Freddy Adu: Much Adu About Nothing?

David Beckham has come to America. Freddy Adu has left America.

Adu, the American phenom who was among the highest-profile stars of Major League Soccer, has made his debut outside of America. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder made his European debut Tuesday, drawing cheers when he entered as a first-half substitute for Benfica of Portugal during its 2-1 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen.

Adu, one of the highest-profile players in Major League Soccer, got a taste of how hard it is to please Benfica's fans. The team was jeered off the field at halftime.

MLS and Benfica agreed at the end of last month to a $2 million transfer fee for Adu, the U.S. captain at the under-20 World Cup in Canada in July who long sought a move to European soccer. Adu signed with D.C. United in 2003 at 14, becoming the youngest player in MLS history.

Freddy Adu had all of the hype, becoming the youngest player in MLS Soccer History. He was expected by the media to help put MLS on the map. He didn't. He had skills. He had great skills. But his misuse in Washington with D.C. United and his subsequent trade to Real Salt Lake, and then came the announcement that Benfica had acquired him from Real Salt Lake for a $2 Million dollar transfer fee, and now MLS has found a new person that they think can help put American Soccer on the Map. David Beckham.

Adu's experiment lasted four years, but the results left leaving America. David Beckham has left his native England to play Soccer for America. He is also hoping to elevate Soccer on the American Sports Fan's Pedestal, and I hope he does just so he doesn't say "Coming to America to play Soccer was the worst decision I ever made."

David Beckham is on the big stage in America. Freddy Adu is on the big stage in Portugal. Beckham has a bigger stage, with his Hollywood Home and the fact that he lives next he lives next to buddy Tom Cruise, and the fact that the paparazzi will be clamoring for Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham.

Turn The page. Freddy Adu is not here, but David Beckham is. Will Beckham have better results with his team than Adu did with his?