Football from the beginning has always been about young players giving their best to become something great. However, there are players who started their careers well but could not reach their potential due to bad habits, injuries, and various obstacles.
The likes of Messi, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Xavi, Ramos, and others have played significant roles in their own careers right from the beginning, leading them to where they are today. But the big names we expect to be their perfect replacements are falling short because of their laziness and love for money.
Here we have gathered a list of some players who we think started their careers well but were not able to live up to the expectations we had for them.
1. Paul pogba
He is very promising younging that every one think would becomes a football legend. Won the World Cup in 2018 as one of the main man.
But in last few years at the age of 31 made a disheartening statement that he’s deadlocked.
Pogba said as a footballer, one’s successes and achievements could be forgotten in a minute.
The Juventus midfielder is currently serving a four-year ban, handed out to for testing positive for testosterone metabolites in his system.
Pogba, who is currently signed to Juventus made a heartbreaking claim in a recent interview, according to The Guardian Nigeria as quoted by Sportskeeda.
“Football is very beautiful but it’s cruel. You can do something great and the next day you’re nobody.
2. Robinho
Whilst playing for Real Madrid in the early stages of his career, a lot expected plenty from Brazilian Robinho.
Whether it was the wrong move to leave the Santiago Bernabeu for Manchester City when they were starting their Arab project or not, something actually went wrong the moment he left Real Madrid.
Robinho joined Manchester City and was expected to lead a new era for the club to become what they are today. However, that did not happen.
Despite playing for Real Madrid, Manchester City, AC Milan, and some big clubs in his career, Robinho did not reach the potential expected of him and never laid down any big mark anywhere.
Robinho’s inconsistency and lack of discipline may have contributed to his failure to become a great soccer player.
3. Mario Balotelli
If there is any player who would wish to turn back the hands of time and do things differently, then it’s definitely Mario Balotelli.
The striker definitely let attitude become his kryptonite, and without injury problems, the only thing that could stop Balotelli was himself, and that’s exactly what he did.
He started his career brightly with some of the biggest clubs across Europe, and also some of the biggest individual performances for the club and Italy.
However, with each stint was one or two behavioral sabotage, and at 32, playing in Switzerland, Balotelli could have been more than just a bad boy.
4.Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott started his career on a very bright note after he made his Arsenal debut at just 17 years old. He was the product of the Southampton Academy and was touted for big success. During his time at Arsenal, Walcott was a shining star in the early years but injury problems stalled his growth. He ended his reign at Arsenal with 101 goals and 80 assists in 398 appearances. Then the English winger then switched to Everton with a fee of £20m but failed to deliver after his move from Emirates Stadium.
5. Denis Suarez
With the hype of being the next Iniesta, the Spaniard joined the Catalan club in the summer of 2016. During his time at Villareal, Suarez impressed everyone with his ability with the ball.
Suarez played 71 games in three seasons with the club but failed to impress. Once a successor of Iniesta then moved to Arsenal in search of game time on loan but it didn’t do any good. He is currently playing for Celta Vigo in LaLiga.
6. Freddy Adu
It may seem like rhetoric and redundancy now, but no loss about footballing disappointment like this would be complete without Freddy Adu.
He’s the biggest unfulfilled potential in the world of football.
Freddy Adu was already dubbed “next Pele” just aged fourteen; he had a contract with Nike worth around $700,000.
He made his career debut in the MLS at fourteen. The weight of expectations and the success of the MLS was firmly placed on his shoulders.
That never worked out, and he eventually became a journeyman as his performances failed to impress the big clubs.
His case, though, can be blamed on pressure set at the early stages of his career and lack of needed talent in elite football.
7. Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa emerged as a prodigious talent in his early career, dazzling with his dribbling skills and creativity at Lyon and later at Marseille.
He started his career in Île-de-France, trained at Clairefontaine, and then moved to Lyon, winning four Ligue 1 titles.
In 2008, he joined Marseille for €11 million, securing another league title and the Coupe de la Ligue. He later moved to Newcastle United on loan in 2010, with the deal becoming permanent that season.
Highly rated for his flair and technical prowess, he was often compared to some of the greatest in the game.
However, his career trajectory took a downturn due to a combination of injuries, inconsistent performances, disciplinary issues, and conflicts with coaches.
These problems overshadowed his undeniable skill and creativity on the field, leading many to label him as “the biggest waste in football.”
Despite flashes of brilliance at clubs like Newcastle and Nice, his inability to maintain discipline and focus ultimately led to a career that never fully realized its immense potential.4. Jack Wilshere
8. Jack Wilshere
Just like Yamal, he find his way into professional football at the age of 16. He was the Arsenal youngest debutant..and bosses the gunners midfield both in the league and in the UEFA Champions league.
His outstanding performance against prime Barcelona team that had Iniesta and Xavi in the middle was discussed all around. The expectation on him was to surpass the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, and other top English midfielders who came before him.
Unfortunately, injury stopped Wilshere from fulfilling any of those expected potentials.
9. Alexandre Pato
Pato began his career as a youth player for Internacional in 2000, making his debut in 2006 at age 16. He went on to score 12 goals in 27 appearances and helped them win the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.
In August 2007, he signed for Italian side AC Milan. In 2009, he scored 18 goals in 42 matches in all competitions, which earned him both the Golden Boy and Serie A Young Footballer of the Year awards.
During the 2010–11 season, he helped Milan win the Serie A, where he was the club’s joint top scorer with 14 goals in 25 games. In January 2013, Pato returned to Brazil, signing for €15 million with Corinthians, where he won the Campeonato Paulista. In 2014, Pato joined São Paulo on a two-year loan deal, where he played 95 games, scoring 38 goals for the club. A promising career twas once aagin blighted with injuries.
A return to his roots in Brazil, time in Spain with Villarreal, and then the Chinese Super League never saw him reach half of his potential.
10. Bojan Krkić
Bojan Krkić recently retired from professional without any noise, a sad, very early end for a man that came from Barcelona’s football academy “La Masia” and was considered the new Messi.
He’s the biggest European kid that disappointed a lot of analysts and fans who expected a blossoming career.
As early as 17, the winger was on the lips of Blaugrana fans.
His debut season saw him score 10 goals in his debut season.
His problem wasn’t quite visible, but Bojan didn’t churn out expected performances before going on several loan deals before leaving the club in 2011 with 41 goals in 163 appearances.
