The FIFA World Cup is the most coveted trophy in the most popular sport on the planet, but even some of the greatest footballers to grace the game have fallen short of lifting it.Â
One such player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has played his last ever game in the competition after Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 on Monday.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has won every honour under the sun, from Premier League and UEFA Champions League to the European Championship and Ballon d’Or.
But the 41-year-old will never get his hands on the golden chalice following six failed attempts. He’s not the only legendary player to miss out, though.
Five of the best players to never win the FIFA World Cup:
Johan Cruyff – Netherlands
One of the most influential figures in the history of football, Johan Cruyff has a skill and two stadiums named after him. He won a multitude of trophies over a long and illustrious career, but never the World Cup.
Cruyff and Netherlands came close in 1974, reaching the final in West Germany, but lost 2-1 despite taking a very early lead. They reached the final again four years later, but without their star man, who retired from international football in 1977 after he and his family were subject to a kidnap attempt in Barcelona.
After his playing career ended altogether, Cruyff enjoyed a successful managerial career, leading Barça to their first ever Champions League title. But he never got the chance to manage the Dutch national team, perhaps due to internal politics, before dying in 2016 aged 68.
Read – Remembering Johan Cruyff’s iconic Barcelona Dream Team
Alfredo Di Stefano – Argentina & Spain
Despite representing three different countries in his career, Alfredo Di Stefano never even played at a World Cup.
The Real Madrid legend, who won five European Cups with Los Blancos, won six caps for Argentina, but was banned by FIFA for making four appearances for an unsanctioned Colombia XI. Colombia were banned from international football at the time.
When Di Stefano acquired Spanish citizenship in 1956, FIFA reversed the ban they had laced on him and allowed him to represent Spain. At the age of 31, he helped them qualify for the 1962 World Cup, but injury cruelly denied him the opportunity to play in the tournament in Chile.
Read – It took Cristiano Ronaldo 20 years to score this World Cup goal
Paolo Maldini – Italy
Often held up as the exemplar of a perfect defender, Paolo Maldini was a one club man who won the Champions League five times with AC Milan.
The Italian was part of the Azzurri team that reached the semi-finals on home soil in 1990, and played a key role in their run to the World Cup final in 1994, when they suffered heartbreak against Brazil, losing on penalties following a goalless draw.
Italy were eliminated via shootout for a third consecutive time in 1998 and bowed out in the round of 16 in 2002, Maldini’s final tournament before retiring from international football.
Read – Defensive Rocks: Paolo Maldini – Milan’s Il Capitano
Ferenc Puskas – Hungary
One of the all-time greatest footballers, Ferenc Puskas almost led Hungary to World Cup glory in 1954.
Then considered the best team in international football, the Mighty Magyars reached the final against West Germany in Switzerland. The thrilling encounter featured four goals in the opening 18 minutes, but was decided by a late goal from German forward Helmut Rahn in a 3-2 victory.
It was the last time that great Hungary side played at a World Cup together, as many of the players fled the country after the Hungarian Revolution was defeated. Puskas refused to return to his homeland and ended up in Spain, where he played for Real Madrid.
The forward went on to win three European Cups and become a naturalised citizen of Spain. He played four times for the national team, three of which came at the 1962 World Cup.
Read –Â Ronaldo puts retirement on the long finger following World Cup failure
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
No player has had more attempts at winning the World Cup than Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the record for most tournament participations (6) jointly with Lionel Messi and Guillermo Ochoa.
Portugal came closest to winning the competition during the Ronaldo era in 2006, when they were beaten in the semi-finals by France. In the five times since then, they have reached the round of 16 three times, quarter-finals once and exited at the group stage once.
World Cup Day 26 Recap – Ronaldo bows out as Belgium thrash USA
See Also – Five world-class players who never featured at a World Cup
