5 players that have missed a World Cup due to injury

Beckham had represented England in 3 World Cups

1. David Beckham

Beckham, who is England’s second-most capped player behind Peter Shilton and his country’s most capped outfield player represented the Three Lions in three World Cups and almost took that tally to four, but that was unfortunately not to be.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player was a part of England’s doomed 2010 World Cup campaign and made a handful of appearances for Fabio Capello’s men in the qualifiers and almost made the 23-man squad. But a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his World Cup hopes. Beckham never played for England after that but said that he would never retire from international football as he was always willing to play for his country if he was fit.

The 38-year-old finally retired from all form of football last year having made 115 appearances for the Three Lions – just 10 short of Shilton’s record 125 appearances.