HOW THESE BRIGHT YOUNG STARS DISAPPEARED FROM THE GALAXY

Not all prodigies go on to become legendary figures in sports. Some even enjoy moments of glory on the biggest stage only to fade away from public memory. Let’s take a look at five such players as you stay home to battle Covid-19

THE GERMAN ‘MESSI’

The media called him the German ‘Messi’ and he was indeed hot property. Goetze won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal double with Borussia Dortmund in the 2010-11 season. He also helped Dortmund reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2013, which they lost to Bayern Munich at Wembley. It not just prompted heavyweights Bayern Munich to throw admiring glances but also sign him up. He did win three league titles with them during his three-season spell but he wasn’t the same player he was at Dortmund, failing to establish himself in the team. Goetze, who scored the winner against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final, returned to Dortmund and is now likely to join AC Milan or AS Roma.

FLATTER TO DECEIVE

Another Borussia Dortmund product, Nuri Sahin, who at 16 years and 334 days, back in 2005, became the youngest player to play in the Bundesliga. And just a few months into his Dortmund career, Sahin, born to Turkish parents, became the youngest player to score a goal in the Bundesliga. Sahin enjoyed a sparkling season with Dortmund, guiding them to the league title in the 2011 season. He was voted the Bundesliga Player of the Season. His performances saw Real Madrid come calling but Sahin, who joined the Spanish giants in the summer of 2011, failed to hit the heights. He was loaned out to English club Liverpool but there was no change. Sahin now plies his trade with Werder Bremen.

BLESSING & A CURSE

The ‘Lionel Messi’ comparison can be both a blessing and a curse, a gilt-edged sword. And that clearly was the case with Bojan Krkic. The Spaniard was so good that Samuel Eto’o predicted he would even surpass Messi. After impressing at La Masia, Krkic, at just 17 years and 19 days in 2007, made his debut for giants FC Barcelona, breaking Messi’s record of the youngest to feature in a La Liga match for the Blaugrana. He also became the youngest Barcelona player to feature in the Champions League. But, perhaps the sheer weight of Messi, saw him fade away. After several unsuccessful stints in various clubs in Europe, the 29-yearold player is now playing for Montreal Impact in MLS.

IN RONALDO’S SHADOWS

UAE football fans will know him from his short spell with Arabian Gulf League side Al Ahli (now rebranded Shabab Al Ahli). He won the President’s Cup in the only season he was here in Dubai. But prior to that, Quaresma, like the others who were compared to Messi, was often seen on par, if not equal, with his Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. Back then, many in his native Portugal believed that Quaresma was even more talented than CR7. Both were tipped for bigger things but only one of them lived up to the hype. Quaresma, who had spells with Barcelona, Porto, Inter Milan and Chelsea, couldn’t quite emerge from Ronaldo’s shadow. The 36-year-old now plies his trade in the Turkish league with Kasimpasa.

THE PORTUGUESE ROCKER

Apart from Portugal winning the Euros in 2016, it also marked the emergence of a bright talent in Renato Sanches. The braided-haired Sanches, who rose through the ranks at Benfica, made his international debut that year. He was picked for the Euros and at age 18, Sanches became the youngest Portuguese to play in an international tournament and the youngest player to win the final. Sanches, who scored two goals in the quarterfinals against Poland — one in regulation and the second in the penalty shoot-out, was adjudged the Best Young Player of the Tournament. A great future lay ahead when Bayern Munich acquired him. But he couldn’t live up to expectations and was loaned out to Swansea City. Now, 22, Sanches plays at Lillee in the French Ligue 1.