Even footballers, despite the fortunes they earn a week, can be unsuccessful at what they do.
Some are born to be mediocre at best with no hope of making it to a senior league in Europe while others have all the ingredients to go all the way in the beautiful game.
Having those ingredients doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, however. There have been many players who have failed to live up to the hype that their talent initially created.
This countdown is a tribute to 10 significant underachievers, who at one point, had everything for world stardom before falling short at obstacles, which prevented them from fulfilling their potential.
10. ROBINHO
Nation: Brazil
Clubs: Santos, Real Madrid, Manchester City, AC Milan (current)
Position: Winger/ Attacking Midfielder/ Forward
It would be harsh to consider Robinho’s career completely unsuccessful but in 2005, when he signed for Real Madrid, many believed the brazilian would go on to become what Lionel Messi is today. At the Bernabeu, he was one of many attacking options and often found himself on the bench. Despite showing glimpses of quality, Robinho found it hard to make a consistent impact in La Liga before his frustrating spell at Manchester City. Nowadays, he’s part of an AC Milan side that are seriously struggling in Serie A.
9. FERNANDO GAGO
Nation: Argentina
Clubs: Boca Juniors (current), Real Madrid, Roma, Valencia, Velez Sarsfield
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Fernando Gago joined Real Madrid in January 2007 at the same time as fellow Argentine, Gonzalo Higuain. Initially, he showed brilliant maturity in midfield for a youngster as Real Madrid won two back-to-back La Liga titles. It looked like the Spanish giants had finally found a long-term replacement for Claude Makélélé before Gago began to suffer with injuries and a loss of form. His more recent European experiences involved unsuccessful spells at Roma and Valencia.
8. JAVIER SAVIOLA
Nation: Argentina
Clubs: River Plate, Barcelona, Monaco, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Benfica, Malaga, Olympiacos (current)
Position: Forward
Despite having a decent goalscoring record and winning numerous trophies, Javier Saviola never fully established himself as a world-class forward due to spending prolonged time on the bench at Barcelona and Real Madrid. In 2001, Barcelona signed him at just 19-years-old for £15million. He was expected to become the hottest Argentine star since Diego Maradona but after early promise, he ended up playing second fiddle to Patrick Kluivert.
7. DANIEL GUIZA
Nation: Spain
Clubs: Xerez, Real Mallorca, Dos Hermanas, Recreativo, Ciudad Murcia, Getafe, Fenerbahce, Darul Takzim, Cerro Porteno (current)
Position: Forward
In summer 2008, Daniel Guiza was one of Europe’s hottest forwards. He finished 2007/08 as La Liga’s leading scorer with 27 goals for Real Mallorca, all from open play, and helped Spain win Euro 2008 with vital goals against Greece and Russia. Despite being linked with Arsenal and Tottenham, Guiza surprisingly followed his national boss Luis Aragones to Fenerbahce where he was expected to score for fun in the Turkish Super Lig. However, the forward lost his scoring touch and struggled to settle in Istanbul due to personal problems. He returned to old club Getafe for 2011/12 but scored just three goals before outlandish moves to club football in Malaysia and Paraguay.
6. HARRY KEWELL
Nation: Australia
Clubs: Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa, Melbourne Heart (current)
Position: Winger
It feels like lifetime ago that Harry Kewell was one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League. Just to remind everybody, he was named PFA Young Player of the Year for 1999/2000 and helped Leeds United reach the semi-final of the Champions League in 2000/2001. In 2003, Liverpool beat off competition from AC Milan and Arsenal to sign the Australian winger. Kewell’s stay at Anfield was far from spectacular though. He suffered with injuries which prevented him from recapturing the form that made him such a wanted man to begin with.
5. FREDDY ADU
Nation: United States of America
Clubs: DC United, Real Salt Lake, Benfica, Monaco, Belenenses, Aris, Caykur Rizespor, Philadelphia Union, Bahia
Position: Winger/ Attacking Midfielder/ Forward
If all had gone to plan with Freddy Adu then David Beckham wouldn’t have been the man responsible for putting “soccer” on the map in the United States. In 2004, Adu debuted in the MLS aged just 15. The Yanks were certain they had a star in the making as his performances for DC United earned him a trial with Manchester United. However, before Adu could reach his potential as a footballer, he had become an American celebrity who starred in several commercials and was in a relationship with popular singer Jojo. Now 24, he’s without a club after being released by Bahia in Brazil and hasn’t featured for his country in nearly three years.
4. JOSE ANTONIO REYES
Nation: Spain
Clubs: Sevilla (current), Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Benfica
Position: Winger/ Forward
In January 2004, Arsenal signed the most promising talent in Spanish football from Sevilla, Jose Antonio Reyes, for £10.5million. He quickly won the hearts of the North London faithful with a brace against Chelsea in the F.A. Cup and earned a Premier League winners medal in May. The beginning of 2004/05 introduced an even sharper Reyes who scored in each of Arsenal’s opening six Premier League games. However, after the Gunners were defeated at Old Trafford by Manchester United, which ended their record unbeaten run of 49 Premier League games, Reyes failed to deliver consistently and slowly became homesick before returning to Spain.
3. ADRIANO
Nation: Brazil
Clubs: Flamengo, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Parma, Sau Paulo, Roma, Corinthians
Position: Forward
There have been a few Brazilians who didn’t make the impact on the game they were destined to but none more high-profile than Adriano. During the mid-2000’s, he was regarded as a player who could become the world’s best forward for years to come due to his beastly physique, exhilarating speed and lethal left foot. He scored seven goals at the 2004 Copa America which he won with Brazil and netted 28 times for Inter Milan in 2004/05. However, his commitment to the game deteriorated as he gained weight and battled depression, which resulted in the early demise of a promising career.
2. ANDREI ARSHAVIN
Nation: Russia
Clubs: Zenit St. Petersburg (current), Arsenal
Position: Winger/ Attacking Midfielder/ Forward
Andrei Arshavin’s performances at Euro 2008 made him one of world football’s hottest properties before Arsenal eventually signed him in January 2009. During his early days at the Emirates Stadium, it looked like Arsene Wenger had found a gem capable of helping the Gunners end their trophy drought. However, the form behind his four goals at Anfield began to dissolve as Arshavin mysteriously stopped running at defenders and found it difficult to interchange with his teammates. There was also a clear dose of laziness adopted by Arshavin which left Arsenal fans frustrated at a player they initially cherished.
1. RICARDO QUARESMA
Nation: Portugal
Clubs: Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, FC Porto (current), Inter Milan, Chelsea, Besiktas, Al Ahli Dubai
Position: Winger
Sporting Lisbon chiefs were so excited at Ricardo Quaresma’s potential during the early 2000’s that they believed he would be everything Cristiano Ronaldo is today. He joined Barcelona aged 19 and had the world at his feet, literally, with immense skill and dribbling ability. Quaresma found life difficult at the Camp Nou though, which became a repetitive story at every other big club he later joined. His best displays were in Portugal’s Primera Liga, which sadly illustrates the winger’s inability to flourish in demanding circumstances.