In recent months, numerous elite footballers from around the world have been involved in various scandals.

The most recent football player to be exonerated of rape and attempted rape by a jury at Chester Crown Court last Friday was former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy.

At his £4 million mansion in England, Mendy was allegedly caught performing sex acts on two different women.

Due to his trials, the Frenchman was unable to participate in Man City's historic treble last season, which saw Pep Guardiola's team win the English Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.

Mendy later issued a statement through his attorney thanking the "members of the jury for focusing on the evidence in the trial rather than on the rumor and innuendo that have followed this case since the beginning" after he was found not guilty of rape and attempted rape.

In addition, he expressed gratitude to everyone who had helped him during this difficult time and pleaded for "privacy so he can start rebuilding his life."

In August 2021, the 28-year-old played his final match for Manchester City.

Mendy is now a free man but clubless after his Manchester City contract expired at the end of June.

Also, Brentford striker Ivan Toney was recently banned from playing football for eight months.

The England attacker was also fined £50,000 after he admitted to 232 betting offenses.

Toney will not play football or take part in football-related activity within this period, according to the Football Association (FA).

The player was also warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.

Also, Everton midfielder Dele Alli recently revealed that he was “molested” by one of his mother’s friends at the age of six.

Alli also revealed that he started “dealing in drugs as a teenager and was sent to Africa to learn discipline,” adding that he almost quit football at a very young age.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star gave insight into some of the disturbing incidents that have affected both his life and career.

The 27-year-old revealed in an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap that he had to check into rehab for six weeks this summer after becoming addicted to sleeping pills.

Similarly, the Daily Post reports that, just like Mendy, the likes of Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, former Barcelona defender Dani Alves, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi have all experienced similar scandals.

Greenwood has been suspended by Manchester United since January 2022 over a sexual scandal against him.

The English youngster was arrested after the release of images and video online by a female acquaintance.

Charges of attempted rape, assault, and coercive behavior were dropped against Greenwood earlier this year.

The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued its case of attempted rape and assault against Greenwood, but the 21-year-old remains suspended by Manchester United as the Premier League club undertakes an internal investigation regarding him.

That investigation is still ongoing, with Manchester United yet to confirm a decision on Greenwood’s future.

Manchester United have already announced that Greenwood will not return to training or play matches for the club “until further notice.”

Greenwood’s sponsorship deal with Nike was terminated, while Electronic Arts confirmed the footballer had been removed from active squads in its FIFA 22 game.

On his part, Alves, meanwhile, was recently denied bail as the investigation into an allegation of sexual assault continues.

The 40-year-old Brazilian was arrested in January this year over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in a Barcelona nightclub last December.

The accusation led to Alves’ contract with Mexican club Pumas UNAM being terminated.

The Barcelona court has repeatedly denied requests from Alves’ defense that he be freed on bail while the investigation continues.

Alves is currently in jail and has been denied bail on two occasions.

Hakimi was accused of raping a 24-year-old lady in his home in Boulogne, Paris, on February 25 while his wife and children were on holiday.

However, the footballer’s lawyer and representative, Fanny Colin, denied all the accusations against his client.

Hakimi’s ex-wife, Hiba Abouk, later disclosed that she and the Moroccan international were in the middle of a divorce as a result of the scandal.

There have been claims that the settlement could be tricky as Hakimi had registered a huge part of his wealth in his mother’s name.

Hakimi and Abouk have two children, Amn, 3, and Naim, 1.

They married in 2020, two years after meeting in 2018.

The Daily Post reports that there are some top footballers like Lionel Messi who, in their glittering careers, did not experience serious scandals that could affect their careers.

Messi, while growing up as a teenager in the Barcelona academy, was managed by his agent and father, Jorge.

Discrediting Messi has always ended in sheer humiliation for the media touting such stories.

For example, In July 2016, the media gave an audience to blabbering model Xoana Gonzalez, who claimed to have romped with the Argentina captain many years before.

The scandal was given a serious grip after Gonzalez made her claim while on air on a Peruvian TV show called ‘The Value of Truth’.

Gonzalez went on to ridicule the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s bedroom prowess, claiming it was like “having sex with a dead body”.

At the time of this allegation, Messi was already engaged to his childhood sweetheart, Antonella Roccuzzo.

Messi never responded to the scandal, and it soon fizzled out like the media firecracker it was.

Also in 2020, Messi’s 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud was changed to a fine by the Spanish court during his time at Barcelona.

Messi, along with his father Jorge, was found guilty of defrauding Spain of €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009.

His father’s 15-month sentence was replaced with a €180,000 fine.

Speaking with the Daily Post on the subject matter, Idris Musa Adinoyi, the captain of Dawaki Rangers FC, Abuja, said: “No sane man or professional will wish to be caught in a scandal of any form.

“What actually happens is when one loses focus on the pros and cons of their actions. Not much thought is given to what could ever go wrong while they are having fun and forgetting what could possibly go wrong.

“Players involved in scandals could lose their respect as individuals and as footballers. They lose sponsorship deals, contracts, and fans’ respect, and the general public says all manner of negative things that will literally tarnish their image. It will be a horrible experience, I must say.

“The way out is to be responsible; it is as simple as that. You being a celebrity, rich, and famous, there are lots of ‘wannabe hoes’ looking to reap you and take your earnings through greed and evil plots like Benjamin Mendy’s case.”

Also speaking with the Daily Post, Alpha Markus Sidi, Wakanda FC midfielder, said: “Being a celebrity is never an easy thing. People try to get footballers into trouble because they know society will always believe them because most footballers are known for their extravagant spending and clubbing lifestyles.

“These people do this to get money. There are so many footballers involved in this, but they shut the accuser’s mouth with money.

“When players are involved in scandals like Dani Alves’ case, it could ruin their careers and relationships both on and off the pitch.

“To me, the way out is prevention. I think prevention is better than cure. Footballers should try to drink responsibly, even while clubbing. They should not mingle or attach themselves too much to women. Footballers should try to sleep at their various homes rather than sleeping at hotels after clubbing.

“Footballers should not stay up late. Not every invitation, like night-outs and birthdays, should be honored by footballers.

“Most importantly, footballers should marry the right person because it reduces the risk of getting involved in scandal.”