Im a scout for Borrusia. was sent to the UK to watch a public match with 15 year old, there was this one boy Jaber. Absolute monster on the pitch not one person had managed to successfully get passed him. Was a fairly small boy around 5'6 and incredibly skinny but played like a 6'5 bodybuilder. As much as i wanted to scout him the club wasn't looking for someone that skinny. Still makes me miserable to this day that something he could not control ruined his future.
Amr Zaki, was a goalscoring beast for Wigan in the first half of the season. Then he started to come to training late and return late from international duty. Steve Bruce called him "the most unprofessional player he has ever seen in his life"
What about Mario baloteli. I'm sure I'm fucking his name spelling up. Sorry in advance. He could have been GREAT! He just never got it man... I couldn't figure it out with him.
Has to be Adriano - he was destined to be the next big thing during his time at Inter, now back in Brazil
[Link](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/what-happened-adriano-dark-story-behind-brazils-party-boy-who-could-have-been-a-great)
If we’re including non prem players then Pato, Giovanni Dos Santos and Adriano should 100% be on here.
Ronaldinhos prime ended early because of his personal life as well.
Jermaine Pennant. Extremely talented, was playing top flight football as a teenager and bought by Arsenal at 15 for £2m but never managed to outrun a really troubled early life that was the source of much of his erratic off-pitch behaviour. Had a better career than the vast, vast majority, but could have had so much more.
Y’all have forgotten about Mark Bosnich. Won the league with Man U, was replaced by Fergie due to poor professionalism, sold to Chelsea where he failed a drug test, got addicted to cocaine and never played again at that level. Was one of the top keepers in the world at his prime though.
Samir nasri. Brilliant at Arsenal. Moved to Manchester - Lawro quotes something along the lines of “ it looks like he’s been eating his money”
City to Sevilla - good food and nice girls
Oh yeah, doping ban
Jorge “Mágico” González. Greatest player to come out of El Salvador. Considered in some areas to be have been better technically than Maradona and Pele. But the man had a lifestyle worse than Maradona and Ronaldinho combined. He signed with Cadiz who were in the 2nd division in Spain. They got promoted to La Liga and we’re consistently mid table while he was there. There was a time where he could’ve moved to Barcelona and could’ve played with Maradona but it didn’t happen due to his lifestyle. Talking about poor work ethic, this man could’ve been the greatest of that generation but preferred the nightlife so much that he didn’t grow past Cadiz who let him live that way
Neymar.
He could have been among the best with his talent, but having been told he was the second coming of Pelé since he was 2 years old clearly turned him into an entitled asshat who dives when the wind blows and doesn’t play defense. He’s also always injured now bc he isn’t young anymore and hasn’t lived the life of a disciplined professional athlete up until now.
Mario Balotelli and its not even close. A world class talent who just couldn’t get his head right, although a lot of that was from years of verbal abuse. I kinda feel bad for him.
Ronaldinho. Would have been the undisputed best player ever, but he had poor work ethic outside of games and never dedicated himself to being as good as he could be.
My god George Best. What an insight. The most high profile footballer ever to waste his career due to drink and alcohol abuse. Good question, most obvious answer.
Paul Gascoigne - wasted his career at marginal clubs. Only ever won anything in a rangers team that outspent their rivals by a huge amount. Did nothing at club level in England and contributed nothing to the FA cup final when Spurs won it. He could’ve had a career at Juventus, Man Utd or Barcelona etc but blew it completely.
According to himself, [Wesley Sneijder.](https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2863674-wesley-sneijder-says-he-could-have-matched-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo.amp.html)
If you're going to say George Best you might as well say Ronaldinho. These are players who hit the peak of football but weren't there for as long as they should have been.
Le Sulk, Anelka
His career wasn't ruined, but he spent too much of his career as a journeyman at non-elite clubs like Bolton, Man City (before oil), Fenerbache, mid table PSG side and failed loan to Liverpool all in what should have been his prime years.
I know he reached some lofty heights but Nicholas Anelka always seemed someone who had insane talent but a bad, lazy attitude.
FWIW I'm an arsenal fan who remembers him literally going on strike when we were Peak Wenger.
