Athletes will do anything they can to achieve greatness: Barry Bonds will do steroids, Tom Brady will associate with cheaters and Wilt Chamberlain will sleep with 20,000 women. But Chelsea FC’s Didier Drogba decided to take a different route. Drogba surpassed the supreme legions of egoists by buying up his own replica jerseys, attempting to become the most popular Chelsea player via sales figures.

The Ivory Coast hitman has reportedly shelled out thousands of pounds for replica number 11 shirts in a bid to try and convince his team-mates he is just as much a crowd favourite as they are.

The £24 million striker was lagging in shirt sales behind the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard who would often taunt him about it on the training ground.

One Chelsea insider claimed Drogba visits the club shop up to 10 times a week and on one occasion walked out of the store with 40 shirts each costing about £45 a pop - or £1,800 at one fell swoop.

We have an idea. Drogba can facilitate sales by adding a sporty wig to the jersey. It will allow consumers the opportunity to truly become the player whose name they tout. Or, he could score 30 goals and inspire people.

Drogba panic buys his own replica shirts in bid to top the league table [Daily Mail]
Image [Blue Champions]