For every Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, there are football/soccer players who were equally or more talented but didn't have the successful careers that those two enjoyed.On each episode of 'Almost Legend', Unwana takes us through the stories of various players in the history of football/soccer who seemed destined for the top but fell well short of expectations.Here's a chance for fans to remember the players who had it all at the start but achieved little in the end.

 show that explores soccer's once-celebrated icons that fell short of expectations.

Almost Legend

Anderson Oliveira: It Was All A Blur

His goalscoring record in the Real Madrid youth teams eclipsed that of the great Raul Gonzalez; making Javier Portillo the most celebrated wonderkid in Spain at the start of the millennium. Breaking into the Real Madrid team of the Galactico era...

Javier Portillo: Right Club, Wrong Time

Hatem Ben Arfa: Misbehaved

Regarded as one of the finest talents to ever come out of France, it is no surprise that Ben Arfa has played for top clubs like Newcastle, Lyon, Marseille and PSG. However, his stints at these clubs, and others, were marred by a perceived arrogance...

Stuart Holden: Cursed By Injuries

After breaking out in Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo, Stuart seemed set to become the USA's next global superstar. Unfortunately, his career became a tragic story of a footballer whose body failed him by breaking down frequently with...

Rabiu Ibrahim: What Went Wrong ?

Nigeria thought it had found a replacement for the great 'Jay-Jay' Okocha when Rabiu Ibrahim stepped into the scene at Nigeria's successful outing at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2007. 
After making his way to Portugal to start what was a promising...

Freddy Adu: The Loan Ranger

In 2004, Lionel Messi was not the most popular teenage sensation in the world. That title belonged to Freddy Adu, who broke soccer records by making his professional debut aged 14. His talent promised a glorious career but what followed was a nomadic...

Adel Taarabt: So Many Missed Shots

Early in his career, Taarabt became known for his tricky feet and outrageous skills. His move to Tottenham should have launched his career alongside Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone. Sadly, in a career that took in clubs like Fulham, AC...

Andy Van Der Meyde: Ruined By Personal Demons

A stand-out talent in an Ajax team that featured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Westley Sneijder, Steven Pienaar, and Rafael Van Der Vaart, Andy Van Der Meyde had the world at his feet early in his career before struggling at Inter Milan and self-destructing at...

Yoann Gourcuff: Struck down by injuries

As a youngster, Yoan Gourcuff was the closest thing France to a creative outlet since Zidane retired. 
Tasked with leading France to a new era, he failed to cope with the pressure of filling Zidane's boots and watched his career water down to a mere...

Royston Drenthe: The Money Problem

Roy Drenthe announced himself to the world with a stunning performance at the Under-17 European Championships in 2007. Earmarked as the heir to Roberto Carlos, Drenthe became nothing like the Brazilian great as his pursuit for fulfillment saw play for...

Antonio Cassano: Why So Hangry?

Nicknamed 'Fantonio' early in his career due to his supreme talent as a youngster, Cassano set the Serie A alight with an electric debut as a 17-year old. As a 19 year old, he became the most expensive teenager in the game before becoming a Galactico....

Ricardo Quaresma: The Undisciplined Champion

Blessed with skill on both feet, Ricardo Quaresma started his career with a bigger reputation that fellow Portuguese wonderkid, Cristiano Ronaldo.


While Ronaldo went on to become one of the game's greatest goalscorers, winning multiple Ballon D'ors...

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Discover talented soccer players that almost reached the legend status but fell short

Stuart Holden: Cursed By Injuries

Almost Legend

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Stuart Holden: Cursed By Injuries

Almost Legend

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