They were supposed to light up the World Cup after scoring a total of 114 goals for their clubs this season, but left South Africa with only one goal in 13 matches.
Wayne Rooney huffed and puffed but failed to score before England was sent packing by Germany. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored -- once, in garbage time -- but didn't run much at all before being eliminated by Spain. Argentina's Lionel Messi couldn't produce the magic when it counted, against the Germans in the quarterfinals.
All 25 or younger and considered three of the world's best players, they were the World Cup's biggest disappointments.
For Rooney, it seemed a case of fatigue or injury -- he had knee, ankle and groin problems over the last two months of his club season. Whatever the cause, rarely did the 24-year-old Manchester United striker storm past defenders with a typically powerful run after a season in England in which he scored 34 goals to make up for Ronaldo's record transfer to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo's lone goal -- against North Korea in a 7-0 rout -- was little solace for a player hyped in a well-publicized commercial as Portugal's savior.
Even with the captain's armband, the 25-year-old forward did little to inspire his team. He rarely tracked back in defense, lost the ball when dribbling and looked a shadow of the player who was selected as the world's best in 2008.
That title went to Messi last year after he led Barcelona to an historic series of national, European and world club titles, and he continued his stellar performances with an astonishing 47 goals for his team in the 2009-10 season. The 23-year-old forward has often been accused of failing to reproduce his best form for Argentina, and will have done little to erase that charge in South Africa.
Diego Maradona has called Messi his heir apparent. But in his second World Cup, Messi failed to find the target and never conjured the magic of Maradona when his nation needed him, fading out of the match as Argentina was thrashed 4-0 by Germany.
"To see Messi cry in the dressing room, whoever says that he doesn't feel pride for his shirt is stupid," Maradona said.
Rooney, Ronaldo and Messi weren't alone.
From Brazil, there was Kaka. The 28-year-old playmaker was voted the world's best player three years ago, but was coming off a disappointing season after a lucrative move to Real Madrid, forced to play a deeper, more defensive role behind
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