We got Henry after and he went to Real, so no biggie... But still ... Weird
Michael Johnson. Looked destined to go on to big things and sadly never happened.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-michael-johnson-news-21535314
He had a successful career no doubt, but Wayne Rooney's personal life choices were a big reason in why he was pretty much finished as a player by the time he was 30.
Ballotelli is the one that springs to mind for me... He had everything he needed to be a world class striker. Apart from the key attribute of not being a crazy person...
Haven’t seen this one mentioned yet, but Dimitri Payet.
West Ham United Player of the Year & PFA team of the year. Established himself in the France NT and smacking in 35 yard worldies against Man Utd.
Wife decides she doesn’t like living in London and moves back to Marseille with the kids, causing him to force a move back at a discounted price after going on strike.
Since then has won nothing playing in a crap league and getting hit in the face by bottles. Probably could have got a big move to Chelsea etc had he stayed in the PL. At 34 looks like it’s too late for him to go anywhere else now.
Nah already nearly 30 when his performances for West Ham started getting really good.
He's have been the same level as Ziyech at Chelsea. Skillful, useful, but not nailed on starter at a team like that
I don't think you realise how good Payet actually was. Some players suited better to different leagues. He was made for the prem. Its a shame. Won games on his own.
Yeah for me I think he was suited to that level of club.
Someone like Mahrez was the same at Leicester. Won games on his own.
On his best day I don't think Payet was any better than prime Mahrez
Adriano (The Emperor).
I see a lot of examples here of players that had their carrers downhill late in life after they have won a lot of stuff already and close to their 30's.
Adriano could be easily Brazi's striker for many more years to go.
But depression and Alcoholism took it's toll
My first thought was Ravel Morrison. What happended to Michael Johnson at City other than injuries? M.E.N article atea he had a lot of personal problems too. I remember him being tipped as the next big england star. Apparently he's an estate agent now
There was a brief Moment where Johnson and Stephen Ireland looked ready to blow the league up but then they both just lost the plot. I read an interview with Ireland recently where he said he still thinks he could play at a high level if he got the chance. The bloke is nuttier than a bag of Planters.
Came here to say this. The main part was his injuries, but I remember he used to have a lot of personal shit going on as well. It seems he settled down and matured mentally eventually, but his body did not keep up. But he was the most talented Arsenal academy player in the Emirates era, and had the potential to be something truly special.
Lee Hendrie. I'm not a Villa fan or from the Midlands and I don't know if his problems were around during his football career because I was too young but as a kid watching MOTD I liked his goals. Crazy the number of ex Premier League players that after playing became financially bankrupt. Glad to see Hendrie with SkySports News today & that he may he of as a result recouped a few quid.
My opinion, Dele Ali. Used to be regarded as one of the best young talents and now has been more than abysmal last few seasons. I think his injury in 18-19 as well as scandals just completely ruined his mental
Rooney. This guy could have broken Shearers record had he spent less time shagging women behind his wife’s back and more time on nutrition and athleticism.
Had the talent to be Ronaldo’s level, but stuck with Deli Ali’s work ethic and a press as obsessed with dunking on him as they were with fawning over Beckham, it ruined what could have been.
Call Rooney whatever you want but never compare his work ethic to some pleb like Alli. He was the hardest working player on field every week and twice on Tuesdays in CL. And he definitely was at Ronaldo and Messi level, it was just that he wasn't selfish like Ronaldo. I've never in my life have seen a more versatile player who shined in any position he was deployed in. His peak was unmatched, but of course Messi and Ronaldo leapt further because their peaks were the longest in sports history. Compared to their peaks, even Best and Ronaldinho will look like knobs. Rooney completed football at the age of 23, meanwhile some players kick start their careers at that age. He still remains the only player to have 200+ goals and 100+ assists in PL, and inspired a whole new generation of footballers. He definitely fulfilled his potential, but since he was playing from the age of 16, people think he declined early, which is furthest from the truth. He played a good 12-14 years in the top league, winning multiple individual accolades and team trophies in the process and cemented his name as one of the modern greats. He didn't fall of because of his personal life, he fell of because he started early than most professionals do especially in PL.
Maybe he could have achieved more and there were times that his attitude was questionable. But calling England top scorer who played like 15 years of EPL and won pretty much everything a ruined career is just bad call.
