Adu, Lamptey & 20 teenage superstars who failed to fulfil their potential

1. Adriano 

    

   Adriano was just 17 when he broke into the Flamengo first team in February 2000 and so impressive were his initial performances in the professional ranks that Inter paid €7 million for the striking sensation just over a year later. After impressive loan spells at Fiorentina and Parma, it appeared that Adriano would live up to his billing as Ronaldo's heir, for both club and country. However, despite playing a key role in Brazil's triumphs at the 2004 Copa America and 2005 Confederations Cup, The Emperor's career went off the rails due to his battles with depression and alcoholism, following the death of his father in 2004.
2. MORE ON GOAL

   Freddy Adu 

    

    

   From being touted as 'The New Pele' at 14 to searching for a club at 28, perhaps no prodigy has suffered a more spectacular fall from grace than Freddy Adu. Capped by his country by the age of 16, superstardom beckoned when the forward moved to Benfica the following year. However, Adu failed dismally to prove his worth at the Estadio da Luz and he ultimately became the quintessential journeyman footballer, plying his trade in the likes of Serbia and Finland before being released by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in January 2017.