'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Since the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, Uruguay, the number of players and countries from across the world competing for a spot in the World Cup has steadily increased.
With 11 venues across Russia hosting all the games during the one-month extravaganza, fans and audiences will flock to the venues to get a glimpse of the most entertaining event in the world.
The 32 participating teams are bound to contain a number of young and talented stars who will look to light the tournament up with their performances. However, at the same time, a number of players must be devasted with missing out on a spot in their respective World Cup squads.
Here we take a look at 3 of the greatest footballers to have never appeared in a FIFA World Cup.
#3 Gareth Bale
With 29 goals in 70 appearances for Wales, Gareth Bale is his country's leading goalscorer. One ahead of Welsh legend Ian Rush, Bale guided his nation to an incredible semi-final run in Euro 2016, losing to eventual winners Portugal.
Bale and co, in the Welsh camp, however, missed out on a spot in Russia and it's been 60 years since the country last competed in the World Cup. The Real Madrid talisman will be devasted to not be part of the tournament and he remains one of the best players to have never competed in a World Cup.
#2 Jari Litmanen
Finland's record goalscorer, Jari Litmanen has attained 137 caps for his country, notching 32 goals. The Finnish attacking midfielder enjoyed an incredible career spanning 23 years and numerous clubs all across Europe. Finland failed to qualify for the World Cup during Jari's glittering career though.
He spent most of his career with Ajax, across two spells, and won the Champions League in 1995 with the club. Having also played at Barcelona and Liverpool for short periods in his career, Litmanen was a technically sound footballer with great ability.
Another great player to have never played in the World Cup, Litmanen, like Bale, largely due to an inexperienced squad, didn't qualify for the grandest tournament of them all.
#1 Sunil Chhetri
Having notched 56 goals in 97 appearances for India, captain Sunil Chhetri is among the top five active goal scorers in the world. Only behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Clint Dempsey, India's captain marvel Chhetri sits in fourth on that list.
India's all-time record goalscorer, Chhetri has never appeared in a World Cup as India have never qualified for the tournament. While the country prepares for next year's Asian Cup, in UAE, it will be India's fourth appearance in the biggest continental competition in Asia.
A quality finisher and top professional, Sunil Chhetri rounds off the list as one of the 3 players who holds the record for being their respective country's top scorer but at the same time has never appeared in a World Cup.
