“We all started because we loved it… but now I see men in the public eye, and they’ve lost that.”
Nigerian international and Nottingham Forest defender, Ola Aina has opened up about the emotional toll the beautiful game has taken on some of its top players — revealing that many have “lost their smile.”
Speaking with refreshing honesty, Aina, 27, reflected on how the sport that once sparked pure joy in millions of children across the globe has, for some professionals, become a joyless grind.
“I always see these men, like, without mentioning, see it in the public eye,” Aina said solemnly.
“It’s becoming, like, I know it’s work, but at the end of the day, like, we all started it because we loved it, you get me?”
The Nigerian defender — known for his versatility and cool composure on the pitch — said he constantly tries to bring that original love for football back into the spaces he occupies, especially inside the dressing room.
“So, that’s what I try to incorporate in, like, especially in that dressing room, like, everywhere that I’ve gone anyway, especially in the dressing room that I’m in now, like.”
Ola Aina shed light on an increasingly common issue in elite football: the growing emotional pressure players face under the weight of expectations, criticism, and constant public scrutiny.
While the glamor and wealth of the game are often on display, Aina’s comments remind fans of the mental and emotional battles that can go unseen.
His words are already sparking conversations among fans and fellow players alike — not just about burnout, but about the importance of joy and camaraderie in the game.
As mental health continues to be a major topic in global sports, Aina’s perspective adds a powerful, human voice to the discussion.
Could this be the wake-up call football needs?
Only time will tell, however, Ola Aina still plays with a smile, and he’s trying to bring that joy back to the dressing room, one laugh at a time.
THE SNAPCHAT BOY
