# The 15 Greatest Players Who Never Won the World Cup

> Finals lost on penalties, semi-final heartbreaks and entire careers of everything-but-the-trophy. Whose empty cabinet shelf hurts the most?

*By YPB Team · Published July 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-15-greatest-players-who-never-won-the-world-cup*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Raúl** — score 1000/1000
   Real Madrid's record legend whose Spain era ended just before their golden run.
2. **Eusébio** — score 900/1000
   The 1966 tournament's top scorer, stopped in the semi-final by England.
3. **Cristiano Ronaldo** — score 877/1000
   Six World Cups, every other major honour won — never the biggest one.
4. **Johan Cruyff** — score 840/1000
   The face of Total Football lost the 1974 final and never lifted the trophy.
5. **Paolo Maldini** — score 800/1000
   Four World Cups and 23 matches for Italy's great defender — no title, retiring before the 2006 win.
6. **Sócrates** — score 692/1000
   The philosopher-captain of the great Brazil teams of 1982 and 1986.
7. **Robert Lewandowski** — score 600/1000
   One of the great No. 9s, whose Poland sides never went deep.
8. **Luka Modrić** — score 491/1000
   Dragged Croatia to the 2018 final and a 2022 semi, then bowed out in 2026 at 40 — still without the trophy.
9. **Alfredo Di Stéfano** — score 360/1000
   Real Madrid's five-time European champion never played a single World Cup match.
10. **George Best** — score 360/1000
   One of the greatest ever — Northern Ireland never gave him a World Cup stage.
11. **Roberto Baggio** — score 360/1000
   Carried Italy to the 1994 final and missed the decisive penalty.
12. **Oliver Kahn** — score 360/1000
   The 2002 Golden Ball goalkeeper whose one final ended in defeat.
13. **Ferenc Puskás** — score 200/1000
   The Mighty Magyars' captain scored in the 1954 final Hungary somehow lost.
14. **Zlatan Ibrahimović** — score 200/1000
   Sweden's greatest modern player never got past the group stages.
15. **Zico** — score 200/1000
   The White Pelé led Brazil's beloved 1982 side that fell to Italy.

Tags: football, players, world cup, legends