Top five “Wonderkids” that never lived up to the hype

1. Freddy Adu

In 2004 Freddy Adu had the world at his feet. The Ghanian-born American scored five goals in his first MLS season for DC United, aged just 14 and signed a $1m deal with Nike. Many dubbed him the “next Pele” and in 2007 he went to Benfica to begin what many believed would be a prosperous career in Europe.

Then aged 18, Adu found life in European football difficult and, with so much expected of him, he failed to perform. The forward was loaned out to four different clubs in four years, between 2008 and 2011, before returning with his tail between his legs to MLS.

Now aged 23, Adu plays for Philadelphia Union. It is nearly 10 years since he broke onto the scene as a teenage protégée, but despite a two week trial for Manchester United in 2006, a move to United never materialised.