Football's Fallen Stars: The Men That Brushed Greatness and Slipped

A curve ball to start with.

Even just three years ago, Ledley King was on the verge of becoming one of England's most crucial players. Being a great defender wasn't enough for King, he was superb on the ball and commanded the respect of strikers the world over.

Perhaps one of King's greatest moments was in the 2006-2007 season against Chelsea, when he executed one of the most astonishing challenges in living memory to deny Arjen Robben.

Here was a defender with poise, timing, and the ability to play the ball.

Thierry Henry called King the toughest defender he faced, commenting, "He will get the ball off you without you even noticing. For me, that is a good defender.

"He plays without any contact yet is somehow still strong and gets the ball without doing any fouls."

Playing for England, he was proving an able foil for Lampard and Gerrard, sitting in defensive midfield and providing cover for the defensive line. Ready to take the world on, his knee injury put pain to any thoughts of true greatness.

A tear to the meniscus cartilage in his knee has cost King the larger part of his career. He cannot train during the week with his team mates, merely joining up with the squad the day before a match to discuss tactics.

After a match, his knee swells up to three times its normal size and he can only swim or use exercise on bikes until it recovers.

Without this injury, Ledley King would be one of the most sought-after centre-backs in the world. He is still a stalwart at the back for the Spurs when he plays, and, despite only being able to play a fraction of their matches, Harry Redknapp sees him as crucial to his team's progress.

He is still a quality player, but tragically missing out on true greatness.

If you wanted the perfect example of a man who had it all to lose and lost it, look no further than Adriano Leite Ribeiro.

In his early career, Adriano was a force of nature. English coach Fabio Capello noted at the time, "Imagine what he could do if he brought his right foot up to a decent standard."

"At that point I think we would need to change the rules of the game. Otherwise it would just be a mismatch every time he steps on the pitch."

The sky was the limit for the young powerhouse forward; 22 goals in 36 appearances for Fiorentina is a testament to that. But personal tragedy, drink, and drugs have taken their toll.

A notorious victim of the party lifestyle, it has cost Adriano dearly. There were reports of an all-night house party in Brazil where the striker would hold a blowout bash on the nights his international side met up.

This time, however, he has not returned from his homeland.

He has had to come out in the press and declare he is still alive, and rumours have emerged suggesting that he has told national team coach Dunga he is ready to retire from the game.

Adriano could have become one of the best strikers even seen in football. Sadly, he will now become a footnote in the annals of sporting history.

Adrian Mutu is a great player. His scoring record for Fiorentina speaks for itself. But he could have been even better, even regarded as one of the best in Europe, had it not been for his indiscretions at Chelsea.

Mutu was put under the microscope following his €29.4m move to the Blues in 2003, a situation he initially reveled in before form deserted him and public spats with Jose Mourinho cost him his place in the side.

However, the real hammer blow came when he tested positive for cocaine in 2004 and was sacked by his club, eventually facing a compensation claim of €17.17m from his former employers.

Since then, Mutu appears to have cleaned up his act and has scored over 50 goals for Fiorentina, also becoming vice-captain of Romania. Nothing, though, will erase the permanent stain on his record following his drugs ban.

This, once again, is a man who could have had it all.

Duncan Edwards is a name that is often mentioned when questions are posed as to the most naturally talented footballers ever seen.

A man whose life seemed set for stardom was instead cruelly snatched from the sport in an accident that left a scar on football.

In his all-too-brief five year career, Edwards was one of the brightest talents of Matt Busby's Manchester United side of the 1950s. A forward with outstanding skill, he featured in two title-winning United sides, as well as the team that made it to the European Cup semi-final.

At the time of his first cap, Edwards was the youngest player to represent England, a record that stood until Michael Owen in 1998.

Duncan Edwards was one of the eight players who were victims of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, although he is still regarded as one of the finest players United has seen.

At the 50 year memorial, Bobby Charlton commented, "Duncan Edwards has always been in my mind as the best player I ever played with or against...Without question he would have played in the 1966 World Cup and been England captain."

Without doubt, one of the most tragic cases of unfulfilled potential in the history of football.