Was watching a Roberto Baggio highlights video today and of course remembered that penalty, and got to thinking who are the best players never to have won a world cup. 

There are probably lots of great great players that never even came close, george weah of the top of my head, and shcmicale, for me the the best goal keeper of all time but in all honesty they where never going to get that close giving their respective countrys, so I'm thinking of players who play for teams that should have been there or there  about's come the semi final/ final stage.

 

for me the ones that stand out are: 

 

Roberto (as mentioned)

Gullit & Van Bastan from that dutch out fit that had won the 88 euro's only two years prior.

Begkamp in 98 was top two best players in the world at that point in my opinion. 

I'd include Gaza as i genuinely believe that if England went through against West Germany they beat Argentina in the final 

Paulo Maldini - should have been involved in 2006

 

A bit before my time you would have to include Platini and Cruyf 

 

And I'm pretty sure that Messi will be added to that list in years to come.

 

I wouldn't be inclined to include Ronaldo because he hasn't really had the team around him that would make you think Portugal are a force.

 

Any others?

 

 

If you're just talking about people who came close;

 

Ballack, dragged one of the weakest German sides in history to the 2002 final, scoring the only goals in their QF/SF games, only to get suspended and his team to get trounced by Ronny, Dinho, Romario & co in the final without him. Then getting knocked out in 2006 in the semi vs Italy with goals in the 118th/120th minute.

 

Robben, getting his team to the final in 2010 only to lose in the 120th minute, and the semi in 2014 getting knocked out on penalties.

 

Figo losing in the 2006 semi to a Zidane penalty?

 

Raul and Hierro getting knocked out by Korea in 2002?

 

Can't think of anymore from the last 20 or so years.

Not sure it falls in to the category but Jimmy Greaves of course didnt play the final in 66.

 

There are a few italians so agree with Baggio ... also our own Vialli was suposed to make a big impact in Italia 90 but didn't.... Christian Vieri I always liked too and you could argue Zola.

 

And didnt Henry miss out on the French squad that won ? or did he get a medal I can't remember.

Edited October 16, 201411 yr by andy

Cristiano Ronaldo, yeah he's not retired yet but let's face it, he's never going to win it. Portugal are pretty sh*te.

 

Pavel Nedved is another, he also never won a Champions League.

Edited October 16, 201411 yr by Scott Harris

Dutch team of 1974. Here's a few of that team: Cruyff, Krol, Neeskens, Rep.

 

I know they didn't reach the Semi-final but Socrates and Zico of Brazil in 1982.

Not sure it falls in to the category but Jimmy Greaves of course didnt play the final in 66.

There are a few italians so agree with Baggio ... also our own Vialli was suposed to make a big impact in Italia 90 but didn't.... Christian Vieri I always liked too and you could argue Zola.

And didnt Henry miss out on the French squad that won ? or did he get a medal I can't remember.

Henry played, anelka missed out.

Did greevs get a medal ? Was he invovled in the tornament at all ?

Henry played, anelka missed out.

Did greevs get a medal ? Was he invovled in the tornament at all ?

Don't think Greaves got a medal. Even though he was in the squad and played in earlier games I think the FIFA rule at the time was that only players who played in the final received medals. Think the rule changed at the World Cup in 1970 but might be wrong.

Eusebio of course but could be argued that Portugal have never been real contenders ?

Just popped into my head as like Eusebio has sadly recently passed away..... Di Stefano played for Argentina and Spain

George Best

Jim Baxter

Peter Osgood

Jimmy Greaves

Johann Cruyff

Lev Yashin

Eusebio

Ruud Gullit

Luigi Riva

Glen Hoddle

Jimmy Johnstone

Dave Mackay...

John Charles. He would have won one in 1958, but The Hungarians kicked him out of the tournament just before Wales lost 1-0 to Brazil in the QF. They went on to smash France 5-2 in the SF and Sweden 5-2 in the final, so it seems pretty obvious to me that Wales would have beaten Brazil with a fit John Charles and then gone on to cruise the SF and final, just as Brazil did.

George Best

Jim Baxter

Peter Osgood

Jimmy Greaves

Johann Cruyff

Lev Yashin

Eusebio

Ruud Gullit

Luigi Riva

Glen Hoddle

Jimmy Johnstone

Dave Mackay...

You just love lists! George Best for me too.

Di Stefano's the absolute first one to have popped into my head, surely the best of the bunch. Cruyff, Platini, Eusebio, Best are other obvious ones, Puskas is one that I'm surprised BlueBeard didn't add.

 

Will add more later when I can think a bit more clearly...

You just love lists! George Best for me too.

Ah yes, I do love a list! :-)

Just reeled off those names as I was too tired to add my reasons

Di Stefano's the absolute first one to have popped into my head, surely the best of the bunch. Cruyff, Platini, Eusebio, Best are other obvious ones, Puskas is one that I'm surprised BlueBeard didn't add.

 

Will add more later when I can think a bit more clearly...

Yeah, Puskas is just one of many I overlooked. In my defence I was totally knackered when I made that list :-)

Drogba.

Landon Donovan.....

 

But seriously:

 

Clarence Seedorf

Patrick Kluivert

Edgar Davids

Just Fontaine

Delio Onnis (never even played internationally, have no idea why)

Carlos Bianchi

Jean-Pierre Papin

 

And I guess, for me, Zlatan and maybe Henrik Larsson are in that same category as Cristiano. (Not saying that Larsson is as good as either but I think if he had been born in Germany or Italy, he'd have won one)

All-time XI of players who never won it? Leaving Messi and Ronaldo out of the equation for the moment...

 

Yashin

 

Zanetti - Santamaria - Figueroa - Facchetti/Maldini (toss-up)

 

Rijkaard

 

Best - Di Stefano - Cruyff

 

Eusebio - Puskas

 

Obviously very unbalanced but it was necessary to fit all those attacking players in. Tough to leave Platini out but there's no chance he's getting in ahead of Di Stefano, likewise with van Basten and Eusebio or Puskas. Neeskens for Rijkaard is possible though.

^ Best team not to win it has to be:

Grosics - Buzánszky, Lóránt, Lantos - Bozsik, Zakariás - Budai, Kocsis, Hidegkuti, Puskás, Czibor

;)

Me

I'm shocked non of you have mentioned Nicklas Bendtner

Cristiano Ronaldo, yeah he's not retired yet but let's face it, he's never going to win it. Portugal are pretty sh*te.

 

Pavel Nedved is another, he also never won a Champions League.

 

yeah.. indeed and he lost a huge opportunity to win an Euro Cup in 2004

Not sure it falls in to the category but Jimmy Greaves of course didnt play the final in 66.

My Dad says (fwiw :-)) that Greaves is hands down the best player he ever saw. I wish I'd seen him play. Good call Andy.

Surprised no-one has mentioned Makelele. One of the best to never have won one for me. Not part of the 1998 squad.

Edited November 11, 201411 yr by RichardCFC

Ballack, dragged one of the weakest German sides in history to the 2002 final, scoring the only goals in their QF/SF games, only to get suspended and his team to get trounced by Ronny, Dinho, Romario & co in the final without him. Then getting knocked out in 2006 in the semi vs Italy with goals in the 118th/120th minute.

 

This still hurts. Not only for Ballack, but for others like Lehmann, Frings, etc.

 

Thanks for bringing up the pain.