Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will each have their fifth attempt at winning the elusive and prestigious World Cup, in Qatar this year.
The 2022 Qatar World Cup draws closer and a number of national teams have already arrived in the Middle-East nation in preparation for a battle for the top prize and honors as World Champions.
The stars in this list have seen glory through their individual, club, and country achievements but the World Cup, which is seen by many as the pinnacle of a footballer’s career has always slipped through their hands at the most crucial moment.
Whereas some came close to winning, reaching the final, some could not get that close with their national teams despite being lethal at the club level.
Here is the List of Football Stars in the 2000s era who have never lifted the World Cup;
- Lionel Messi
Messi came closest to winning the World Cup in 2014 when Argentina faced Germany in the final. Heartbreak for arguably the Greatest Of All Time. Fifth time lucky?
- Cristiano Ronaldo
At 37 years, the Portuguese star is still as ambitious as he was as an 18-year-old making his debut for Manchester United. This year he captains the squad full of in-form stars and this could just be his moment.
- David Beckham
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid icon is remembered as a flashy and stylish player. He captained England 52 times winning 35 games.
Famously, Peter Taylor, the interim manager at the time, gave Beckham the armband for the first time on November 15, 2000.
Under the new manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, he continued to wear the captain’s armband and was instrumental in leading England to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, particularly with his last-second free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford, which no England supporter will ever forget.
- Samuel Eto’o
Current President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, the former Barcelona striker guided Barcelona to a historic season in 2009 when the team won its first ‘treble’. In that year Eto’o was fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Success at club level could not be replicated as Cameroon failed to make it out of the group stage in all four World Cup finals in which he played.
- Didier Drogba
Champions League winner with Chelsea in the 2012 final against Bayern Munich. The Cote d’Ivoire striker was the game-changer on that night, securing a late equalizer and scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout to win it for the Premier League giants.
At the national level, Drogba faced similar challenges to Samuel Eto’o. Top quality teammates but a lack of killer instincts, the main undoing.
- Paolo Maldini
The AC Milan legend participated in four World Cups but never won any. He is widely regarded as one of the most consistent left-back in a 24-year career. His best chance was in 1994 when Brazil lost to Italy in the final.
- Michael Ballack
In 2006 Germany hosted the World Cup. Michael Ballack was part of the squad that was defeated by Italy in the quarterfinal. Four years later, Ballack suffered a late-season injury crushing his desire to compete in South Africa.
- Oliver Kahn
The only goalkeeper to win an Adidas Golden Ball at the World Cup, Oliver Kahn was the villain as his mistake led to Ronaldo’s goal and a loss in 2002 final, against Brazil.
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- Luis Suarez
The lethal Uruguayan striker had his most controversial moment at the 2010 World Cup against Ghana in the quarterfinal. The less said about that the better.
Suarez was once LaLiga top scorer, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the 2015/16 Golden Boot. However, with a total tally of seven World Cup goals, similar success has not been achieved with Uruguay.
- Luka Modric
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner led his team to the final against France that same year. He had just won his third Champions League with Real Madrid in May before heading into the World Cup.
Croatia lost 4-2 to France but the veteran midfielder put in a heroic performance.
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