While the Champions League sees the best players on the planet compete for the European Cup with those iconic big ears every year, the vast majority would certainly be prepared to give it up to win a World Cup. Make no mistake: we are talking about the most prestigious football competition in the world.

On the unforgettable international showpiece, which is watched by millions, Pele once said:

A global tournament of such high standards that even some of the game’s greatest legends have never won it, leaving the opportunity to lay their hands on the mythical golden trophy to slip away before their very eyes. But there is nothing trivial about simply taking part in this extraordinary event.

In fact, many players would trade part of their record of achievements for the chance to take part. That’s why GIVEMESPORT has compiled a list of the 15 greatest players who have never had the honour of playing in the World Cup finals.

15

Johnny Giles

Republic of Ireland

Despite being of diminutive size, Johnny Giles made a name for himself as an all-action midfielder who was not afraid to be tough in the tackle. At club level, the central midfielder – widely regarded as one of the best Republic of Ireland players in football history – played for Manchester United, Leeds United and the like.

He even became a two-time First Division winner in 1968/69 and 1973/74, but the Dublin-born enforcer didn’t experience the same success internationally. Although he won an eye-catching 59 appearances, his success – or evident lack thereof – was largely thanks to his country not being much of a footballing force. His international career spanned 20 years.

14

Liam Brady

Republic of Ireland

A famous alumnus of Arsenal’s celebrated Arsenal academy ranks, Liam Brady was destined to have a brilliant international career from word go – and that became the truth with the Republic of Ireland international picking up 72 caps and a total of nine goals in that time. Despite his talent, he was never able to appear at a major international competition.

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Ahead of The Boys in Green’s qualifying campaign for Italia ’90, Brady announced that he would be ending his 16-year career on the international stage. After Jack Charlton-managed Ireland clinched a spot at the international showpiece, Brady changed his mind – but the management refused to pick him as he didn’t play his part in qualifying.

13

David Ginola

France

Utterly gifted and able to weave in and out of opponents with relative ease, David Ginola turned out for the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United throughout his career – but that resulted in a mere 17 caps. The Frenchman scored three goals on the international stage, and he never got to taste World Cup action.

The reason why Ginola was seldom utilised by France is because of an overzealous cross which led to a Bulgarian counter-attack. That goal cost Les Bleus a place at the 1994 World Cup and manager Gerard Houllier called him the “assassin of the team”; the winger was highly criticised for said action and Houllier’s successor, Aime Jacquet, also didn’t fancy the wide man.

12

Bernd Schuster

West Germany

Having played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid throughout his career, there are no doubts over Bernd Schuster’s talent, nor his influence on West Germany’s international proceedings. A three-time Spanish top flight champion at club level, the attacking midfielder won 21 caps for his country – but his venture concluded before playing at a World Cup.

The 1982 version of the tournament was missed by Schuster through an injury, and then he retired two years later after falling out with the likes of West Germany boss Jupp Derwall and teammate Paul Breitner. The premature end to his international career, he claims, was thanks to Barca being difficult about him leaving mid-season to represent his country.

11

Abedi Pele

Ghana

Abedi Pele – no, not the three-time World Cup winner for Brazil – would have lit up the international showpiece like his namesake if he had the chance. He didn’t, however, and therefore earns himself a place on this star-studded list. The 73-cap international, whose international career spanned between 1982 and 1998, scored 33 goals for Ghana.

Despite playing for the Black Stars across a 16-year period, the effortlessly brilliant midfielder – the African Footballer of the Year three times – did manage to hold the 1982 African Cup of Nations aloft with his nation, but Pele was never afforded the chance to showcase his talent on the World Cup stage before the Marseille legend retired in 2000.

10

Duncan Edwards

England

Among the top players who have never played a single World Cup match, there are many whose presence in this ranking would be legitimate. Perhaps even more so than Duncan Edwards. After all, the former Manchester United player has never really been able to show the world the full extent of his talent. Or at least, he never really had the opportunity.

The victim of the infamous Munich Air Disaster, the young midfielder disappeared before he even had the chance to shine on the biggest stage on the planet. Make no mistake about it, the five years he had just spent with the Red Devils would certainly have ensured him a place in Walter Winterbottom’s squad.

9

Ian Rush

Wales

To talk about Ian Rush is quite simply to talk about the highest scoring Liverpool player in history. And that’s all there is to it. A cold-blooded finisher, a predator of the box, who tormented defences in England and Italy – he played for Juventus from 1986 to 1988 – between the 80s and 90s, but never had the opportunity to express himself in the greatest of competitions.

One of his biggest regrets, as he himself has already said. Wales, whose only appearance at a World Cup dates back to 1958 and who had not qualified for an international competition since Euro 1976, were far too inconsistent. That doesn’t prevent him from being one of the greatest to ever do it for the Red Dragons.

8

Eric Cantona

France

Rarely in the history of football has a player’s career been so closely aligned with his personality. Eric Cantona‘s career is a perfect example. A gifted player, considered by many to be the best Premier League footballer of the 90s, he was as much known for the adoration he received across the Channel as for his proud character and his many antics.

All of which led to some notorious problems and certainly cost him a better adventure with the French national team. Not to mention the fact that he was part of a generation in search of a new identity, orphaned by Michel Platini and not yet guided by Zinedine Zidane. But Cantona’s career was what it was, and that’s another reason why his name remains so respected today.

7

Gunnar Nordahl

Sweden

Sweden may not be considered one of the world’s great footballing nations today, but it has nevertheless produced some immense players. Gunnar Nordahl is certainly one of the greatest. Yet the former striker, who is incidentally AC Milan’s all-time top scorer, was never able to take part in the World Cup.

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In fact, it was because he had decided to join the Italian club that he had to give up his national team, which at the time did not allow professional players from outside Sweden to wear its colours. A heavy price to pay for a player who nevertheless scored 33 goals in 43 appearances.

6

Ryan Giggs

Wales

Like Rush, Ryan Giggs never managed to qualify Wales for a World Cup finals. And this despite a more than positive personal record with the Dragons, who pulled on the famous red jersey 64 times (12 goals). But the step was too high for the British, and even a potential late-career move would not have allowed the winger to fill one of the only missing lines on his never-ending list of honours.

However, the fact that he did not take part in the global competition should not in any way overshadow all that the Cardiff-born winger has achieved. His status as the player with the most appearances in Manchester United’s history is just one example.