What happened to cult football hero Abel Xavier?

Say "Abel Xavier," and many football fans will instantly know who you are talking about. Known for his distinctive bleach-blonde hair and iconic beard, the former Portuguese footballer became a cult figure in the sport. But beyond his memorable look, Xavier's career is a story of determination, flair, and some fascinating twists.

Xavier was born in former Portuguese colony Mozambique, but moved to Portugal as a little boy.

He moved with his family to the suburbs of the capital Lisbon, where he grew up in poverty.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

He started playing football at Sporting CP, but later moved to Estrela da Amadora.

It was with that club that Xavier would make his pro debut and eventually started making a name for himself.

Xavier had success early in his career. He became world U20 champion with Portugal in 1991, alongside big names like Luis Figo and Rui Costa.

Xavier moved to Benfica in 1993 and won the Portuguese league that same season.

In 1995, he ventured on his first foreign adventure when he signed for Italian side Bari.

Shortly after, he went and played for Real Oviedo and PSV Eindhoven. With the latter team, he won the Dutch Super Cup.

In 1999, Xavier ended up at Everton in a 2.1 million euro move.

In late January 2002, he made a contentious move to crosstown rivals Liverpool.

Xavier started well at Liverpool, scoring on his debut against Ipswich Town, and won the League Cup in 2003.

Seeking more playing time, Xavier signed a loan deal with Turkish side Galatasaray in early 2003.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

He then continued to tour Europe, playing for Hannover 96 and, after a brief period without a club, AS Roma.

In 2005, Xavier joined Middlesbrough, the third Premier League club of his career.

After a European game in September 2005, however, Xavier failed a drug test for the banned substance methandrostenolone and was banned for eighteen months, which was later reduced to twelve months.

Xavier would feature again for Middlesbrough after his ban, but left the club in 2007 to go and play for the LA Galaxy.

In the MLS, he was a teammate of former football legend David Beckham.

After a one-year spell at the LA Galaxy, Xavier eventually retired in December 2009.

The former right-back also enjoyed a rather successful career with the Portugal national team, making 20 appearances and featuring at UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Throughout his career, Xavier very often played with eye-catching haircuts, earning himself the status of cult hero.

After his active playing career, Xavier decided to try his hand at coaching. He was in charge at several smaller Portuguese clubs and later managed the Mozambique national team.

Xavier's family was strictly Catholic, but the former footballer converted to Islam after he retired and changed his name to Faisal Xavier.

He later made headlines with his personal life, when he was in a relationship with Portuguese actress Oceana Basílio (pictured right).

A few years later, in 2017, he ran into financial difficulties and faced bankruptcy with a debt of 1.5 million euros.

Despite his difficult life path, Xavier made it to the top of football, and he will always be remembered for that. And for his hairstyles, of course.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!