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Top 10 Wonderkids Who Never Reached Their Potential
Blogs

Top 10 Wonderkids Who Never Reached Their Potential

Top 10 Wonderkids Who Never Reached Their Potential

Wonderkids - one of the most exciting parts of football. Seeing a player grow from a raw youngster to an elite talent. Players like Lamine Yamal boast the title in the modern day, throwing his name into the race for the Ballon d’Or at the age of 17, while former wonderkids such as Kylian Mbappe have blossomed into some of the world’s best players.

However, it does not always work out. Players can be touted as future greats at a young age before fading out and disappointing in their careers.

Wonderkids can fail for several reasons, but who are some of the biggest wonderkids that never reached their potential?

1. Freddy Adu

2. Alexandre Pato

3. Hachim Mastour

4. Bojan Krkic

5. Federico Macheda

6. Ravel Morrison

7. Jese Rodriguez

8. Renato Sanches

9. Ansu Fati

10. Mario Balotelli

1. Freddy Adu

Once dubbed as ‘the next Pele’, if you want to find an example of a wonderkid that did not reach their early hype – look no further than Freddy Adu.

Known by football fans across the globe at the age of 14, Adu became the youngest professional footballer in U.S. history. Adu also became the youngest goal-scorer in MLS history before moving to Europe.

First joining Benfica and then to Monaco – the striker had various stints at different clubs on loan. Adu was playing in places such as Greece, Turkey, Serbia, and Sweden – and while it might be considered better than the standards of American football at the time – it was not what the youngster was previously touted for.

Later, Adu had become a bit of a journeyman; he moved to Brazil before returning home to the States.

By all accounts, Adu certainly did not become ‘the next Pele’, but that was for serial reasons such as the pressure and hype that surrounded him at a young age – causing the striker to make poor and irrational decisions, alongside a lack of development at the clubs that he was playing for.

Still, in the current footballing landscape, appearing in a professional match at the age of 14 would be admired. However, for Adu, it did not yield any results, and he is certainly a failed wonderkid.

2. Alexandre Pato

Coming from Brazil, Alexandre Pato was seen as one of the next great South American strikers as he arrived in Milan. Joining AC as a teenager, Pato was quick, technically gifted, and a clinical finisher – making him look like an elite player in the future.

Now a free agent, Pato had great days in Milan, often scoring around 15 goals a season for the Italian club, but in 2013, he decided that it was time to go back home, joining Corinthians.

After two years at Corinthians, Pato signed for Sao Paulo, and during his final year at the club, the Brazilian was outstanding, netting 26 goals in 59 appearances. This return earned the striker a move back to Europe, joining Chelsea, but for Pato – this was the beginning of the end.

The striker was hampered by injuries, stopping him from becoming one of the world greats and turning him into a journeyman as he notably moved to China. But as the years went by, the star of Pato continued to wear off and fade as he could not consistently remain on a football pitch.

3. Hachim Mastour

In a more modern example, Hachim Mastour was one of the first and the start of viral wonderkids - young talents using social media to showcase their skills and tricks to gain fans online at an early stage of their career.

That in a nutshell, was Mastour, becoming famous for his flashy and mesmerising dribbles – the winger looked like the world’s next top talent at AC Milan. However, Mastour’s talent did not translate into the professional game, with defenders being smarter and more physical – halting any possibility of a quick or imaginative trick from the former Milan man.

Mastour disappeared into the game’s lower leagues, playing for teams such as LFA Reggio Calabria and Carpi, before in the modern day, struggling for minutes in Serie C at the age of just 27. Mastour was meant to be in his prime at this age, and the attacker’s failed career highlights the need for all-around talent - over flashy showbiz.

4. Bojan Krkic

Many in English football will recognise the name Bojan Krkic, while in Spain, many will regard him as a player that could have been special. Coming through the ranks of La Masia, Bojan exploded onto the scene by beating Lionel Messi’s record as the club’s youngest-ever goal-scorer at the time.

Thought of as Barcelona’s next world-beating striker, the Spaniard netted 11 goals in his debut season for the Catalonian side before following it up in his third year with 12 goals in 36 appearances.

Bojan scored seven goals in his final year at the Nou Camp before several moves across Europe in quick succession. The striker went from Roma to AC Milan to Ajax in three seasons - playing well, but not quite as the excellent talent that many believed that he could become.

Bojan finally ended up in England, playing for Stoke City in 2014, and this would be the beginning of the end for the Spaniard. Scoring 16 goals in 75 matches for the club, Bojan did not exactly adapt to life in the North of England, and after five years at the club, he left for CF Montreal on a free transfer in 2019.

The former Barcelona man could have been a fantastic player, but several spells out on loan and struggles to establish himself at some of Europe’s elite hampered his career – leaving him as somewhat of an average player.

5. Federico Macheda

In 2009, Federico Macheda became an overnight sensation, scoring a stunning debut goal for Manchester United. However, after scoring two goals in four games in the 2008/09 season for the Red Devils, Macheda would only score a further three goals for the club.

Moving to a number of different clubs for loan spells, the Italian could not maintain a constant place in a starting side and was often inconsistent on the pitch.

