Football Facts: Top 10 list of fantastic footballers who have NEVER won a major international trophy...Guess who tops list?

 

10) Roberto Baggio: Italy - Agonisingly close to the Ultimate Prize   

Some truly fantastic footballers have been agonisingly close to winning major honours with their country, so here are 10 of the best players beginning with Baggio. He is one of Italy’s greatest ever players and fired his side into the 1994 World Cup final in America, but missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Brazil.

9) Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal – A narrow miss in 2004 

Ronaldo, like his compatriot Luis Figo, will feel like he should have a European Championship winners medal. His Portugal side, who also boasted Deco, Pauleta as well as captain Figo, were stunned by Greece in the 2004 final in their home country.

8) Michael Ballack: Germany – Many times the loser 

He dragged Germany to the 2002 World Cup final, but a suspension in the semi-final forced him to watch from the stands as Brazil triumphed 2-0. He was captain in 2008 when Spain beat Germany in the European Championship final, while at club level he was twice the runner-up in the Champions League, with Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea. He did win six major club honours at Bayern Munich, however, as well as the League Cup and three FA Cups.

7) Paul Gascoigne: England – So close yet so far in 1990 and 1996 

Gazza was incredible at Italia ’90 in the middle of the park, though England were eliminated in the semi-final by West Germany. Six years later at the Euros, the Three Lions were booted again by Germany in the last four. In the game, Gascoigne was inches from tapping tapping in the Golden Goal in extra-time.

6) Luis Figo: Portugal – The golden boy in the ‘Golden Generation’ that included Rui Costa and Paulo Sousa fall short 

Figo has won the World Cup, though it was the 1991 U20 edition, while he was a runner-up in the 1994 U21 European Championship. Since becoming a senior player, however, he captained the side that lost to Greece in the Euro 2004 final and was still there when they lost to France in the 2006 World Cup semi-final.

5) Michael Laudrup: Denmark – The Great Dane quit at the wrong time 

Franz Beckenbauer once said of Laudrup: “In the 1960s, the best player was Pele; in the 1970s, it was Cruyff; in the 1980s, it was Maradona; and in the 1990s, it’s Laudrup.” He was a genuine superstar of the game, but Denmark fell short in the 1986 World Cup and when they won Euro ’92, the Dane had retired from international football during qualifying. He had to settle for five Liga titles, a European Cup and an Italian Serie A crown.

4) Paolo Maldini: Italy – A World Cup and European Championship final but no trophy! 

He lost on penalties in 1994 to World Cup winners Brazil and to France via the Golden Goal six years later in Euro 2000. He was retired from international football when Italy were victorious in the 2006 World Cup.

3) Johan Cruyff: The Netherlands – Trophies galore but not with his country 

He dazzled at the 1974 World Cup, but Cruyff’s only World Cup appearance ended in disappointment, as the Netherlands were beaten by West Germany in the final. What he lacked on the international stage, though, he made up for with three European Cups and nine Dutch titles. He also won the European Cup as manager of Barcelona, along with four titles

2) Ferenc Puskas: Hungary – A football great whose side just fell short on the international front Hungary, with Puskas, dominated football in the 1950s. Having won Olympic gold in 1952, they arrived at the 1954 World Cup undeafeated in four years. In the final, Hungary went 2-0 up, but were eventually beaten by West Germany 3-2.

1) Lionel Messi: Argentina 

Is this about to change? Yes, Messi won Olympic gold with Argentina, but that is an age group tournament and a senior winner’s medal still eludes arguably the greatest player ever to kick a ball. But, at time of writing, he is still in with a shout of helping Argentina win the 2015 Copa America. However, Messi has a golden chance to break the jinx if Argentina could win the on-going COPA America competition. Following the recent struggle winning even against lower teams, can we say they are on course to be crowned winner?