11 Footballers Tipped for Ballon d’Or Greatness—But Never Made It

September 17, 2025 Kris Isaksen

Football is a sport obsessed with potential. The moment a young player produces a few standout performances, fans and pundits alike begin projecting them toward superstardom—and in many cases, the Ballon d’Or podium. But not every prodigy follows the path of a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
For some, injuries strike at the worst time. For others, poor decisions, off-field issues, or simply the weight of expectation derail what seemed to be inevitable greatness.
Here are 11 footballers who were once hyped as future Ballon d'Or winners—but ultimately fell well short of those sky-high expectations.

11. Jack Wilshere – From Future England Star to Early Retirement

Jack Wilshere burst onto the scene at Bolton and looked set to be Arsenal’s next midfield general after Fabregas. He was graceful on the ball, elusive in possession, and tipped to dominate for years. But constant injuries made that impossible, and Wilshere retired at just 30 after years of fitness struggles.

10. Alexandre Pato – The One Who Could Have Been Brazil’s Icon

At AC Milan, Pato seemed destined for greatness and even dreamed of winning the Ballon d’Or. But recurring injuries robbed him of his explosive pace and rhythm. Despite brief stints in Europe and a return to Brazil, he never lived up to the hype and officially retired in 2025.

9. Ravel Morrison – More Talent Than Rooney, Said Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed Ravel Morrison was more gifted than Rooney and Giggs at the same age. But attitude issues and injuries derailed his career almost as soon as it began. Despite spells at numerous clubs, Morrison never settled and is now playing for a lower-tier side in Dubai.

8. Freddy Adu – The ‘New Pelé’ at 14

At just 14, Freddy Adu was hailed as the next Pelé, becoming the youngest professional athlete in U.S. sports history. But the hype never matched his output—he scored just 11 goals in nearly 90 games for DC United. After bouncing between 15 clubs in 17 years, his career is remembered more for unfulfilled promise than performance.

7. Bojan – The Next Messi Who Wasn’t

Bojan Krkić — Maxisport / Shutterstock.com

Bojan was unfairly labeled ‘the next Messi’ simply because of his Barcelona roots and appearance. While he showed early promise, the pressure was too much too soon. He later played for Stoke, Milan, and Ajax, but never made the impact expected and quietly faded from top-level football.

6. Giovani dos Santos – From Barça Prodigy to MLS Mainstay

Signed by Spurs from Barcelona, Dos Santos was expected to light up the Premier League. But injuries and inconsistency saw him shipped out on loans before finding his best form in MLS. Retiring in 2023, his most successful years came far from Europe’s elite stages.

5. Hachim Mastour – From YouTube Wonderkid to Serie C

At 14, Mastour was one of the most hyped talents in world football and joined AC Milan amid huge buzz. Yet he never made a first-team appearance and struggled to find form at any club since. Still only in his mid-20s, he now plays in Italy’s third division after years of underachievement.

4. Michael Johnson – England’s Midfield Hope Who Disappeared

Seen as a future replacement for Lampard and Gerrard, Michael Johnson had fans and pundits dreaming of an England resurgence. But severe injuries meant he only made 37 appearances for Man City before retiring at 24. His story remains one of English football’s most tragic what-ifs.

3. Robinho – The Signing That Was Meant to Launch Man City

Once seen as Brazil’s next big thing, Robinho had a Ballon d’Or nomination and played for Real Madrid and Milan before joining Man City in a headline-grabbing move. But his time in England was short and underwhelming, scoring just 14 goals. He later drifted across Brazil, China, and Turkey without reigniting his early promise.

2. Adel Taarabt – Streets Will Never Forget, But the Ballon d’Or Will

Taarabt dazzled at QPR and drew praise from stars like Luka Modric, who thought he had the talent for Real Madrid. Yet, inconsistency and poor attitude kept him from reaching elite levels. Now 36, he plays in the UAE—but his career remains a story of what might have been.

1. Royston Drenthe – From Galáctico to Forgotten Man

Drenthe joined Real Madrid at 20, a move expected to launch him into superstardom. But just 46 appearances and a string of loans—including a forgettable spell at Everton—show how things fell apart. Known for attitude issues and instability, he retired in 2023, having never come close to fulfilling his potential.