Lionel Messi won his first World Cup last week in a thrilling win over France. It’s a dream come true and an achievement that lifts him even higher in the elite echelon of football legends. But there are players who changed the game, played at the very highest level and achieved just about everything apart from winning the prestigious World Cup title.##NAJAVA_MECA_6906224##It’s a marvellous epilogue of what’s been 16 or 17 years of top-class football. Messi’s career isn’t over yet, but he can now say he’s won everything. And you bet that his old Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola announced that Messi was indeed the best player of all time – and that he’s been that even before he lifted the trophy on Sunday. But, had Argentina not lifted their first World Cup since 1986, it would put Leo’s GOAT status in some doubt – just like some will doubt players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini of Johan Cruyff because they never got their hands on the “goddess”.In the first group match vs #Uruguay, #Netherlands demonstrated #totalfootball, in which captain #JohanCruyff (#14) played a pivotal role between the #9 and #10 position.Watch these 3 moments of #Cruyff’s acceleration, insight and passing.#Holland #Oranje #football #worldcup pic.twitter.com/kaNVFGE9aL— Holland74 🇳🇱 (@Netherlands1974) December 18, 2022 Johan Cruyff The Dutch maestro remains one of the most elegant and graceful players ever to be seen on a football pitch. His dribbling ability and the titles he won with Ajax and Barcelona are still regarded as the pinnacle of the sport. But his lack of trophies with the national team would haunt him for the rest of his life. The Oranje were in their heydey during the 1974 World Cup and looked pretty much unbeatable. Cruyff was a class above everyone else as his team strolled to the final after wins over Argentina (4-0), East Germany (2-0) and Brazil (2-0). West Germany were the opponent in the final, and the Dutch took the game by storm. Cruyff danced around defenders before being brought down in the box. Johan Neeskens converted the penalty, but the Germans overturned the deficit and won 2-1 thanks to goals from Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller. The dream shattered for Cruyff. Sadly, it was to prove his only World Cup. He helped the team qualify for the 1978 edition but retired from international football before the tournament, much to the disbelief of every football fan. Many years later, he revealed that he quit because his family was a victim of a kidnapping attempt in Barcelona. In his absence, the Dutch lost another final.Eusébio – Mundial de 1966pic.twitter.com/ozCYXE86f2— Benfica Comps (@SLBcomps) November 20, 2022 EusebioLegendary Black Panther single-handedly dragged Portugal onto the world stage. In 1966, they played in their first World Cup – and Eusebio was their superstar. He scored against Bulgaria in the second match and started the clash with Brazil strongly. Often compared to the great Pele, Eusebio scored twice to beat the “other Selecao” 3-1. He scored four goals as Portugal beat North Korea 5-3 in a crazy game, but it was only a warm-up for the semi-final against hosts England at Wembley. He scored, but the eventual champions went on to lift the trophy. Eusebio scored once again in the third-place play-off as Portugal edged USSR to win the bronze medal. He was the best goalscorer of the tournament with nine goals, but it was only a consolation prize. It was the closest Portugal ever came to becoming World Champions.Paolo Maldini vs. Bulgaria – Mundial 1994 (Semifinal). El arte de defender.pic.twitter.com/HnQ8H5DA84— Franco Curione (@FrancoCFutbol) November 4, 2022 Paolo MaldiniThe long-serving Italian defender and legendary AC Milan captain Maldini played in four World Cups – and was eliminated on penalties three times. In his first tournament, at home in 1990, the Italians lost in the semis to Argentina after a wretched shoot-out. Four years later, the heartbreak was even more painful. Despite only finishing third in their group, the Azzurri improved as the tournament went on and reached the final, where mighty Brazil awaited. And once again, spot kicks proved a step too far. Roberto Baggio blasted the final penalty high over the crossbar and broke the hearts of his countrymen back home. Brazil were the champions. Maldini later admitted that he never got over that defeat. The pain remained forever – and he only learned how to live with it. In 1998, Italy again lost to the nation that would go on to become champions. France beat them on penalties in the quarter-final after goalless 120 minutes. Maldini’s last appearance in a World Cup was a sad affair. Italy suffered a big shock as hosts South Korea won in extra time in the round of 16, putting an end to Maldini’s hopes of ever lifting the golden prize. Ironically, Italy would become world champions just four years later – but without their charismatic captain.68. MICHEL PLATINI 🇫🇷Midfielder (78, 82, 86 🥉) 14 games, 5 goals While he never hit his true heights at the World Cup, Platini still shone at 3 tournaments. His grace and languid style made the Frenchman a joy to watch while fans agonised over the 1982 defeat to W Germany. pic.twitter.com/xzCvwEDC7e— Rob Fielder (@ademir2z) June 8, 2018 Michel PlatiniFor many years, before Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Paul Pogba or Olivier Giroud, Michel Platini was the very best player the French have ever seen. The classy midfielder lifted the European Championship in 1984 – the first trophy in the French national team’s history, but World Cups provided nothing but woe. He played in three editions, in 1978, 1982 and 1986. In 1978 in Argentina, they failed to qualify from their group. And he lost to West Germany in the other two. In the 1982 semi-final in Seville, the French led 3-1 in the extra time but couldn’t keep their cool. The Germans scored twice and forced a penalty shoot-out that would prove Platini’s undoing. Four years later, the French returned to the semi-finals after a heroic victory against Brazil but once again came up against their German rivals, losing 2-0. A taste of unfinished business for a golden generation that has approached the world summit without ever achieving it.⚽️ 27 goals in one World Cup 🤯⚽️ An average of 5.4 per match 🤯🇭🇺 Hungary tore up the #WorldCup record books in 1954 with their groundbreaking style and dazzling attack of Hidegkuti, Kocsis & Puskas 🤩 pic.twitter.com/0NJ9ytgmFh— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 4, 2020 Ferenc PuskasThe year 1954 was supposed to be the time when Hungary and their star striker Ferenc Puskas proved they were the best team in the world. They arrived at the World Cup in Switzerland undefeated for four years. They thumped South Korea 9-0 with a double from Puskas and continued their attacking frenzy by crushing West Germany 8-3. Puskas missed the quarter and the semi-final with an injured ankle, but the team was so strong that they managed wins against Brazil (4-2) and Uruguay (4-2 after extra time). West Germany awaited in the big final, but the Hungarians fell short this time. Puskas scored the first goal of the final as Hungary raced into a 2-0 lead in just eight minutes. But the Germans hit three goals to win the trophy and leave one of the best teams in football history shattered.Throwback Cristiano Ronaldo FIFA World Cup All Goals And Highlight 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qLNu9VOsAb— Md Alamin (@alaminmd_) August 24, 2022 Cristiano RonaldoWhat more can we say about the Portuguese superstar? He won the European Championship in 2016, but World Cups offered nothing but frustration and bitter disappointment for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star. In 2006, they lost in the semi-finals to France. Four years later, Spain beat them 1-0 in the round of 16 on their way to the title. In 2014, the year when CR7 won his first Champions League with Real, he only scored one goal in the competition, and Portugal was eliminated in the first round, culminating in a heavy 4-0 defeat to Germany. In Russia in 2018, he scored a hat-trick in a spectacular 3-3 draw with Spain in the group stage, but they fell in the first knockout game against Uruguay and packed their bags early. Ronaldo’s fifth World Cup in Qatar was a lot of fun. But not for Portugal. Morocco ended their hopes in the quarter-final in what was the last sight on CR7 in the competition.
