Gonzalo Higuain almost retired from football after Argentina's World Cup defeat to Germany
- Gonzalo Higuain revealed he almost quit football after 2014 World Cup defeat to Germany
- The Argentine star was heavily criticised by his home fans for failing to convert chances
- Higuain revealed his mother talked him out of giving up on his career back then
Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain has opened up on how losing the 2014 FIFA World Cup title to Germany made him slide into depression.
Mario Gotze fired home an extra minute shot from close range after driving into Argentina's danger zone from the left-wing - the goal that decided the fate of the game.
The south American country was inches away from lifting the title for the third time in the history of the tourney but the 32-year-old failed to show up for his team when it mattered most.
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Higuain was presented with a chance to put his side ahead but his effort went aimlessly wide - further putting his team under immense pressure.
The former Chelsea star was also found wanting in two different Copa America championships, wasting chances like he never wanted to win silverware at the national team level.
Six years down the lace, the striker has now revealed that it was his mother who stopped him from hanging his boots.
Higuain told Marca: "I was close to stopping playing, but my mother said I should continue. "If it was just down to me, I'd have quit already."
Fans in Argentina were said to have lashed out at Higuain for his absenteeism during big games, and he revealed that he could not
Argentina fans berated the Juventus forward, 32, for his big-game misses and he revealed that he could not go outside for the fear of abuse according to SunSport.
He added: "I regret that I would avoid going out due to the fear of what someone might say to me. "People speak about the money you earn, but you can't buy friends.
"I have played in the biggest leagues and tournaments for the biggest teams, something I couldn't have imagined when I was five years of age.
"So why should I worry what they say? When I realised this, I started going out more and living more."
Higuain seems to have shaken that off now as he is in fine form for Juventus who are topping the table at the moment.
He is however on lockdown in Italy owing to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic after he was stopped from sneaking out of the country by the authorities.
Legit.ng earlier reported that Lionel Messi has become an icon in Barcelona owing to his many contributions to their successes in the last one and a half decades ago.
The 32-year-old has won four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles among several other silverware with the Blaugrana.
He has been branded the greatest of all time in the history of the game having scored 627 goals in 718 games for the Catalan club.
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Source: Legit.ng