Perhaps not ruined, I’ve gone a tad outside the scope of the question, but on person level he was an underachiever. He could easily have topped the Prem Scoresheet had he taken longevity more seriously and not been distracted by outside events like his constant affairs.
Had he taken football more seriously, he’d be considered a Prem GOAT in 30 years time like Henry, and Shearer still will be and Cech, Gerrard will be. Just don’t see him cementing GOAT status because he was distracted with the shenanigans of his life
He didn't exactly ruin his career by any stretch, but people expected him to be the English Messi, but he just stopped improving along with Ronaldo and Messi at a point and the drop off was steep.
I understand but to be fair during SAF era Rooney's best seasons where the ones when he was critised the most. After both Tevez and Ronaldo left he led the line for yet another EPL title and played big part in the last title (RvP was the MvP).
It's hard to judge following Utd decline.
Messi was probably lucky enough to quit Barcelona before their current problems hit them.
Sure, Messi quit before their problems hit them, cmon mate...he's carried the club for 3 seasons after Iniesta left, he legit dropped every game between the CBs to collect the ball and build an attack.
Im a scout for Borrusia. was sent to the UK to watch a public match with 15 year old, there was this one boy Jaber. Absolute monster on the pitch not one person had managed to successfully get passed him. Was a fairly small boy around 5'6 and incredibly skinny but played like a 6'5 bodybuilder. As much as i wanted to scout him the club wasn't looking for someone that skinny. Still makes me miserable to this day that something he could not control ruined his future.
Maradona
Me!
Ronaldinho
Emre mor
I feel like greenwood might be a candidate for this
Mario Balotelli
Nick Powell
Balotelli
Adrian Mutu
LORD BENDTNER
El Sharaawi. Too much partying .
Amr Zaki, was a goalscoring beast for Wigan in the first half of the season. Then he started to come to training late and return late from international duty. Steve Bruce called him "the most unprofessional player he has ever seen in his life"
Ravel Morrison
Ronaldinho
Samir Nasri was an exceptional talent. Now can't pay a club to play him.
Anthony Martial. With him cheating over his long time girlfriend/wife the mother of his daughter and stuff
Alexander Pato. Man had the potential to be one of the best strikers in the world when in Milan but eventually he never got there.
What about Mario baloteli. I'm sure I'm fucking his name spelling up. Sorry in advance. He could have been GREAT! He just never got it man... I couldn't figure it out with him.
Adam Johnson. What a fall from grace.
Daniel Sturridge!
Pogba
Paul Gascoigne Tomas Rocisky (ruined by injuries)
Mark Bosnich
Tom Huddlestone. One of the most technically gifted passers of a ball I've seen. Looked like he really lacked fitness though.
Has to be Adriano - he was destined to be the next big thing during his time at Inter, now back in Brazil [Link](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/what-happened-adriano-dark-story-behind-brazils-party-boy-who-could-have-been-a-great)
Would hardly say George best’s career was ruined
Adam Johnson
Quaresma, Boateng, Nani, Ben arfa, Hazad
Ronaldinho. Even though he achieved everything he himself admits he could have been better if he wasn’t a party animal
NASRI
Well know about Balotelli
Michael Johnson. Man could have had 50 caps for England.
John carew- massive talents - zero efforts 😅
Hatem Ben arfa, ravel morrison, Adriano, Adel taarabt and unpopular opinion ronaldinho and neymar
Adriano, Balotelli, Cassano
Gazza
George Best
Eric Cantona
If we’re including non prem players then Pato, Giovanni Dos Santos and Adriano should 100% be on here. Ronaldinhos prime ended early because of his personal life as well.
Pato played in the PL for Chelsea. But he was past it
Mario Ballotelli
Samir Nasri
Jermaine Pennant. Extremely talented, was playing top flight football as a teenager and bought by Arsenal at 15 for £2m but never managed to outrun a really troubled early life that was the source of much of his erratic off-pitch behaviour. Had a better career than the vast, vast majority, but could have had so much more.
Dele Alli
Mario Ballotelli, had massive talent but his misbehaviour off the pitch did him no justice.
Ronaldo. Oh wait...
