Everyone loves a wonderkid, the hero and saviour of your team for years to come. Only sometimes it doesn’t pan out like that. Here are 3 wonder kids who didn’t cut the mustard!

Freddy Adu

Everyone’s favourite let down, the second coming of Jesus to American Soccer fans. The youngest player and goal scorer in the MLS at the age of 14 for DC United, Adu had the world at his feet he had a trial at Manchester United in 2006 but was traded to Real Salt Lake later that year and scored just one goal in 11 games.

Then came his big move to Europe, Adu secured a $2 million move to Benfica and that’s when the wheels came off for Adu. He was loaned out 4 times in 3 years to Monaco, Aris, Belenenses and Caykur Rizespor, he scored 4 goals in just 28 games in that time. Adu then had a chance to save his career when he moved back to the MLS in 2011 when he joined Philadelphia Union but once again this did not pay off. He has since gone on to play for another 7 team since 2012 and is currently signed to Osterlen FF in the Swedish 3rd division.

In total Adu has played 209 games and scored 27 goals, the next Pele did not turn out to be anything more than an bang average Sunday League player.

Kerlon

The human Seal himself, a man with the world at his feet but didn’t succeed due to injuries. He announced himself into the world stage in 2005 when he scored 8 goals in 7 games for Brazil’s under 17 side at the South American Championship, he was also voted the best player at the tournament.

Kerlon started his career at Cruzeiro in 2005 and went on to play 79 games and score 5 goals in the 3 years he was at the club. In 2008 he moved to Inter Milan and was immediately loaned to Chievo but only made 4 appearances that season due to a knee injury. In 2009 he returned to Inter and signed a contract to stay at the club until 2012 he was then sent to Ajax on loan but did not make an appearance for the first team. He return to Inter Milan in 2010 but again suffered another injury which kept him out for the whole season.

In 2011 he was loaned to Parana in Brazil but only played 4 games, he was then loaned to Nacionial NS in July 2011 but only played one game. In 2012 he left Inter and joined Fujieda MYFC and played 22 games and scored 9 goals in his time their before once again getting a knee injury. He played for another 4 teams in the next 3 years before retiring in 2017 aged 29 years old due to injuries.

Cherno Samba

The Championship Manager legend himself, Samba once scored 132 goals in 32 games as a 13 year old for the St Joesph’s academy team. He joined Millwall as a youngster and his goal scoring form continued within the youth system. In 2002, Liverpool had a £2 million offered turned down by Millwall. Samba stayed at Millwall but never played for the first team, he joined Cadiz in 2004 but again did not play for the team, he joined Malaga B on loan in 2005 and scored 11 goals in 18 games and managed to secure a move back to England in 2006 for Plymouth managed by Ian Holloway.

Samba only managed to score once in 13 games for Plymouth , he left the club in 2008 and joined Haka and only played 7 times that season. Samba then the layer for another 2 teams in a 4 year span and retired in 2012, in total he only played 52 senior games and scored 12 goals. He never did reach his potential and could of been one of England’s greatest players.