Many footballers adore adulation and demand respect. These star players earn more money in a month than most of us can imagine of earning in a lifetime. They even appear in multiple photoshoots, shampoo commercials and sing up a ton of endorsement deals. They grab supermodels, luxury cars and mansions as big as any five-star hotel. But, are they really that good?
Let us take a look at some of the overrated footballer’s that we have seen through the decades:
30) Luis Nani
Recruited by Manchester United in 2007 during the legendary Ferguson era, United’s Nani had a huge potential to become a highly successful player in the future of world football. With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, Luis Nani was backed to become ‘the next Ronaldo’ at Manchester United soon. The similarities were uncanny...both Nani and Ronaldo were Portuguese, playing as wingers, both arriving from Sporting CP at a very young age. He did anything but reach the milestone set up by Ronaldo…infuriatingly inconsistent and lack of motivation, the reason for his failure could also be due to the dawning realization that he is nowhere near Ronaldo.
29) Joe Hart
The shot-stopper showed amazing keeping abilities as a youngster but as years progressed, Joe Hart has had it easy, with defenders like Vincent Kompany, Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi by his side.
Hart has never been challenged for his spot in the playing XI as the cash-rich Manchester City have never thought about investing in a decent keeper, until now.
The English keeper is a great player on paper, but the story is completely different on the pitch. His lack of focus and composure have cost Manchester City and England innumerable games in the past. With Claudio Bravo completing his move to the Etihad, it may be game over for the Englishman.
28) Radamel Falcao
Once regarded as the next big thing in football, the Colombian forward has had a miserable couple of years in England. After a successful career with Porto and Atletico Madrid, Falcao made a big money move to AS Monaco.
After a couple of impressive performances, Falcao began to lose his form and lost his place in the starting XI to youngster Anthony Martial. Manchester United acquired the services of the Colombian on a loan deal in 2014. Falcao scored only four times in 26 appearances under Louis van Gaal and could only muster up a solitary goal for Chelsea in ten games.
Adding up to his poor form were a series of nasty injuries. He lost a lot of confidence and never regained his abilities. His goalscoring record with the English clubs is a joke and appears to be a player on the wane.
27) Alberto Aquilani
In 2009, on the eve of a £17 million move, the cream of the crop in world football were lining up to declare the Italian’s greatness. The likes of Rafa Benitez, John Arne Riise, and Francesco Totti heaped praise on the Italian on the back of his transfer.
However, the next six years were miserable for Aquilani. Lacking physicality and good technique, Alberto soon found himself starting as a substitute. First team appearances were few and far between. To rub salt into the already deep wounds, Aquilani suffered severe injuries on a regular basis and failed to live up to his expectations.
26) Georgi Kinkladze
If there was a player who built his reputation on a single goal, it was the Georgian midfielder. His goal for Manchester City against Southampton was top notch. Apart from that, he scored only 21 times in 122 appearances for the Blue Eagles.
After his disappointing spell in England, Kinkladze was signed by Ajax to replace Jari Litmanen. When there was a change in manager during the Georgian’s move, things went downhill. He was never utilized by Jan Wouters (Ajax’s then new manager) and was offloaded to other clubs. Kinkladze never really settled at a club again.
25) Ross Barkley
The 22-year old Toffees midfielder is a must include in this list. Playing at central attacking midfield, this man has the potential to become of the best midfielders. But, there’s a catch. Although he has the ability to produce stellar performances in certain games, he often produces a blank in most matches, questioning his ability to perform consistently. He needs to work on his finishing abilities and also put a little more effort into the game which is one of his major flaws.
24) Andy Carroll
One of the easiest choices to pick in this list, Englishman Carroll has had a mixed career. The towering forward broke the British transfer record in 2011, when he was sold to Liverpool for a whopping £35 million. That price tag was higher than the highest fees commanded by the likes of Didier Drogba, Arjen Robben, and Diego Costa.
Carroll was consistent in underperforming and was offloaded to West Ham United. He may have resurrected his career at Upton Park, but the word overvalued will always be associated with the lad from Gateshead.
