10 Footballers Who Lit Up the World… Then Disappeared

 

Some players don’t just have a good season they have the season. One year, they’re untouchable. Defenders can’t keep up, fans can’t stop talking, and the goals (or assists) flow like magic. The next? They fade, never hitting those same heights again. Here are 10 unforgettable “one-season wonders” who had us dreaming… and then left us wondering: What happened?

Michu (Swansea City, 2012/13) The Spanish midfielder-turned-forward arrived in the Premier League for just £2 million and scored 18 goals in 35 league games, helping Swansea win the League Cup. His silky skills and finishing made him look world-class, but injuries and poor form at subsequent clubs like Napoli turned him into a classic flash-in-the-pan.

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Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic, 2008/09) On loan from Zamalek, the Egyptian striker burst out with 10 goals in his first 16 Premier League games, earning comparisons to Didier Drogba for his power and aerial ability. He was unplayable early on, but fitness issues and off-field problems saw him score just once more, and he never replicated that form.

Papiss Cisse (Newcastle United, 2011/12) Signed mid-season from Freiburg, Cisse scored 13 goals in 14 Premier League appearances, including screamers that defied physics. His debut half-season was electric, but he managed only 24 goals over the next four years at Newcastle before drifting to lower leagues.

Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers, 2007/08) The Paraguayan forward netted 19 Premier League goals, forming a lethal partnership with Benni McCarthy and earning a big-money move to Manchester City. He looked unstoppable with his heading and hold-up play, but injuries limited him to just 8 goals in four seasons at City.

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Grafite (Wolfsburg, 2008/09) Paired with Edin Dzeko, the Brazilian scored 28 goals in all competitions, including 11 in the Bundesliga title-winning run. His speed and flair made him a nightmare for defenses, but he scored only 9 the next season and faded quickly, retiring without another major highlight.

Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt, 2018/19) The Serbian striker exploded with 27 goals in 48 games, including a Europa League semi-final run, leading to a €60 million move to Real Madrid. He was clinical and dynamic, but at Madrid, he scored just 3 goals in three seasons, becoming a benchwarmer.

Krzysztof Piatek (Genoa/AC Milan, 2018/19) Starting at Genoa, the Polish forward scored 19 Serie A goals (plus 4 in the Coppa Italia), earning a mid-season transfer to Milan where he added more. His gun-slinging celebration matched his lethal finishing, but he managed only 16 goals over the next three years combined across clubs.

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Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion, 2014/15) The young English striker bagged 20 goals in all competitions, looking like the next big thing with his pace and composure. Tottenham tried to sign him, but off-field issues derailed his career he scored just 4 league goals in the following six seasons.

Dani Güiza (Mallorca, 2007/08) The Spanish forward topped La Liga's scoring charts with 27 goals, earning a Euro 2008 call-up and spot in Spain's winning squad. His movement and finishing were elite, but at Fenerbahçe and later clubs, he scored only 23 goals over five years, vanishing from the spotlight.

Michael Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers, 2001/02) In his Premier League debut season, Ricketts scored 12 goals in 29 games, earning an England cap. His physicality and opportunism made him a surprise star, but he scored just 11 goals over the next decade across multiple clubs, epitomizing a rapid rise and fall.

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These players remind us how fleeting brilliance can be whether because of injuries, bad transfers, or lost confidence. Some became cult heroes. Others became expensive gambles that didn’t pay off.