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#3 Johan Cruyff
Country: Netherlands
World Cups played: 1974
Best finish: Second place, 1974
Another iconic player to have had a shot at the cup once, but failed to be victorious is Johan Cruyff. Better in Eusebio's third-place finish from 1966, Cruyff and the Netherlands team that revolutionized football failed to brush past the Germans in the 1974 World Cup. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner was the biggest star at the cup and was one of the finest players of his generation, but can never claim to have lifted the World Cup.
Cruyff's Netherlands team eliminated 1970 World Cup champions, Brazil in the second round to make it to the finals, while quietly winning over the world with their amazing brand of football. Total Football was there for everyone to see in 1974, and it worked well enough to eliminate a Brazil team that was moving into their post-Pele era.
Cruyff especially was in gifted form, debuting the world famous Cruyff Turn in this tournament, but Franz Beckenbauer's Germany was too much for his team to beat. An iconic footballer and manager, it is a shame Cruyff could never win this tournament as it is one of the only accomplishments missing from his resume.