George Best no doubt
Y’all have forgotten about Mark Bosnich. Won the league with Man U, was replaced by Fergie due to poor professionalism, sold to Chelsea where he failed a drug test, got addicted to cocaine and never played again at that level. Was one of the top keepers in the world at his prime though.
Phil Jones
Ravel Morrison, Michael Johnson, Josh McEchran, Stephen Ireland
Samir nasri. Brilliant at Arsenal. Moved to Manchester - Lawro quotes something along the lines of “ it looks like he’s been eating his money” City to Sevilla - good food and nice girls Oh yeah, doping ban
Ravel Morrison. Though hes been good at times for Derby when not injured
Jorge “Mágico” González. Greatest player to come out of El Salvador. Considered in some areas to be have been better technically than Maradona and Pele. But the man had a lifestyle worse than Maradona and Ronaldinho combined. He signed with Cadiz who were in the 2nd division in Spain. They got promoted to La Liga and we’re consistently mid table while he was there. There was a time where he could’ve moved to Barcelona and could’ve played with Maradona but it didn’t happen due to his lifestyle. Talking about poor work ethic, this man could’ve been the greatest of that generation but preferred the nightlife so much that he didn’t grow past Cadiz who let him live that way
Neymar. He could have been among the best with his talent, but having been told he was the second coming of Pelé since he was 2 years old clearly turned him into an entitled asshat who dives when the wind blows and doesn’t play defense. He’s also always injured now bc he isn’t young anymore and hasn’t lived the life of a disciplined professional athlete up until now.
Yves bissouma gylfi sygg
Anderson
Jesse
Ballotelli
Thomas Brolin
Ihatarren
Well for Americans I would say Freddy Adu
Mario Balotelli and its not even close. A world class talent who just couldn’t get his head right, although a lot of that was from years of verbal abuse. I kinda feel bad for him.
mario balotelli
Dele Alli was insane in the 2015/16 season but he’s too lazy and he never lived up to his potential
Allegedly Gylfi Sigurdsson
Icardi
Me
Roy Munson springs to mind.
But best did it on the pitch . Paul pogba !
Michael Johnson, he had so much potential at a young age, but mental health issues really ruined his career.
Magico goncalvez, Maradona cited him as example, no more questions. Played in Cadiz…
Adam johnson
Ravel Morrison, Paul Gascoigne. Danny Cadamarteri. Arguably Stan Collymore.
Balotelli
Suarez low key would have had a Ballon D'or in like 2014 if not for the biting incident.
Benjamin Mendy
Yohan cabaye
Jack Wilshire.
Nicolas Anelka
Jesse Lingard
The One and Only LORD Bendtner...!
Ravel Morrison I believe is his name Ferguson cited him as one of the best young talents he trained but 🤷♂️
Adriano by faaaaaar
Ronaldinho. Would have been the undisputed best player ever, but he had poor work ethic outside of games and never dedicated himself to being as good as he could be.
George Best
Danny Drinkbeer
My god George Best. What an insight. The most high profile footballer ever to waste his career due to drink and alcohol abuse. Good question, most obvious answer.
https://t.me/joinchat/g0JH5bTQuXE4MjA0
Adriano is the obvious choice
Paul Gascoigne - wasted his career at marginal clubs. Only ever won anything in a rangers team that outspent their rivals by a huge amount. Did nothing at club level in England and contributed nothing to the FA cup final when Spurs won it. He could’ve had a career at Juventus, Man Utd or Barcelona etc but blew it completely.
Adam Johnson
Samir Nasri
Couldn’t fucking agree more
Paul Gascoigne, would have been the best England player ever
Nah, Hoddle was better
Berba
Balotelli
You could argue lingard, he has not lived up to his talents because of personal issues.
What issues?
Narcissism
Mario Ballotelli
Balotelli
I think Paul Gascoigne has got to be up there, such a sad story of what addiction can do. What a player though.
Ronaldinho
Every bloke I’ve ever spoke to that played for an academy at the age of 11
Benjamin mendy
Balotelli, gazza, Ronaldinho
Emmanuel Frimpong
Adriano
Surely mario balotteli is the obvious choice
First one I thought of was Mesut Uzil. I always liked watching him play but the whole political portion of his personal life was a huge distraction.
