4 Manchester United legends who never played in the World Cup

#3 Duncan Edwards

Duncan Edwards

"A day of memory, Sad to recall, Without farewell, He left us all" - the Tombstone said.

The story of Duncan Edwards always brings a tear to the eye. Billed as the next great thing in the world of football, Edwards signed with Manchester United as a teenager and rose through the ranks at Old Trafford under Sir Matt Busby, going on to become the youngest player to play in the Old First Division.

Once ranked as one of the toughest players in the World, Edwards was already world class at a very young age. Even though he was basically a defensive midfielder, Edwards could operate in many different positions, a versatility that was one of his assets. He was equally apt at using both feet, had a ferocious shot in him and was quite good with his headers as well.

Duncan Edwards played 177 matches for Manchester United, scoring 21 goals. He won two back to back first division titles and two FA Charity Shields and had so much more to achieve before his precious life was snatched away well ahead of time.

Edwards played 18 games for England, scoring 5 goals and was even involved in the qualifiers of the 1958 World Cup. He was gradually becoming the leader of both the England and Manchester United team when the ill-fated tragedy stuck at Munich on 6th February 1958. He fought on for two more weeks at the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries, just 21 years old.

Duncan Edwards could never appear in the World Cup and the tournament and the world was deprived of potentially one of its greatest players ever.