5ICONS World Cup LOSING PLAYERS
The G.O.A.Ts, Messi and Ronaldo, have left the building. Here are other great players never to win the World Cup
5
The Mozambique-born Eusebio, was Portugal’s greatest before Cristiano Ronaldo. And at England 1966, he was the star, outshining Pele in their group clash before going on to tearfully lose in the semi-finals to the hosts. But he dusted himself up and led the Portuguese to a third-place finish while grabbing himself the golden boot for his nine strikes as the tournament’s top scorer.
4
This great Brazilian, often nicknamed ‘the white Pele’, played at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups without getting any joy. Zico was named World Player of the Year in 1981 and 1983, and while he was a bit part player when the Selecao finished third at Argentina 78, he was instrumental in that brilliant 1982 team, scoring five goals when Brazil got knocked out in the ‘quartefinals’.
3
That Hungary have never won the World Cup is one of the game’s greatest mysteries. The Magnificent Magyars so dominated football in the 1950s that they were a dead cert to be crowned champions in Switzerland in 1954. But for all his glorious playing talents, Puskas could not get his hands on the Holy Grail, denied in the “Miracle of Berne’ by West Germany.
2
Three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, Platini led France to the 1984 European Championship with eight goals. That success came hot on the heels of France’s appearance in the semi-final of the 1982 World Cup and at Mexico 86 expectations were high that Platini would finally guide Les Bleus to glory. But he tripped in the semi-final once gain, to the same West Germany.
1
He changed the face of football in the early 1970s, being the key man of ‘Total Football’. The 1974 World Cup was meant to be his crowning glory and he duly led the Oranje to the final where they scored the opener before West Germany could even touch the ball – thanks to his magical ball skills that saw him launch a solo run only to be hacked by Uli Hoeness. But they couldn’t hold on and lost 2-1.