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FourFourTwo's List Of 20 Players 'On The Cusp Of Greatness' From 2012

FourFourTwo's List Of 20 Players 'On The Cusp Of Greatness' From 2012

It's a real mixed bag...

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

In 2012, football magazine FourFourTwo compiled a list of the 20 footballers 'on the cusp of greatness' and the list has started going viral with some of their predictions being spot on and others failing terribly.

The world was a very different place eight years ago and in football we were only just being introduced to some of the players who are now the best in the world.

In the November edition of their magazine that year FourFourTwo put together a list of the 20 footballers 'on the cusp of greatness,' one Reddit user pulled the list out and it's an interesting mix of results.

Raheem Sterling

Eden Hazard

Nick Powell

Fergie beat off competition from Manchester City to sign Nick Powell. Image: PA Images
Fergie beat off competition from Manchester City to sign Nick Powell. Image: PA Images

John Guidetti

Ross Barkley

Lorenzo Insigne

Stephen El Shaarawy

Alvaro Morata

Cristian Tello

Paul Pogba

Radamel Falcao

Falcao's time in England didn't go well and he may have peaked around 2012. Image: PA Images
Falcao's time in England didn't go well and he may have peaked around 2012. Image: PA Images

Iker Muniain

Isco

Joao Moutinho

Yann M'Vila

Younes Belhanda

Oscar

Ganso

Lucas Moura

Leandro Damiao

'Greatness' is a very grandiose level to live up to and it could be argued that only Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard have reached, or are about to reach, that level out of the whole list.

That's not to say there aren't some other excellent players in the 20 but only the Manchester City forward and the Real Madrid star have got close to that level.

Sterling scored his latest goal against Spurs at the weekend. Image: PA Images
Sterling scored his latest goal against Spurs at the weekend. Image: PA Images

Paul Pogba might disagree but his lack of consistency at Manchester United would certainly work against him claiming 'greatness,' despite a World Cup win with France.

There's some real failures on the list with Nick Powell's time at United, having signed from Crewe that summer, not going well at all.

The midfielder found his level at Wigan and moved to fellow Championship club Stoke City last summer.

John Guidetti, Yann M'Vila, Younes Belhanda and Ganso haven't really been anywhere near greatness in their careers either.

Oscar might be the most disappointing name in the list just because of what might have been. He moved to Chelsea that summer and looked like he would be a great player.

Oscar moved to China when he should have been at his peak. Image: PA Images
Oscar moved to China when he should have been at his peak. Image: PA Images

The Brazilian spent five years in the Premier League and did pretty well but in 2017 he moved to the Chinese Super League, aged just 25, and ended his chances of being 'great.'

Interestingly the article said that Falcao was 'Primed for the Prem' but he'd arguably already peaked in his spell at Atletico Madrid in 2012 and his time in England with both Chelsea and United was a complete bust.

Which player did you tip for greatness but it didn't work out?

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Topics: Football News, Eden Hazard, Football, Radamel Falcao, Raheem Sterling