The greatest players who have never won a World Cup: Football legends who missed the biggest trophy

The 2022 FIFA World Cup got here to an finish with the most effective gamers of this technology lastly lifting the trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo was eradicated within the quarter-finals by Portugal. Lionel Messi went all the way with Argentina.

After dropping the 2014 ultimate, Messi corrected the state of affairs as he threw a corset and reworked from the spot in a penalty shootout win over France in 2022.

Whereas Messi could have reached an epic finish, Ronaldo now appears set to finish his profession earlier than he can win the highest prize, and he is not the one legend who could not carry the trophy.

MORE: 2022 World Cup prize money

The perfect gamers who’ve by no means received the World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo

Regardless of showing in 5 consecutive World Cups and scoring objectives, Ronaldo is poised to finish his worldwide profession with out profitable the trophy he most wishes.

The Portuguese striker got here in probably the most in 2006, and 2022 was most likely his final event.

World Cup tournaments: 5
World Cup matches: 22
World Cup objectives: 8
Greatest World Cup end: 4th on the 2006 World Cup.

George Weah

Weah is the one African participant to win the Ballon d’Or by lifting the well-known particular person trophy in 1995. Reaching spectacular numbers at AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Weah is taken into account one of many best African footballers of all time. and Monaco.

Not solely did Weah win the World Cup, he by no means even performed there.

Representing Liberia from the age of 19, Weah’s solely event motion got here within the African Cup of Nations. Liberia got here closest to qualifying in 2002, once they missed one level behind Nigeria.

World Cup tournaments: 0
World Cup matches: 0
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: no

Eric Cantona

The World Cup venue is empty in Cantona’s trophy cupboard for a really completely different cause than Weah’s.

In his greatest years at Manchester United, Cantona’s France coach Aime Jacquet refused to incorporate him within the squad.

Cantona mentioned that if he had not been expelled from the nationwide workforce since then, he would have prolonged his appearing profession and would have certified for the 1998 World Cup, which France received at house.

World Cup tournaments: 0
World Cup matches: 0
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: No

paolo maldini

Maldini is an Italian soccer icon.

Recognized for his dominating, very smart defensive shows and his power to progress on the pitch, the left-back has an astonishing house document along with his solely membership, AC Milan.

A seven-time Italian champion and three-time UEFA Champions League champion, Maldini’s membership profession spanned 24 years, with 901 appearances in all competitions.

Maldini has appeared in 4 World Cups for his nation and made 23 video games, making him the third-most participant in historical past.

Regardless of his 4 bites, the legendary defender was by no means capable of carry the trophy. After asserting his worldwide retirement in 2002 following Italy’s departure from the Spherical of 16, he declined to be known as as much as the 2006 World Cup squad.

Italy went on to win the event. “I mentioned no to the decision in 2006 they usually received. I suppose it was destiny,” Maldini informed The Solar.

World Cup tournaments: 4
World Cup matches: 23
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: 2nd within the 1994 World Cup.

Kevin Keegan

Maybe extra well-known now for crashing into billboards at Anfield or for his passionate ranting at Sir Alex Ferguson throughout his time as Newcastle United supervisor, Keegan was an excellent soccer participant within the Nineteen Seventies and ’80s.

He’s the one Briton to win multiple Ballon d’Or, taking the celebrated particular person award in 1978 and 1979. He has since raised just one Briton – Michael Owen in 2001.

Keegan’s type got here at a surprising time to develop into an England participant. The Three Lions didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 1974 and 1978, the pivotal section of Keegan’s profession. When England certified in 1982, Keegan suffered from a severe again harm and was solely capable of play as soon as.

World Cup tournaments: one
World Cup matches: one
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: Second group stage of the 1982 World Cup

Marco van Basten

The legendary Dutch ahead is likely one of the best examples of expertise interrupted by harm.

The Dutchman units notable goalscoring information at membership degree with Ajax and AC Milan, and was the participant of the event at Euro 1988 when the Netherlands lifted the trophy.

However when it got here to the World Cups, he was much less profitable. Van Basten, who didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 1982 and 1986, failed to attain within the 1990 World Cup.

He lastly introduced his retirement in 1995 after two full seasons on the sidelines.

World Cup tournaments: one
World Cup matches: 4
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: Spherical of 16 on the 1990 World Cup

Lev Yashin

Thought of the best goalkeeper of all time, Yashin is the one goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or.

Often called the “black spider” due to his all-dark goalie outfits, the participant has performed in 4 World Cups for the Soviet Union. Yashin revolutionized the artwork of goalkeeping by providing a extra dynamic and dominating fashion of play.

He performed his total native profession from 1950 to 1970 for Dynamo Moscow.

World Cup tournaments: 4
World Cup matches: 13
World Cup clear sheets: 4
Greatest World Cup end: 4th place in 1966 World Cup held in England

George Greatest

Outdoors of Belfast, Northern Eire, Greatest is acknowledged as one of many best footballers in historical past. He lifted each the European Cup and the Ballon d’Or in 1968.

His 11 years at Manchester United had been adopted by irregular assignments at 17 completely different soccer golf equipment, from South Africa to Hong Kong.

His profession got here to a tragic and sudden finish after years of struggling by the hands of alcoholism.

Northern Eire has solely certified for 3 World Cups to date, with Greatest not main his nation to a event in his profession.

World Cup tournaments: 0
World Cup matches: 0
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: No

Michel Platinum

Platini is arguably France’s greatest participant of all time. The three Ballon d’Ors he acquired back-to-back in 1983, 1984 and 1985 communicate for themselves.

Taking part in for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus, Platini is likely one of the high goalscorer midfielders in historical past.

In 1984, Platini captained his nation to win the European Championship at house, however solely two years later fell to the semi-finals of the World Cup held in Mexico.

World Cup tournaments: 3
World Cup matches: 14
World Cup objectives: 5
Greatest World Cup end: third within the 1986 World Cup.

Alfredo Di Stefano

Di Stefano’s brilliance will be summed up in only a few statistics.

His 308 objectives for Actual Madrid are solely scratching the floor of an unimaginable soccer profession.

The ahead has received eight Spanish league titles and 5 consecutive UEFA Champions League titles.

His worldwide profession was odd. He returned to Spain in 1957 after FIFA banned him from representing Argentina once more after two video games for Colombia.

Given the Argentine participant strikes and private bans, Di StEfano has not appeared in any of the World Cups.

World Cup tournaments: 0
World Cup matches: 0
World Cup objectives: 0
Greatest World Cup end: no

Johan Cruyff

Along with being one of many best gamers in historical past, Cruyff’s affect on fashionable gaming is big.

As a participant, the Dutchman has received three Ballon d’Ors, three European Membership Championships and 9 Dutch titles.

As a supervisor, he led Barcelona to 4 consecutive La Liga titles in addition to the Champions League title in 1992. Cruyff’s ‘whole soccer’ prioritized technical over physicality, and his affect is especially seen in his apprentice, Pep Guardiola.

A soccer genius and notable man, Cruyff failed to realize the largest victory in 1974 when the Netherlands misplaced to West Germany within the World Cup ultimate.