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Modern day football witnesses some nerve-wracking encounters. The margin of error for players is extremely low as is the difference in the quality of teams.
Over the years, there have been many veteran players who have won multiple individual honours as well as league titles with their respective clubs. However, they were unable to win the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy so far in their career.
In this article, we specifically take a look at the best forwards of the current generation who have never been able to get their hands on a Champions League trophy.
Note: The players in the Top 5 list have been picked based upon their performances in the last few years and are from the Top 5 European Leagues. Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Marco Reus are the honourable mentions in this list.
#5 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann deserves to win many more titles than he currently holds. The French International has been an integral part of Atletico Madrid since 2014. He was with Real Sociedad from 2009 till the 2013-14 season. So far, Griezmann has amassed 128 goals in 239 appearances for The Red-and-Whites.
A UEFA Europa League title in 2017–18, a UEFA Super Cup title in 2018, and a Supercopa de España title in 2014 are the three major trophies the 27-year-old won with Atletico Madrid. The attacking player possesses a phenomenal positional sense and is admired for his work-rate. He stood third in the Ballon d'Or race in 2018.
The technically gifted player also won the FIFA World Cup Silver Boot in 2018 and had the chance to lift the World Cup trophy as well. The striker currently has 10 goals in 21 league appearances this season.
Currently, Atletico Madrid are placed second in the LaLiga table with 44 points in 21 matches - five points behind leaders Barcelona.
They are the only club to enter three UEFA Champions League finals without winning any one of them. Atletico Madrid will be locking horns with Juventus on 21 February 2019 in the round of 16 of the 2018-19 Champions League. Only time will tell if they are able to break the jinx this time around.
Also Read: 5 former Arsenal stars you won't believe are still playing
#4 Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani is PSG's all-time highest goalscorer. The veteran Uruguayan has 190 goals in 268 appearances overall for PSG. He received the Golden Foot award in 2018 and has been the top scorer of the Ligue 1 in the last two editions.
The 31-year-old has won four Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France titles, and eight other major trophies with PSG. Cavani majorly plays as a Centre-Forward and has already scored 16 goals in 14 appearances for the French giants this season.
PSG will be squaring off against Manchester United in the Round of 16 stage of the Champions League. Cavani is known to be a lethal striker and is a hard-working player who works tirelessly on the pitch. The Salto-born player is expected to give it his all in the coming Champions League matches in order to help PSG reach the further stages of the competition and ideally their first-ever final.
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#3 Harry Kane
Harry Kane recently suffered a ligament injury in the game against United and is expected to be out of action till early March. The Spurs Centre-Forward had already amassed 14 goals in 22 Premier League appearances this season, making him the joint second highest scorer along with Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 25-year-old won the Premier League Golden Boot winner during the 2015–16 and 2016–17 editions. He also won the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot in 2018. However, even as Kane keeps winning individual honours, he has not been able to guide Spurs to win a big trophy.
Tottenham will be locking horns with Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League. It is sure to be a nerve-wracking encounter and The Lilywhites will be missing the services of their talismanic forward Kane.
Also Read: Top 3 all-time highest goal-scorers of the Premier League Big Six
#2 Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has been a vital player for Bayern Munich since 2014. He is a goal-scoring machine and has scored 175 goals in 221 appearances for Munich thus far. The 30-year-old Polish player currently has 12 goals in 18 appearances for the German club this season in the Bundesliga.
What makes him such a potent goalscorer is his ability to play with both feet and finish accurately with his head as well. He often receives high praise for his work ethic and discipline. The Pole is also the Champions League's sixth highest goalscorer of all time with 53 goals in 78 appearances.
The talismanic striker has won six Bundesliga titles till date (four with Bayern and two with Dortmund). He has won nine other major trophies in his career. The Warsaw-born player will hope he can add the coveted UCL trophy title to this list as well.
Lewandowski played the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final but his team Borussia Dortmund were defeated by Bayern Munich.
Bayern will be squaring off against Liverpool in the round of 16 of the 2018-19 Champions League.
Also Read: 5 former Real Madrid players you would not believe are still playing
#1 Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah created the record of scoring the most number of goals in a Premier League season (of 38 games) in the previous edition when he scored 32 goals. His exploits on the field earned him multiple individual honours such as the Premier League Golden Boot (2017-18), African Footballer of the Year (2017 and 2018), Premier League Player of the Season (2017-18).
The Egyptian player also received the FIFA Puskás Award in 2018 and earned a second place for UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season (2017-18).
The 26-year-old has been hogging all the limelight over the past two years. He is currently the top scorer of the ongoing Premier League with 16 goals to his name in 23 appearances.
Exceptional ball control, speed, clinical finishing, dribbling ability - Salah possesses them all and is one of the most complete players of the present generation. The Liverpool forward is yet to win a major trophy with his team.
The Reds are currently at the top of the Premier League table with 19 wins, three draws, and a loss from their 23 matches. It seems like Liverpool's as well as Salah's title drought may finally be over. The Reds have won five Champions League trophies and the last one came during the 2004–05 edition.
The last major title Salah won was the Swiss Super League trophy for the 2013-14 season. He was with Basel at the time.
Liverpool will be squaring off against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of Champions League on 20 February 2019.
Also Read: 3 former Barcelona forwards who are still doing great at the clubs they play for