23) Fabian Barthez
Statistically, the former Manchester United player is one of the best keepers to have played the beautiful game. He almost won every trophy possible and kept a record equalling 10 clean sheets in the FIFA World Cup. However, Barthez is one of the luckier players to have graced Old Trafford. Prior to his move from Monaco, Barthez looked good to the eye but lacked any real substance. He was a charming guy, but not a world class keeper. He made 92 appearances for the Red Devils and never once looked like he could hold the number one keeping spot for years to come.
22) Xherdan Shaqiri
Imagine a football career where a player starts his career in a mid-table team in the English top-tier to an Italian giant like Inter Milan to a European supergiant like FC Bayern Munchen. Well, that’s exactly the career of Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri except, well, the order of clubs he moved to is the other way round!
After failing to experience first-team action withBayern Munich, Shaqiri was shipped to Inter Milan, to finally Stoke City where he was promised first team action. The main reason for his failure was his playing style. It was not often suited for the team and his selfishness on the ball could have often be seen.
21) Florent Malouda
A great example of ‘form is temporary, but class is permanent’, French midfielder Florent Malouda enjoyed a fruitful six seasons with Premier League giants Chelsea. He had a memorable 2009-10 Premier League season at Stamford Bridge.
The main problem with the Frenchman was that he was a one-paced and limited winger. After his exit from Stamford Bridge in 2013, Malouda joined Turkish team Trabzonspor. Underwhelming performances in Turkey and India (with Delhi Dynamos) have made Florent a non-entity in the group of football elites.
20) Ezequiel Lavezzi
Often running around the pitch constantly and making good use of the ball, Lavezzi is not the greatest winger in the world. He failed to score a single goal in the 2014 World Cup and had a couple of average seasons with PSG, before moving to China.
Lavezzi was often linked with a big-money move to the Premier League. No one knows why any manager would want to acquire the services of the lackluster forward. After suffering a nasty injury in the recently concluded Copa America, it is time for Lavezzi to hang up his boots.
19) Denilson
Denilson was a bit like Ronaldo: You either love him or hate him. Some see him as an integral part of the classic Arsenal midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song. Others see him as overrated, liable and a player with zero potential. Arsene Wenger had once described the Brazilian as a standout performer and a player who could be Arsenal’s Claudio Makelele. The amount of competition in the North Londoner’s midfield put a lot of pressure on Denilson to perform and he eventually succumbed to it. He made way to then youngsters Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey and fell down the pecking order. Denilson’s promising career reached a dead end at Arsenal.
18) David Luiz
On his day, David Luiz is a solid centre-half. However, his penchant for ludicrous passes and limited technique masks his limitations as a defender. Luiz is frequently caught off guard, proving to be costly on more than a few occasions. Germany’s 7-1 thrashing of Brazil is the best example.
With Thiago Silva by his side, Luiz tends to venture forward frequently and commits howlers. His mistakes are often masked by his captain’s brilliant defensive displays. With over €70 million in transfer fees spent on the curly-haired defender, one wonders why the likes of Pique and Diego Godin were sold for a bargain.
17) Kevin-Prince Boateng
Though he possesses a considerable amount of skill and power, the Ghanian international often underwhelms on the pitch. I don't think he himself knows regarding his ideal position within the side.
He does not have the graft to become the best defensive midfielder nor has the creative abilities to become a decent attacking midfielder. After his arrival at Milan in 2011, he impressed everyone with his flair and passion.
Boateng’s performances garnered the interests of the elite clubs in Europe. However, the next few seasons were terrible for the Ghana international and soon, fell out of radar. Occasional moments of brilliance from Jerome’s step brother reminds us all how good he can be when everything fall’s in place for him.
16) Joao Moutinho
Emerging from the youth academy of Sporting CP, Iberian midfielder Joao Moutinho’s talent certainly didn’t go unrecognized. Judging by his splendid performances, Moutinho was roped in by French giants A.S Monaco for a reported fee of 25 million euros. But the lack-lustrous Iberian certainly could not prove himself worthy of the price tag, often producing uninspiring performances. He was criticized for not working hard enough and was also hammered for not being able to produce the end-product.