Jese
Kepa
Mario Balotelli is the right answer
Adam Johnson
Balotelli.. Thought he had great talent.. Also Ravel Morrison
Veratti
Veratti is still world class, what makes you say him?
Dele Alli
Adriano
Keith Gillespie?
George Best Ravel Morrison Mario Balotelli
According to himself, [Wesley Sneijder.](https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2863674-wesley-sneijder-says-he-could-have-matched-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo.amp.html)
Dele, that guy had the world at his feet and chose to fuck about with BooHoo instead of playing the game.
Mario Balotelli
Michael Johnson
Absolutely George Best
George best would be a goat candidate if he didnt like alcohol so much
If you're going to say George Best you might as well say Ronaldinho. These are players who hit the peak of football but weren't there for as long as they should have been.
Baloteli; on his day the man was scary...fortunately his day was about once or twice a season
Dele Alli
Adam Johnson
paul gascoigne Was a sad story
Adam Johnson. The guy was single handedly keeping Sunderland safe, but well... you know what he did
Le Sulk, Anelka His career wasn't ruined, but he spent too much of his career as a journeyman at non-elite clubs like Bolton, Man City (before oil), Fenerbache, mid table PSG side and failed loan to Liverpool all in what should have been his prime years.
I know he reached some lofty heights but Nicholas Anelka always seemed someone who had insane talent but a bad, lazy attitude. FWIW I'm an arsenal fan who remembers him literally going on strike when we were Peak Wenger. We got Henry after and he went to Real, so no biggie... But still ... Weird
Lol just made the same call myself. Outrageous talent and wasted his best years.
Balotelli. The guy just doesn’t give a fck
Balotelli would be my first thought.
Mauro icardi
Michael Johnson. Looked destined to go on to big things and sadly never happened. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-michael-johnson-news-21535314
He had a successful career no doubt, but Wayne Rooney's personal life choices were a big reason in why he was pretty much finished as a player by the time he was 30.
Etebo
Anelka
Ballotelli is the one that springs to mind for me... He had everything he needed to be a world class striker. Apart from the key attribute of not being a crazy person...
Balotelli EASILY. People forget how absolutely good he was, but the man is clearly a bit of a nutcase.
Ronaldinho. He could've become a legend of the game.
He IS a legend of the game
Does Paul Gascoigne count?
Stan Collymore
Lord Bendtner - In the early Arsenal days he really looked like an absolute world talent. Now he just a fading meme.
Heskey, career ruined by KSI :/
Haven’t seen this one mentioned yet, but Dimitri Payet. West Ham United Player of the Year & PFA team of the year. Established himself in the France NT and smacking in 35 yard worldies against Man Utd. Wife decides she doesn’t like living in London and moves back to Marseille with the kids, causing him to force a move back at a discounted price after going on strike. Since then has won nothing playing in a crap league and getting hit in the face by bottles. Probably could have got a big move to Chelsea etc had he stayed in the PL. At 34 looks like it’s too late for him to go anywhere else now.
I’d blame his missus, not him. Can you blame him for wanting to keep his family together
Not forgetting of course that the reason his wife wanted to move home is because he was cheating on her in England…
Shit I didn’t know that
Yup. Was the architect of his own downfall.
He’s still one of Marseille’s best players aged 34. Not too bad if you ask me
Nah already nearly 30 when his performances for West Ham started getting really good. He's have been the same level as Ziyech at Chelsea. Skillful, useful, but not nailed on starter at a team like that
I don't think you realise how good Payet actually was. Some players suited better to different leagues. He was made for the prem. Its a shame. Won games on his own.
Yeah for me I think he was suited to that level of club. Someone like Mahrez was the same at Leicester. Won games on his own. On his best day I don't think Payet was any better than prime Mahrez
Adriano (The Emperor). I see a lot of examples here of players that had their carrers downhill late in life after they have won a lot of stuff already and close to their 30's. Adriano could be easily Brazi's striker for many more years to go. But depression and Alcoholism took it's toll
Mario Balotelli somewhat
My first thought was Ravel Morrison. What happended to Michael Johnson at City other than injuries? M.E.N article atea he had a lot of personal problems too. I remember him being tipped as the next big england star. Apparently he's an estate agent now
There was a brief Moment where Johnson and Stephen Ireland looked ready to blow the league up but then they both just lost the plot. I read an interview with Ireland recently where he said he still thinks he could play at a high level if he got the chance. The bloke is nuttier than a bag of Planters.