Macheda moved to the Championship in 2013, first playing for Doncaster Rovers before moving to Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest – the Italian scoring a combined zero goals in his final two years in the second tier of English football.

Since then, the attacker’s career has continued to spiral downward, operating in Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. Sadly for Macheda, despite his early promise, the attacker was simply a one-goal wonder.

6. Ravel Morrison

Once one of the highest-rated young talents in Europe, Ravel Morrison looked like the real deal coming out of Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson naming him as one of the most talented young players that he had ever seen.

Morrison had star power that players across the world could only dream of – swagger, skills and, sadly, selfishness. That final word would be one of the largest factors behind the fall of Morrison, with the midfielder often in games choosing to attempt to score near-impossible solo goals, rather than looking up and finding a fellow teammate.

Alongside this, Morrison also had issues off the pitch, being criticised for his attitude and lack of discipline. After leaving Old Trafford, the midfielder joined top clubs such as West Ham and Lazio.

But after spells in Mexico and Sweden, it is clear to see that Morrison will never reach the heights that were once anticipated, and the Jamaican international will be considered as one of the biggest wonderkids who did not reach their potential.

7. Jese Rodriguez

Starting his career at Real Madrid, Jese Rodriguez was predicted to be Real Madrid’s next big star. A wide talent who scored 22 goals in 38 appearances for Real Madrid Castilla in the 2012/13 season. Jese was compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, being considered to have a similar game-breaking playstyle.

But for Jese, his career did not go down the same path as Ronaldo's – a knee injury in 2014 halted his progression and his potential. The Spaniard moved to PSG in 2016, scoring just two goals for the French giants before a series of loan spells to Las Palmas and Stoke City.

Jese has struggled for consistency throughout his career – often appearing for less than half of the league games in a season and losing his clinical mojo in front of goal.

The Spaniard did seem to have a resurgence in 2021, scoring 11 goals in 41 games for Las Palmas. However, the former Madrid man now finds himself in Malaysia.

8. Renato Sanches

In 2016, Renato Sanches was the most exciting young midfielder in world football, winning the Young Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2016 and helping Portugal to win an international trophy.

In the summer, Sanches signed for Bayern Munich, and the world looked at his feet. However, his time in the Bundesliga would be a disaster, making 17 league appearances in his debut season at the club before moving on loan to Wales.

On paper, it was a strange move to see one of the world’s most exciting wonderkids join Swansea City, but for the Premier League side it seemed to be an incredible pick-up. That could not be further from the truth, as the Portuguese midfielder struggled for Swansea, further hindering his career.

Sanches briefly seemed to revive his career in Ligue 1, joining Lille and becoming a key player. Sanches became a big part of the Lille side that won the Ligue 1 title in 2021, and recorded two goals and five assists at the club in his final season before moving to PSG. Nevertheless, after signing for the French heavyweights, Sanches could not get the game-time that he would have desired and has not turned into the player that many once touted him to become.

Now aged 27, following lukewarm loan spells at Roma in Serie A and with his boyhood side Benfica, Renato Sanches' future remains up in the air.

9. Ansu Fati

Another recent addition to this list, Ansu Fati burst onto the scene in 2019, scoring seven goals in his debut season in La Liga. The now 22-year-old broke records, becoming Barcelona’s youngest-ever goal-scorer, also being seen as the heir whilst being handed Lionel Messi’s No. 10 shirt.

However, Fati’s next two seasons at the club would be affected by injuries, with the Spaniard making a combined 17 appearances in the Spanish top flight across those two years. Injuries have been a persisting issue in the young career of Fati, but the winger perfectly reacted in the 2022/23 season, scoring 10 goals and playing 51 times for the Spanish giants – reannouncing himself as one of the top wonderkids in European football.

Nevertheless, his stint in the side would not last long, making three league appearances in the next season before moving on loan to England. Fati joined Brighton in what looked like a fantastic deal for both the club and the player.

But Fati’s spell in the Premier League was somewhat of a nightmare, making 19 appearances in the Premier League and scoring just two goals. The Spaniard could not get a constant run in the side and was constantly picked on the bench before returning to Barcelona.

In the current day, Fati was goalless in his previous season, and his star looks to have worn off, with the forward set to leave the Catalonian side. There is still hope in football for Fati, but to rediscover his career – he needs to be constantly playing football and getting back on the scoresheet.

10. Mario Balotelli

Potentially the most dubious selection on this list. In terms of achievements, Mario Balotelli had an incredibly successful career and is a player that several fans will look back on very fondly. However, the striker could have had so much more.

A physical specimen who was also a lethal hitman in front of goal – the Italian had everything when breaking through. Balotelli would utilize his skillset in professional football, most notably helping Manchester City to lift their first-ever Premier League title, while also providing magical moments for his country.

But at the end of the day, Balotelli was the catalyst of his own downfall and for the derailing of his career. The striker had a rare personality, but not in a good way. Balotelli was hot-headed, unpredictable, and had a poor work rate – preventing him from becoming one of the best goal-scorers in world football.

Instead of competing for Champions League trophies and league titles, Balotelli has spent the late parts of his career in Turkey, Serie B, and Switzerland.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Josh Wyatt-Jones

Content Writer

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