8 Football Legends Who Never Won the World Cup
Portugal’s exit at the 2026 World Cup ends Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for the only major trophy missing from his career. The 41-year-old bowed out in the round of 16 after a 1-0 loss to Spain. Ronaldo now joins seven other all-time greats who dominated club and continental football but never lifted football’s biggest prize. This list spans icons from Johan Cruyff in 1974 to Marco van Basten in 1990. Legends like Paolo Maldini, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Michel Platini and Zico all came agonisingly close yet fell short on the world stage. Their collective stories show that greatness at club level doesn’t always translate into World Cup glory.
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