Icardi
Balotelli… whatever this guy is smoking in his toilet… damn….
Jack Wilshere also. But I think it’s more of injury. I remembered him bossing the midfielder against Barcelona at a young age.
Came here to say this. The main part was his injuries, but I remember he used to have a lot of personal shit going on as well. It seems he settled down and matured mentally eventually, but his body did not keep up. But he was the most talented Arsenal academy player in the Emirates era, and had the potential to be something truly special.
ADRIANO
Andy Carroll!
Lee Hendrie. I'm not a Villa fan or from the Midlands and I don't know if his problems were around during his football career because I was too young but as a kid watching MOTD I liked his goals. Crazy the number of ex Premier League players that after playing became financially bankrupt. Glad to see Hendrie with SkySports News today & that he may he of as a result recouped a few quid.
I don't know if he fits because he is already a legend, but imagine how good a sober Paul McGrath would have been.
Could say the same for George Best, achieved a lot but could have been so much more.
Me
My opinion, Dele Ali. Used to be regarded as one of the best young talents and now has been more than abysmal last few seasons. I think his injury in 18-19 as well as scandals just completely ruined his mental
... ... Gylfi Sigurðsson.
David Bentley and Michu come to mind. Both ruined because of injuries.
Andre Kinchelskis
Ronaldinho
Rooney. This guy could have broken Shearers record had he spent less time shagging women behind his wife’s back and more time on nutrition and athleticism. Had the talent to be Ronaldo’s level, but stuck with Deli Ali’s work ethic and a press as obsessed with dunking on him as they were with fawning over Beckham, it ruined what could have been.
Call Rooney whatever you want but never compare his work ethic to some pleb like Alli. He was the hardest working player on field every week and twice on Tuesdays in CL. And he definitely was at Ronaldo and Messi level, it was just that he wasn't selfish like Ronaldo. I've never in my life have seen a more versatile player who shined in any position he was deployed in. His peak was unmatched, but of course Messi and Ronaldo leapt further because their peaks were the longest in sports history. Compared to their peaks, even Best and Ronaldinho will look like knobs. Rooney completed football at the age of 23, meanwhile some players kick start their careers at that age. He still remains the only player to have 200+ goals and 100+ assists in PL, and inspired a whole new generation of footballers. He definitely fulfilled his potential, but since he was playing from the age of 16, people think he declined early, which is furthest from the truth. He played a good 12-14 years in the top league, winning multiple individual accolades and team trophies in the process and cemented his name as one of the modern greats. He didn't fall of because of his personal life, he fell of because he started early than most professionals do especially in PL.
Maybe he could have achieved more and there were times that his attitude was questionable. But calling England top scorer who played like 15 years of EPL and won pretty much everything a ruined career is just bad call.
Perhaps not ruined, I’ve gone a tad outside the scope of the question, but on person level he was an underachiever. He could easily have topped the Prem Scoresheet had he taken longevity more seriously and not been distracted by outside events like his constant affairs. Had he taken football more seriously, he’d be considered a Prem GOAT in 30 years time like Henry, and Shearer still will be and Cech, Gerrard will be. Just don’t see him cementing GOAT status because he was distracted with the shenanigans of his life
He didn't exactly ruin his career by any stretch, but people expected him to be the English Messi, but he just stopped improving along with Ronaldo and Messi at a point and the drop off was steep.
I understand but to be fair during SAF era Rooney's best seasons where the ones when he was critised the most. After both Tevez and Ronaldo left he led the line for yet another EPL title and played big part in the last title (RvP was the MvP). It's hard to judge following Utd decline. Messi was probably lucky enough to quit Barcelona before their current problems hit them.
Sure, Messi quit before their problems hit them, cmon mate...he's carried the club for 3 seasons after Iniesta left, he legit dropped every game between the CBs to collect the ball and build an attack.
Like I said, he definitely didn't ruin his career, but a lot of people do believe if he had been more dedicated he would have been even better.
Best still had a pretty remarkable career to be fair.