself absent from the national team.
Despite his undeniable talent, the attacking midfielder has been left out of coach Walid Regragui’s squad in recent months.
Officially, the Moroccan Football Federation has cited sporting reasons for his omission, but speculation suggests otherwise.
Ziyech has been vocal in his support for Palestine, a stance that some believe may have played a role in his exclusion.
His social media activity has drawn attention, particularly given Morocco’s diplomatic normalization with Israel in 2020.
The timing of his absence has led many to question whether his political views have influenced the decision to leave him out.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, the question remains: Will Morocco continue to overlook one of its most creative players, potentially weakening its squad for the tournament? The situation bears similarities to past cases where footballers found themselves sidelined due to personal convictions.
Cruyff’s 1978 Boycott: A silent protest against Argentina’s dictatorship
Dutch football icon Johan Cruyff made headlines in 1978 when he refused to participate in the World Cup in Argentina.
Initially, he cited personal and family reasons for his absence.
However, years later, he revealed the deeper motivation behind his decision—it was a stand against the oppressive military regime of Jorge Videla.
Videla’s government was responsible for the disappearance of thousands of political opponents, and Cruyff, having been informed of the atrocities by Argentine exiles in Barcelona, chose to distance himself from the tournament.
“I was shown what was happening in the prisons of Buenos Aires. How could I have played there?” he later reflected.
His absence was deeply felt, as the Netherlands reached the final but fell to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Videla himself was present to award the trophy, making Cruyff’s decision even more poignant.
His quiet yet powerful protest remains one of football’s most notable acts of defiance.
Schuster’s rift with Germany: A talent wasted
Bernd Schuster’s story is one of personal conflicts rather than political convictions, but the outcome was similar—a lost opportunity on football’s biggest stage.
The German midfielder, known for his exceptional playmaking abilities, was expected to be a key figure for West Germany in the 1982 World Cup.
However, his relationship with coach Jupp Derwall soured to the point of no return.
Schuster’s refusal to conform to the rigid structure of the national team led to his withdrawal from international duty in 1981, just a year before the tournament.
Without their creative spark, West Germany played a defensive brand of football and ultimately lost the final to Italy.
Schuster, watching from the sidelines, later reflected, “I preferred my dignity to a jersey.”
His absence from international football persisted, limiting him to just 21 caps for Germany.
Many believe that had he been present in 1982, Germany could have lifted the trophy.
His story serves as a cautionary tale of how internal disputes can deprive a team of its greatest assets.
When football and convictions collide
The cases of Ziyech, Cruyff, and Schuster highlight a recurring theme in football—personal beliefs and principles can sometimes outweigh sporting ambitions.
Whether due to political convictions or personal disputes, some of the game’s most talented players have missed out on football’s grandest stages.
Will Morocco in 2026 regret excluding Ziyech? Could the Netherlands have triumphed in 1978 with Cruyff? Would Germany have been champions in 1982 with Schuster? These questions remain unanswered, but one thing is clear: football, despite its attempts to remain neutral, is often shaped by forces beyond the pitch.
