The 10 most overhyped footballers of all time

Modified Jan 27, 2018 17:34 GMT

Adu signs with MLS — Freddy Adu was massively hyped at the age of just 14

#9 – Robinho

Manchester City v Sunderland - Premier League — Despite the hype, Robinho was not the new Pele

When flashy winger Robinho emerged at Brazilian club Santos in the early 2000’s, he was so good that he was instantly labelled as the “new Pele”, a dangerous comparison given the fate of the last Brazilian player to be given that label – winger Denilson, who had flamed out at Real Betis just a handful of years previously. But Robinho was ludicrously skilled, and surely he couldn’t fail to live up to the hype, could he?

The answer turned out to be yes, he could. He signed for Real Madrid in July 2005 and was expected to become their next Galactico, but despite some flashes of brilliance, he was largely inconsistent and never really fit in at the Bernabeu. A mega-money £32.5m move to the newly minted Manchester City followed, but Robinho couldn’t live up to the hype there either and was sent on loan back to Santos after just one season at Eastlands.

A move to Milan followed and Robinho performed decently, winning Serie A in 2010/11, but he never came anywhere close to fulfilling his potential. This week saw him move to Turkish side Sivasspor after a time in his native Brazil, but he’s also potentially in legal trouble, as he was convicted of rape by an Italian court in November 2017. He’s currently appealing the decision.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Amit Mishra