World Cup: Top 3 players who faded away after promising starts 

Rio Ferdinand battles Feni Opabunmi for the ball
Rio Ferdinand battles Feni Opabunmi for the ball

#1 Johan Cruyff

Ad
Cruyff in action as captain for Holland
Cruyff in action as captain for Holland

Though his swagger as a player and ideas as a coach had such an influence on the world game, Dutch legend Cruyff also fell just short on the grandest stage of them all. Cruyff won player of the tournament in 1974, but his Netherlands side lost 2-1 against hosts West Germany in the final of the World Cup.

Ad

Cruyff never played a World Cup game again although impacted the game of football for generations to come. A flamboyant footballer and personality, Cruyff is adored by thousands around the world and helped a number of people around the world through the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

In a strictly personal footballing sense, Johan Cruyff faded away from the international game for Holland after displaying the most profound and magnificent style of football ever played in Germany 74.

Quick Links

Edited by Nishant Jayaram
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications