Raheem Sterling faces court as his career contrasts with Harry Kane’s rise
Raheem Sterling, once England's brightest footballing prospect, now faces sentencing next month for dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide whilst without a club. His dramatic collapse stands in stark contrast to Harry Kane, just 16 months older, who continues to break records as England's captain.
Sterling's rise from poverty in Stonebridge to becoming one of Liverpool's most expensive 15-year-old signings was extraordinary, but his rejection of a £100,000-a-week contract sparked a public backlash that transformed his image from golden prospect to arrogant young player. After his £44m transfer to Manchester City, he reached considerable heights: winning a domestic treble in 2019, the Football Writers' Association footballer of the year award, and being tipped by Xavi Hernández as a successor to Messi and Ronaldo. However, he also faced severe racial abuse throughout his career and became the scapegoat for England's Euro 2016 exit to Iceland, a rejection so toxic that he branded himself #TheHatedOne on Instagram at just 21 years old.
- Sterling awaits sentencing for dangerous driving and nitrous oxide possession whilst without a club
- His dramatic career collapse occurred despite being one of England's brightest young prospects
- A Liverpool contract dispute aged 20 marked a critical turning point in his reputation
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Raheem Sterling is an England footballer who has experienced one of professional sport's most dramatic reversals of fortune. His trajectory has proven particularly striking when compared with Harry Kane, who at a similar age continues to excel as England's captain and record-breaker, whilst Sterling currently finds himself without a club and facing serious personal difficulties.
Sterling's early promise was extraordinary. Emerging from poverty in Stonebridge, he became one of Liverpool's most expensive youth signings at 15 and subsequently joined Manchester City for £44 million. At his peak, he won major trophies including a domestic treble in 2019 and was named the Football Writers' Association's footballer of the year, and one of Europe's top managers, Xavi, even likened his potential to that of Messi and Ronaldo.
However, his career has been marked by significant challenges and setbacks. He endured severe racial abuse throughout his time in the public eye and became scapegoated for England's disappointing Euro 2016 exit to Iceland—a moment so painful he branded himself #TheHatedOne on social media at just 21 years old. These pressures, combined with other controversies, have contributed to a steep decline from his peak years.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Sterling experienced extraordinary racial abuse and media scapegoating from a young age, including being vilified for Euro 2016 at just 21, which research shows inflicts genuine psychological harm. The contrast with Kane obscures this context: Sterling faced systemic racism whilst Kane benefited from different media treatment and cultural assumptions. This isn't to deny Sterling's responsibility for his actions, but to recognise that extreme, sustained racism and toxic institutional treatment can destabilise even exceptional talent, and his trajectory reflects how systemic factors compound individual vulnerability.
The case against
Racism and media pressure are real factors that Sterling endured, but accountability for personal choices remains essential. Many athletes face comparable racism and adversity without resorting to dangerous driving or drug possession—these represent individual decisions with real consequences. The comparison with Kane reflects not an indifference to systemic racism, but recognition that people ultimately choose how to respond to hardship. Sterling bears responsibility for his actions; acknowledging systemic racism that affected him doesn't require excusing illegal conduct or erasing his own agency in shaping his path.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Decline and fall: who will believe in Raheem Sterling now?”.