The best soccer players of all time to never win a World Cup

It's the most important part of soccer. The World Cup is unlike anything else in sports. Lifting the trophy is needed to be considered the greatest to ever lace up your cleats. Dan Marino is not the greatest quarterback of all time. He didn't win a Superbowl. The main argument Chicago Bulls fans make is that Michael Jordan is better than other athletes. He won six titles.

The easiest way to distinguish legends is to reach the team's highest point. Lionel Messi would have been the greatest soccer player of all time if Argentina had won on Sunday. Here is a list of the best soccer players who never got the chance to play in the World Cup.

Like Messi,Ronaldo entered the World Cup knowing it would be his last chance to win the trophy. He is older than Messi. He never got to a final in five World Cup appearances. His fourth place finish in 2006 was the best of his career. At the club level, he's won five European titles. He won't have a World Cup in his legacy.

The Netherlands has never won a World Cup but because of one of the best players in the history of soccer, it has become the most accomplished country. The Dutch lost in the 1974 World Cup final to Germany and have been runners-up three times. He would be the only one there. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner will have to take home individual honors.

The one-time most expensive transfer in soccer history, when he moved from Spurs to Real Madrid, gave him the chance to captain Wales at the World Cup in 2022. The Welsh lost to England in the first game of the tournament and didn't win a game the rest of the way. Bale isn't one of the best soccer players to never play in a World Cup.

The award for the Goal of the Year was named after Puskas. He is one of the best strikers of all time. He only played in the World Cup once. Puskas led his team to a final against Germany and was the primary goal- scorer. The Germans beat the Hungarians in the group stage but lost to Hungary in the final.

The former president of the European Union appeared in three World Cup for France. In 1986 the French came in third, but they couldn't win the tournament as a coach, as France didn't even qualify for the tournament in 1990. One of the organizers for France hosting the tournament in 1998 was the closest that the Frenchman could get.

The greatest defender of all time appeared in four World Cup for Italy. In 1990 Italy didn't win. Maldini missed a try in the global-championship shootout as Italy lost to Brazil in the 1994 final.

One of the most decorated club players of all-time, leading Real Madrid to five straight European Championships, couldn't replicate the same form with Spain. He was close to playing in the tournament a few times, but never because of an injury.

The greatest soccer player of all time was the Portuguese legend. He was the leading scorer at the 1966 World Cup, but his team finished third. The best two Portuguese players of all-time are included on this list, as the country hasn't reached a World Cup final in history.

At the time John Lennon and Paul McCartney ruled the music world, he was known as theFifth Beatle because of his looks. For Northern Ireland, the best player never got a chance to play in a World Cup. The dominos fall.

One of the most imposing figures in soccer history played in two World Cup for Sweden, but didn't win the most prestigious trophy in the sport He won at life because he is Zlatan.

This is the first time that we have a goalkeeper on this list. He led the Germans to the 2002 final against Brazil but couldn't keep out two goals and was a runner-up. He was Germany's keeper when they hosted the event. Germany lost in the semifinals to Italy.

Rummenigge, the center in white, didn't play in the World Cup that Germany won in 1974 and 1990. The Germans made the final in 1982 and 1986 but lost. He is the closest legend to ever win a World Cup trophy.

In the knockout stage of the World Cup, the Polish player got to play. The goal was scored in the second half of the game. He was one of the best strikers of his generation, but he never got close to the trophy.