Ranking the 5 most overrated footballers of all time

Over the years, fans have seen several top talents grace the football pitch. While some players have gone on to enjoy great success, others have failed to live up to expectations.

In this article, we look at players who came to the stage with high promise and potential but ultimately didn't end up achieving the level they once seemed destined to reach.

Let's take a look at the five most overrated footballers of all time.

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#5. Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere is a free agent at 29 years of age.

Jack Wilshere has often been described as the poster boy of untapped potential.

Wilshere burst onto the scene with Arsenal at the tender age of 16. The young Englishman was known for his incredible technique and seemed to possess a vision beyond his years. Wilshere was often tipped as the 'next big thing' and looked destined to become Arsenal's captain.

He spent 10 years at Arsenal and also won a couple of trophies with the club. However, Wilshere's career was completely marred by an unfortunate injury record. Wilshere never went on to hit the levels he was meant to, resulting in an almost instant end to his career.

Wilshere represented West Ham United and Bournemouth after leaving Arsenal and is currently a free agent. It is shocking to think that a player who once dominated a midfield battle against the likes of Xavi and Iniesta is now a free agent.

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#4. Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli never really lived up to his talent.

Mario Balotelli is a player whose career has been shrouded in controversy.

The Italian has had a long career across England, Italy and France. At one point, Balotelli looked set to become one of the world's best strikers. It did not, however, pan out that way as Balotelli was seen as more of a troublemaker during his prime years.

The 31-year-old has represented Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League, but failed to accomplish much in England. He is remembered fondly by City fans for his assist to Sergio Aguero which delivered them the 2011-12 Premier League title, but not much else.

Balotelli's career has been filled with controversy off the field. Branded a 'rotten apple' by his past employers, he has built a reputation for being a difficult player to manage. There is no doubt that he is talented, but always seems to be in the bad eye of the media.

His career has seen a significant decline over the past few years. Since leaving Liverpool in 2016, Balotelli has gone on to play for five clubs. His longest tenure was at Nice in France, where he spent three years.

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#3. Robinho

Manchester City v Chelsea - Premier League

Robinho is another familiar face who was tipped to be world-class.

The Brazilian came with immense potential and burst onto the football stage with Santos in Brazil. He signed for Real Madrid in 2005, joining some extraordinary players in the side's Galacticos era.

He failed to impress during his time at the club and was sold to Manchester City in 2008. Robinho spent two years in England, scoring just 16 goals in all competitions. Primarily a forward, Robinho was signed to score goals but failed to do so.

Robinho was then sold to AC Milan, where he spent five years. Robinho went on to score just 32 goals during his five years with the club, a poor output for a £15 million signing.

He then rejoined Santos and went on to play in Brazil, China and Turkey without enjoying much success. Robinho is currently without a club.

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#2. Ousmane Dembele

Slavia Praha v FC Barcelona: Group F - UEFA Champions League

Ousmane Dembele is arguably one of the most overrated footballers of all time.

The Frenchman made his name with Rennes in Ligue 1 before moving to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Establishing himself as an exciting winger, Dembele earned himself a big-money move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

Dembele was admittedly a good player but has never shown that he warrants a fee as big as Barcelona paid for him. The French winger was signed for a then club-record €105 million. The move raised the eyebrows of many across the world and has since failed to pay any dividends at all.

Dembele has struggled with injuries ever since he joined. Many question why Barcelona broke the bank on such an injury-prone player, who has missed more games than he has played since joining.

He is yet to commit his long-term future at the Camp Nou and it'll be interesting to see where he lands up this summer.

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#1. Jorginho

Italy v Spain - UEFA Euro 2020: Semi-final

Jorginho seems to be in a precarious position where he has become a victim of his own success.

The Italian midfielder made his name with Napoli in 2014. He spent four years in Italy before signing for Chelsea in 2018, where he has become an established first-team player.

Jorginho was often third fiddled in the Chelsea midfield, operating alongside N'golo Kante and Mason Mount. He is an excellent passer and is undoubtedly one of the best penalty takers in the world.

However, with Italy's recent success at UEFA Euro 2020, Jorginho has been elevated to world-class levels. He recently finished third in the Ballon d'Or standings, behind Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

There is no doubt he can be excellent when deployed alongside a world-class defensive midfielder, but ranking him as the world's third-best player seems a wild overstatement. On individual talent alone, there are certainly better players in the same position worldwide.

Jorginho is undoubtedly an asset to Chelsea and Italy but calling him a Ballon d'Or candidate on the basis of team trophies is a gross exaggeration.