The UEFA Champions League is one of the most sought after prizes in the world of club football. Victory in the Champions League would be the crowning jewel in any clubs history. However, there have been some special players who simply have not been lucky enough to lift the trophy. These legends have simply been scintillating on the field but lady luck has not smiled upon them.
1. Michael Ballack :
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What is with Ballack and runner up medals? Twice runner up in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea, he must be the most unlucky player in the history of football. He has been runner up in the European Championships, World Cup, Premier League. Although he is still currently playing, it seems unlikely that he will get hold of this famous club trophy.
2. Dennis Bergkamp:
A player of his class only won the UEFA cup.
272 career goals with clubs like Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal must surely be enough for a striker to win the Champions League. But it is not to be in the case of Bergkamp. Blessed with the touch of Van Basten and the finishing of Pele’, Bergkamp’s goals were all pure class. Why then would a player of his talent not win the Champions League. I blame it on his Aerophobia.3. Roberto Baggio:
Il Divin Codino Baggio in Juventus.
Probably the best Italian striker ever, Baggio has played for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus. The year after he left Juventus, The Old Lady won the Champions League with a certain Del Piero who was hailed as the next Baggio. He was a legend in every sense for the Turin giants. His goal in the 1990 World Cup, his superb first touch and his lobs were all top draw. He left Juventus at the wrong time and his career came to a standstill. None of this would have happened if he had scored the penalty in Mexico ’94.
4. Alan Shearer:
European glory remained elusive for this marksman.
Alan Shearer is probably one of the best English striker of all time. The Premier League record goals scorer had scored 200 + goals for Blackburn and Newcastle. England never found a striker who could match his skill and pace. Had he moved to Man United he would have been celebrating the Champions League four years after winning the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers.
5.John Terry:
Will he repent that penalty miss for the rest of his life?
One fatal slip and a huge opportunity was missed. John Terry fluffed his kick against Manchester United during the penalty shoot-outs. He is probably the best Chelsea player ever. But he could have been the most successful captain of an English football club. His tears will always pain me even though Manchester United won the Champions League. Will he do it this season?
6. Luis Ronaldo:
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El Fenomeno is probably the best ever player to have not won the Champions League.
The all time top scorer in the World Cup, El Fenomeno has never been that lucky in the Champions League. His move to Real Madrid in 2001 was delayed because of his serious knee injury. He watched his future team batter Bayer Leverkusen to lift the trophy. He joined the club one year later but he never won the Champions League even though he performed consistently season after season in Europe.
7. Ruud Van Nistelrooy:
van Nistelrooy should have stayed for a few more years at United.
With 61 goals in the Champions League, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the second all time top scorer in the competition. He has the best Goals per season ratio at 7.76. All these statistics have counted for nothing. His performances in the Champions League deserves a trophy.8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
"Bad transfer planning or just plain bad luck?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s story demands sympathy. He left Inter in 2009 and they won the Champions League the next year. He left Barcelona in 2010 and they won the Champions League in 2011. The most successful foreigner in Serie-A has not been consistent enough in the Champions League. Will he do it this season?
9. Gianluigi Buffon:
" Will the best goalkeeper of his generation go without a European Trophy?"
Probably one of the best keeper in the modern world of football, Buffon deserved better from Europe. He lost a penalty shoot out to AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2003 and that was the closest he ever got to winning the Champions League. His saves against Real Madrid in that same edition gives any football fan goosebumps. He was the most valuable player in the Champions League that year. He had a chance to move after the Calciopoli scandal but he chose to stick with Juventus. A legend to say the least, he probably deserved better.
10. Francesco Totti:
" The Gladiator did not win his battle in Europe"
The Gladiator has fought many battles and has come out successfully. He rejected offers from mega rich clubs and stayed at AS Roma. His personality made him one of the most watchable footballers. The gladiator and his team probably lost steam in the Champions League. Should he have moved to satisfy his European ambitions?
