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Footballers live a life that other people wish they could. With their lavish lifestyle accompanied by the superstar stars, these men are treated like kings.
Footballers have a massive fan following. People idolise these men and often try to emulate their practices. With all that said, it won’t be wrong to say that the footballers have it all.
All the happiness in the world, every luxury, the feeling is genuinely special.
But sometimes few things stay eluded from our lives. We crave something so much that all the glory, all the happiness, everything just seems pale in front of that missing piece.
There are few men in football who have their name crafted in the history books. Today we present you 5 acrimonious player-trophy relationships. These 5 players will always be considered as some of the greatest ever to play the game but a missing medal from their glorious trophy cabinet surely haunts them.
Gianluigi Buffon- UEFA Champions League
There are few facts more amusing than how did Gianluigi Buffon not won the elusive champions league trophy! A serial winner who has done it all, a legend in every form of the game! Buffon’s legacy shall remain forever courtesy of his legendary records.
Often considered as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Buffon has a plethora of records to his name. Individual honours, team trophies, you name it and Buffon has done it all except one, UEFA Champions League!
A man who has aged like a fine wine, Buffon played with heart and soul throughout his storybook career. He played a major role in Italy’s historic triumph in 2006 as Azzurri claimed their 4th world title in Germany.
Buffon’s achievements at club level have been tremendous as well considering. The legendary goalie has won it all in Italy including numerous Serie A & Coppa Italia cups
Buffon has come close to the prestigious trophy thrice; losing out to Milan in 2003, Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.
The football world wishes to see the former Italian skipper lift the elusive UCL trophy but with his good days at the top level behind, this might go down one of the saddest stories in the history of club football.
#4 Steven Gerrard- English Premier League
A big game player, who was always on his best on big nights, Steven Gerrard is a legend of the game in all senses. The Englishman played all his life for Liverpool and is widely regarded as their greatest player of all time.
At Liverpool, Gerrard has done it all! Historic nights coupled with scintillating trophy wins, Gerrard has had a storybook career and his place in the history books is nothing but confirmed. What made Gerrard so special was his influence on moments when Liverpool direly needed a man to step up and take responsibility, a man who could drive the entire team with his energy and desire! From his awe-inspiring performance in Istanbul to his brilliance in Cardiff, Steven Gerrard was a bonafide legend.
There is one amusing fact on Gerrard's highly impressive resume. The former England skipper spent all his life at Anfield and it is hard to digest the fact that Gerrard couldn't get his hands on the elusive English Premier League trophy. It is strange to witness a player so talented, so motivated and so much respected not being on the Premier League winners list but here we are as Gerrard's legendary career stands aloof of the league title.
#3 Andres Iniesta- Ballon D'or
Whenever the award for best player in the world is being discussed, many names pop up. In all those names, one name stands for being the unlucky one. The name which should’ve been on the winners' list! And the name is none other than Andres Iniesta.
Iniesta is probably one of the most gifted footballers of all time. A two-footed magician who has the ability to change the game with a moment of brilliance, Andres Iniesta has impressed the world on one too many occasions. From his famous goal against The Netherlands in South Africa, a goal which brought the FIFA World Cup to Spain for the very first time in their history, to his sensational display against Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, Andres has been one of the best players in the world over the past decade or so and it is due to his brilliance that Barcelona and Spain have won so many trophies.
#2 Ronaldo Nazario- UEFA Champions League
There have been few men as potent, as lethal as Ronaldo Nazario. The Brazilian was a certified champion who never failed to impress. A commendable footwork, scintillating speed, uncomparable goal-scoring ability and a solid character, Ronaldo is often considered as one of the greatest of all time.
The Brazilian is one of the most decorated players of his generation and has numerous record to his name. The former Real Madrid hitman had a special liking to scoring at the World Cup, a prestigious trophy he has won twice and finished with the runners-up medal on 2 occasions. His record of 15 goals was broken by Miroslav Klose, a legend in his own right, who scored goals for fun at the World Cup.
Ronaldo claimed the FIFA Player of The Year trophy on 3 occasions during his illustrious career. The Brazilian played for some of the greatest clubs in the world ranging from AC Milan, Inter Milan to Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is fair to say Ronaldo proved to be a great signing for every club he ever played for and if it wasn't for injuries, Ronaldo's career would've lasted much longer.
Looking at Ronaldo's legendary resume, one glaring absence is noticed. The Brazilian played for some gigantic clubs in Europe and it might seem that he must have bagged many UCL medals but that's where football surprises us. Having donned famous shirts like that of Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan & Inter Milan, Ronaldo played in numerous Champions League seasons but never got his hands on the prestigious trophy.
#1 Lionel Messi- Fifa World Cup
5 Ballon d'Ors, 4-time Champions League winner, 9 LaLiga titles, 3-time FIFA Club World Cup winner and the list goes on and on! A trophy cabinet one dreams of, Lionel Messi is a bonafide legend whose place in the history books is nothing but confirmed. Putting Lionel Messi’s incredible career in words might take some doing considering the fact that the little Argentinian is often considered the greatest player of all time.
Of all Lionel Messi’s achievements, there is one major championship missing and that is the FIFA World Cup.
When Argentina faced Germany in the final of 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the whole world went berserk as they hoped it to be the day when Lionel Messi replicates what Maradona did years back in 1986.
There is no doubt in Messi being one of the greatest of all-time, some might say he is the greatest of all-time but the missing World Cup winner’s medal tells a different story.
