$250,000 or you are the most gifted footballer (soccer player) that ever lived for one year.

On 31st December 2024 a genie offers you $250,000 upfront or gives you the opportunity to become the greatest footballer that ever lived from 1st January 2025 until 31st December 2025.

If you say yes, you now have the skills of Maradona, Pele and Messi combined. You are better in goal than Buffon. You make Maldini look like an amateur. Whatever position you play in you leave people astonished.

The catch is that you are you as you are now. You still have your job, your family and whatever is around you now. You look like you do now. Your fitness levels are improved on the pitch to that of the best player ever but you still may look like you're 300lbs (for example). This challenge would probably be more achievable for males who look the part.

In addition, you have to do some work. You have to start off on January 1st looking for a team that will take a chance on you. It's unlikely that a Real Madrid or Liverpool, let alone a professional club are going to throw you in the first team so you might have to start off in Sunday League or regional football and get yourself noticed.

If you can manage to get to the top level then $250,000 per week or more would be easily achievable, but can you get there in 365 days? Bear in mind that if you're in Europe then at the professional level the transfer window opens in July until the end of August so you'd probably need someone big to take a chance on you at that point.

At midnight on December 31st 2025 your prowess disappears and you keep whatever you have earned. You could probably still play for a few games before it's noticed you've can't play well any more. If you've signed a long contract then that will still be honoured as it would be with any player.