Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
13 Famous Football Players Who Have Never Won a FIFA World Cup
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a light green Portugal national team training top, jogs on a soccer field before a FIFA 2018 qualification match. Johan Cruyff of the New York Cosmos in mid-action on the soccer field, about to kick the ball as a goalkeeper dives in front of him. Hungarian hero Eusebio of Benfica sprints with the ball past AC Milan's Giovanni Trapatoni during the European Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with spectators in the background. Alfredo Di Stéfano Michel Platini in a black and white Juventus jersey holds the Ballon d'Or trophy on the field at Stadio Comunale in Turin, with spectators visible in the background. Roberto Baggio of the Italy national football team in a blue jersey runs with the ball during the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final match against the Brazil national football team at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 17, 1994. Manchester United great David Beckham of Real Madrid in a white uniform dribbles a soccer ball during a match, with an opposing RCD Espanyol player behind him on the field. Lev Yashin holds the Golden Ball trophy above his head while standing with Soviet soccer teammates in uniforms marked CCCP, in a stadium, 1964.
Quick Facts
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
print Print
Please select which sections you would like to print:
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Cristiano Ronaldo in a light green Portugal national team training top, jogging on the field before a FIFA 2018 qualification game.
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 2018.

13 Famous Football Players Who Have Never Won a FIFA World Cup

Soccer’s ultimate honor has eluded these stars
Written by
Andrew Pereira
Andrew Pereira is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He covers a variety of topics, with a focus on Indian politics, foreign policy, and global affairs.
Andrew Pereira
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

In many ways football (soccer) is a game of luck just as it is a game of skill, technical mastery, and team play. A single injury, a missed penalty, a controversial red card, or a moment of sheer brilliance from the opposing team can determine the performance of a player, no matter how talented. And so it has been that some of the most famous exponents of football have never won a FIFA World Cup, the grandest stage of the sport.

Here is Britannica’s list of 13 famous football players who have never won a World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Tears rolled down Cristiano Ronaldo’s face as he walked toward the dressing room after Portugal’s shocking loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It was a heartbreaking moment that reminded the world what winning football’s greatest prize means for a player who has won almost everything else there is to be won in football. The 2026 edition of the tournament was Ronaldo’s last chance at World Cup glory—but it was not to be. Portugal were knocked out by eventual champions Spain in the round of 16, ending hope that Ronaldo, 41 at the time, would ever win the title.

Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)

1 of 3

A sudden flick of the ball and a turn that left the defender off-balance. It was the iconic “Cruyff Turn,” a move that captured the Dutch maestro’s brilliance and showmanship at the 1974 World Cup. A three-time Ballon d’Or winner, he became the face of “total football,” a philosophy that emphasized creative gameplay and attacking. Cruyff came painfully close to winning the World Cup when he guided the Netherlands to the 1974 final but lost 2–1 to champions West Germany.

Ferenc PuskĂĄs (Hungary)

Once upon a time (during the 1940s and ’50s) Hungary was a footballing powerhouse, and it was a treat for fans to watch Ferenc Puskás’s sheer dominance with a football. An Olympic gold medalist with Hungary in 1952, he was one of football’s most elegant finishers, scoring about 600 goals during his career. Yet the World Cup eluded him. Puskás and the “Magical Magyars” were on the verge of winning their first World Cup in 1954, when West Germany sprang a sudden comeback to defeat Hungary 3–2 in the final.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.

SUBSCRIBE
Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas
shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art
Mobile

Eusébio (Portugal)

1 of 3

EusĂ©bio was one of football’s most prolific finishers, blending pace with goal scoring. A Ballon d’Or winner in 1965, he scored more than 700 career goals, but the World Cup trophy ultimately escaped him. He guided Portugal to a third-place finish in the 1966 World Cup and emerged as the tournament’s top scorer.

Alfredo Di Stéfano (Argentina and Spain)

Alfredo Di StĂ©fano was one of football’s first complete forwards, combining goal scoring, movement, and creativity. He transformed Real Madrid into one of Europe’s best clubs, winning five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960. He also played on the national teams of both Argentina and Spain. However, he never played in a single World Cup because of a mix of bad luck and political reasons. Argentina withdrew from the 1950 World Cup, Spain failed to qualify in 1958, and injury kept Di StĂ©fano out of the 1962 tournament. And 1954? FIFA ruled Di StĂ©fano out for having played in Colombia’s unrecognized league.

Michel Platini (France)

1 of 3

Michel Platini, who was one of the greatest attacking midfielders to grace the game, never managed to win a World Cup despite representing his national team in the 1978, ’82, and ’86 editions. He did, however, captain France to victory at the 1984 European Championship and won three Ballon d’Ors.

Roberto Baggio (Italy)

As Roberto Baggio stepped up to take a penalty kick for Italy in the 1994 final, the country’s dreams of a fourth World Cup rested on his shoulders. After he missed the shot and Brazil won the World Cup, the unsuccessful penalty became synonymous with Italy’s defeat. Baggio was one of the best strikers of his generation; he had flair, charisma, and goal-scoring ability. Yet the defining image of his career became a missed penalty, which left fans wondering what might have been.

Zico (Brazil)

An attacking midfielder with great vision, Zico was renowned for his dribbling and long-range goals. He was part of the iconic 1982 Brazil team, which many pundits predicted would win that year’s World Cup. It was not to be. Zico and Brazil dazzled and danced their way into the second group stage, where they lost 3–2 to Italy.

Paolo Maldini (Italy)

Paolo Maldini turned defending into an art form. He relied on composure and anticipation rather than reckless tackles to retrieve the ball. Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest defenders, Maldini was part of the same Italy side as Roberto Baggio that narrowly lost the 1994 World Cup final on penalties to Brazil.

George Best (Northern Ireland)

1 of 4

An entertainer to the core, George Best thrilled fans with his dribbling, flair, and unpredictability. A Ballon d’Or winner in 1968 and a legend at Manchester United, he never had the opportunity to play in a World Cup, as Northern Ireland never qualified for the tournament during his career.

David Beckham (England)

With a penchant for scoring curling free kicks and providing pinpoint passes, David Beckham became one of England’s most iconic players. He played for England in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups, captaining the team in the latter two tournaments. Despite several memorable moments, including his famous free kick against Greece that secured England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup, he never managed to lift football’s greatest prize.

Lev Ivanovich Yashin (Soviet Union)

Lev Ivanovich Yashin revolutionized goalkeeping during the 1960s with his quick reflexes and willingness to come off his line. He led the Soviet Union to victory at the 1960 European Championship and, as of 2026, remains the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or. However, Yashin could not add the World Cup trophy to his cabinet. The closest he came was at the 1966 World Cup, when the Soviet Union reached the semifinals before losing 2–1 to West Germany.

Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)

An entertainer, Zlatan Ibrahimović used his towering physicality and athleticism to score some of football’s most spectacular goals. From stunning volleys and bicycle kicks to long-range screamers, Ibrahimović was one of the most complete strikers of the ball. He played for clubs such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United from the early 2000s to the early 2020s and was the face of Swedish football during this period. However, Sweden never managed to make a deep World Cup run during his career.

Honorable Mentions
Andrew Pereira