15) Nicolas Anelka
The big Frenchman had all the weapons in his arsenal to become of the great strikers, but as his career is coming to a screeching halt, you can’t help feel that he has never made the most of his talent.
Possessing good pace, immense power and a bag of tricks, Anelka made big money moves to Chelsea, PSG, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
He never performed on a consistent basis and could not establish himself as a dominating force in attack. Anelka also had behavioral issues and fought with most of his manager’s, spoiling his reputation in the process.
14) Francis Jeffers
Having two of the largest ears seen in homo sapiens, Jeffers had the world at his feet after an 8million move to Arsenal and a goal on his international debut with England. However, he turned out to be one of Wenger’s biggest transfer mistakes and fell faster down the pecking order than Ryan Giggs’ trousers once away from Imogen Thomas. When the likes of Robbie Fowler and Dwight Yorke were banging in goals every match week, the Arsenal lad was struggling to go past the worst of defenders. His career reached a new low when he was released by Motherwell in 2011.
13) Robinho
Another player who has commanded huge transfer fees but never quite delivered on his promise, Brazilian winger Robinho never made the most of his talent. The winger played for some of the biggest clubs in the world (Real Madrid and Manchester City).
As politics are crucial in Spanish elections for club presidents, Madrid chief Florentino Perez used Robinho as a bait to lure Cristiano Ronaldo. After a decent debut, Robinho faded away and churned up lackluster performances.
He was offloaded to Manchester City in 2008, where he failed miserably. He was shipped out on loan to Santos in 2010 and is a non-entity in today’s world of ‘elite football’.
12) Jose Antonio Reyes
‘The Spanish sensation who left Zinedine Zidane in awe'- Jose Reyes’s career could not have gotten a better start. Playing for huge clubs such as Real Madrid, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, this man was en route to become ‘football’s next big thing.’ But, his name and fame started slowly deteriorating with his dip in form and was often kept out by players in comparatively better form than him. His willingness to work hard started becoming more and more imminent that led to clubs offloading him. He finally joined RCD Espanyol, with a hope of finding his feet again.
11) Javier Pastore
One of the most graceful players when on song, Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore has gathered countless admirers. After a couple of impressive seasons with Palermo, Pastore was bought by big spenders PSG for a hefty €42 million.
The central midfielder has impressed in patches and has not lived up to everyone’s expectations. Pastore lost his place in the starting XI soon after the arrival of Italian youngster Marco Veratti. He has failed to impress even in national colors and has fallen out the radar. Pastore must try his luck somewhere else if he wants to resurrect his career.
10) Ricardo Quaresma
17-year-old Ricardo Quaresma was a highly talented Portuguese youngster, poised to follow the footsteps of Portuguese legend Luis Figo. His performances in Sporting CP attracted interest from top clubs like Barcelona and Inter Milan. Injury-ravaged season, inconsistency and selfishness on the ball saw him fall down the pecking order in each of the clubs he played in.
Unable to see a future in Besiktas, he was shipped off to Dubai, marking an all-time low in his career.
9) Jack Wilshere
The Three Lions have a knack for hyping young talent lurking on the fringes of a national team call-up. They did it with Theo Walcott in 2006 and Jack Wilshere followed suit in 2010. The midfielder often struggles against tall defenders and failed to score a single goal in the 2012-13 Premier League season, despite making over 20 appearances for Arsenal.
For a player considered to be the future of English midfield, Jack has failed to stay fit and perform on a consistent basis. As the article is being written, Wilshere has just started playing for Arsenal again, after spending a fair amount of time in the doctor’s office.
8) Martin Demichelis
One of the slowest defenders to have played football, the Argentina veteran was highly enthusiastic and energetic on the pitch. However, he is capable of making the most crucial mistake whenever he suffers his frequent drop in concentration.
