5 current world class players yet to win a major international trophy

arjen robben netherlands
Arjen Robben is one of the greatest Dutch players ever

Football is a funny game. The beautiful game is blessed with some astonishing players who have wowed and amazed audiences with some silky skills, mazy dribbles and stunning goals. Although these players might have won every trophy possible with their clubs, success in international football always seems to elude these superstars.

With the Copa America Centenario and Euros going on, some of these superstars have a chance to right this fact in the two major international tournaments this summer. We take a look at 5 world class players who have are yet to win a major international trophy.

#5 Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

Arjen Robben is one of the most talented players to have played for Netherlands in the recent years. The pacy Dutch winger has had plenty of success in his club career winning league titles at Chelsea, PSV, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Robben has been one of the best footballers in the last 5 years, even finishing 4th on the Ballon d’Or list in 2014.

However, his international career has not been very successful. The pacy Dutchman has played in 6 major international tournaments and has failed to win the trophy on all 6 occasions. Although they were agonisingly close to the World Cup title in 2010 against Spain, Robben suffered heartbreak when Iniesta scored an extra-time winner to deny Robben and Netherlands.

The former Real Madrid man has been the standout performer for his national side in most of these international tournaments, but somehow the trophy has always eluded him. With Netherlands failing to make it to the Euros this time, time might just be running out for this Dutch legend to win a major international trophy.

#4 Wayne Rooney (England)

wayne rooney england
Wayne Rooney will be looking to lead England to the Euro 2016 title

When Wayne Rooney burst onto the international scene in 2004, everyone thought that he would be the man to end England’s long trophy drought. However, after participating in three World Cups and two Euros, Rooney is yet to inspire the three lions to a major international trophy.

With 52 goals in 111 appearances for England, Rooney has been a great servant for English football, but he has somehow always failed to live upto expectations in the World Cups and Euros. Although many people were questioning Rooney’s credibility to start for England in Euro 2016, Roy Hodgson has shown great faith in him making him the captain of this young England side.

With Rooney 30 now, he knows that time is running out on his international career and he will be hoping to lead this young England side to glory in Euro 2016. The Manchester United man is a great fighter and he will be looking to prove his critics wrong once again.

#3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)

zlatan ibrahimovic sweden
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is probably the greatest Swedish player of all time

34-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already announced that this edition of the Euros is most likely going to be his last one and this will be the Swede’s last chance to have a major impact in an international tournament. A multiple league winner, Zlatan picked up yet another Ligue 1 title with PSG as he bid farewell to Paris.

For all his talk about being one of the best ever to play the game, his team have often let him down and the pressure to perform for the national side will weigh more on the shoulders of the 34-year-old striker. The Swede however, will have to be at his very best if Sweden are to qualify from their Euro group containing Belgium, Italy and Ireland.

Although Zlatan is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world, the lack of quality in rest of the Sweden squad might mean that the charismatic striker will end his career without a single international trophy.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

cristiano ronaldo portugal
Ronaldo is the captain of the Portugese national team

One of the two stand out footballers of this generation along with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to play the beautiful game. Ronaldo’s goal scoring exploits have been mind boggling. He is able to play on either wing as well through the center of the pitch, making him a versatile attacker, capable of playing in any offensive position.

Ronaldo is known to be mentally sharp, with good vision and positioning, often predicting certain plays. He also possesses quick reactions, balance, and agility. Having a burning desire to be the best, Ronaldo has worked hard to hone his undoubtedly prodigious talent and become one of the greatest players ever to grace this game.

The legendary Portuguese superstar has won every trophy club football has to offer and he will be hoping to inspire his national team to the Euro 2016 title.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina)

lionel messi argentina sad
Messi’s Argentina are the favourites to win the Copa America Centenario

Lionel Messi has won every individual and club prize there is to win. A player who is capable of singlehandedly winning matches for his country, Lionel Messi, apart from a solitary Olympic Gold medal has failed to win a major international trophy with the Albiceleste.

The Barcelona superstar has suffered heartbreak plenty of times in international tournaments narrowly missing out on the World Cup in 2014 and the Copa America in 2015. Blessed with a magical left foot and capable of going past the opposition defence in a blink of an eye, Messi is one of the greatest players of all time.

5 time Ballon d’Or winner, 4 time Champions League winner, 8 La Liga titles, Lionel Messi has just one thing missing in his career and it is a major international trophy. With Argentina favourites to win this Copa edition, Messi will be looking to finally get the monkey off his back.

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Edited by Staff Editor