It's a big jealousy thing in Germany that you have from fans -

"It's a big jealousy thing in Germany that you have from fans — not the hardcore fans, because they always stand behind their team." These words, spoken by André Schürrle, the German footballer whose foot once sealed victory in the greatest of arenas, hold a quiet sorrow beneath their surface. They are not a complaint of a man ungrateful for fame, but the reflection of one who has walked through both glory and criticism, who has seen how jealousy can twist admiration into bitterness. In this quote, Schürrle speaks not only of Germany or football, but of the fragility of human devotion, the way love can curdle into envy when success becomes a mirror reflecting others’ insecurities.

To understand the heart of Schürrle’s words, one must know the man and the moment that defined him. In 2014, in the World Cup Final, it was Schürrle who carried the ball down the left wing and crossed it to Mario Götze, whose goal crowned Germany as champions of the world. It was a moment that should have forever bound him to his people’s hearts. Yet in the years that followed, as form and fitness waned, he found that the same voices that once praised him now turned cold. “It’s a big jealousy thing,” he said later, reflecting on how public adoration can shift to resentment. What he spoke of was not unique to Germany, but to all mankind — the eternal tension between devotion and envy, between those who cheer for greatness and those who secretly despise it.

This truth is as old as history. In the ancient world, the heroes of Greece were both worshiped and feared. Achilles, though loved for his strength, provoked envy even among allies. In Rome, Caesar, returning from conquest, found the daggers of those who could not bear his greatness. And in every age since, the same pattern repeats: the higher a man rises, the more he awakens jealousy in those who cannot follow. What Schürrle calls the “hardcore fans” — those who stand firm — are like the loyal companions of old, who honor the hero even when fortune deserts him. But the rest, the fickle multitude, love not the man, but his success. When that fades, so too does their loyalty.

There is also in Schürrle’s reflection a profound recognition of authenticity. He distinguishes between the true supporters and the false ones, reminding us that real love, whether for a person, a team, or an idea, does not vanish with hardship. “The hardcore fans always stand behind their team,” he says — and in that line lies a lesson for life itself. To stand behind something when it is easy is nothing; to stand when it is difficult is everything. The faithful fan, the true friend, the loyal soul — these are the rare treasures of any age. Jealousy, on the other hand, is the mark of the insecure, those who see another’s triumph as proof of their own failure.

Schürrle’s words also carry a note of compassion, for he does not speak in anger but in understanding. He recognizes that jealousy often comes not from malice, but from pain. It is born in those who yearn for greatness but have not yet found their own path. The player on the field becomes a symbol — both of what they admire and what they lack. Thus, the hero must bear not only the weight of expectation, but also the burden of others’ disappointment. This is the unseen cost of fame: to be loved and envied in the same breath, to inspire and to offend merely by existing brightly.

History has shown that those who achieve greatness must learn the art of endurance — not just of physical hardship, but of emotional isolation. Jesus of Nazareth, though surrounded by multitudes, walked a lonely road, betrayed by one he had called friend. Galileo, standing for truth, was ridiculed by those who could not see beyond the limits of their belief. In the same way, the athlete, the artist, the thinker — all must face those who would rather tear them down than rise themselves. Yet from such trials is born the noblest of virtues: humility. For the truly great do not answer envy with anger, but with grace.

So let this be the lesson for those who walk the path of excellence: do not fear jealousy, and do not resent it. Understand it, but do not let it poison your heart. The envy of others is proof that you have dared to shine where they have chosen to hide. Stand firm, as the “hardcore fans” do — behind your values, your passion, your purpose. Be loyal to your craft, even when the world grows cold. For in time, the storms of jealousy will fade, but the truth of your work will endure. And remember always the wisdom of André Schürrle: that even when admiration falters, love rooted in authenticity remains — and that is the only applause worth keeping.