From being outplayed by Ozil in the World Cup Final to being schooled by Marcus Rashford in the Manchester derby, Demichelis is known for his blunders than his brilliance. He has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe (Bayern Munich and Manchester City) despite making only 50 appearances for his national team.
At the age of 35, he continues to surprise everyone and make a living out of something which he is not great.
7) Stephan El Shaarawy
When the forward broke into AC Milan’s starting XI, he was seen more as a breath of fresh air. A promising homegrown talent making a mark with the best Italian club, life was good for the winger. After a decent debut season, Shaaraway was given regular starts and made the most of his opportunities.
Since 2013, the player with the mohawk saw a drastic drop in form and lost his place to Mario Balotelli. He may be a youngster with talent, but he needs to show far greater consistency before he can justify his massive reputation.
6) Milan Baros
For a striker with 41 international goals in 93 appearances, it is surprising to see the Czech Republic international this far up in the list. Baros’ sheer mediocrity during his club career has propelled him up to a top ten spot. After an exception Euro 2004 campaign, much was expected from the then Liverpool forward.
What followed next was one of the biggest disappointments in recent times. He mustered 19 league goals for the Anfield club averaging a goal every 320 minutes, shocking for an international striker's standard. In 2005, he was offloaded to Aston Villa and struggled to make an impact ever since.
5) Theo Walcott
Back in 2006, the inclusion of the then 17-year-old winger came as a major surprise. Although he wasn't given any game time, much was expected from the Englishman ever since.
Considered to be Arsene Wenger’s best British signing, Walcott is playing in his eleventh season for the North London team and is still struggling to nail a permanent place in the starting eleven.
Blistering pace is a great attribute for a footballer to possess, but Walcott needs to connect a few more dots if he is to become a great player. With key players Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshire out injured, it is time for Theo to showcase his talent.
4) Riccardo Montolivo
The Azzurri have produced a slew of extraordinary midfielders in the past and continue to churn out a few more, but the AC Milan captain does not fit into this illustrious group. He does his job of passing the ball around in midfield and taking the occasional shot but comes up short in a few departments which De Rossi, Veratti, and Marchisio excel in.
The midfielder neither has the strength to fend off the opposition nor has the vision to pull the strings for his team. Montolivo’s 56 national caps are more an indication of a top class Italian playmaker than a rather dull and mediocre midfielder.
3) Adriano
Another Brazilian who makes it into our list, the former Inter Milan forward was a talented footballer. He possessed a ferocious left foot and had the ability to score from miles away.
Adriano had all the talent in the world to make him a legend of the game but never produced the goods on a consistent basis to justify his talent. His career faded away in the late 2000’s due to his addiction to girls, gambling, and guns. Had he worked harder, he would have become a regular contender for the coveted Ballon d’Or.
2) Hulk
Assuming that Hulk is one of the better players in the world considering his demanding transfer fees is a joke. Other than having a cool name and scoring the odd spectacular goal, the Brazilian falls flat in every department. Hulk is a decent attacker, but scoring 14 times in 46 appearances for Brazil indicates that he is nowhere near Philippe Coutinho or Willian’s level.
Having played with only Porto and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Europe suggests that Hulk was never considered to be a great footballer by any of the top clubs in the continent. He may have the power to burst footballs on a regular basis but lacks in skill and intellect, which are the bare necessities for a footballer to have.
1) Mario Balotelli
Was there any doubt on who would occupy top spot? Super Mario is a phenomenal talent. If Italy is to win a trophy in the future, the Italian forward will have a big role to play. Thousands have spoken about Balotelli’s antics off the pitch, and his excellence on it.
At the age of 26, Mario does not have anything spectacular to show on his resume other than the brace against Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-finals. Five years back, in an interview, Mario considered himself to be the second best player on the planet after Barcelona’s Leo Messi.
In 2016, Balotelli is not even the best striker for his club and has been rejected by relegation-threatened club Sassuolo. The Italian must start scoring more regularly, and on the biggest stages, if at all he wants to win the Ballon d’Or. (which he thinks he richly deserves)
