Every player’s dream is to win the UEFA Champions League trophy. It is the most important stage in club football, and winning the competition determines who wins individual rewards.
Despite winning numerous previous titles, some of the best players have never won the Champions League.
This article includes a list of seven such legendary players who were denied the opportunity to win club football’s most prestigious award.
1. Ronaldo De Lima
El Fenomeno, as he is known in Brazil, is regarded as one of the best strikers in the game’s history.
Despite earning three FIFA World Player of the Year awards, the Ballon d’Or twice, two FIFA World Cup and Copa America medals, a La Liga title with Real Madrid, a Copa del Rey with Barcelona, and a La Liga title with Real Madrid, he never won the Champions League until his retirement in 2011.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for some of Europe’s best clubs, including the two Milan teams, Barcelona, Ajax, PSG, Juventus, and Manchester United, although he has yet to win the Champions League.
In fact, his best performance in the competition was a quarter-final appearance with PSG in 2015.
3. Cesc Fàbregas
Along with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas is recognized as one of the best midfielders in Spanish football history. With Chelsea, he won two league crowns, two European Championships, and one FIFA World Cup, but he never reached the pinnacle of European club football.
4. Sergio Agüero
Despite winning multiple domestic trophies for Manchester City, the legend was unable to win Europe’s premier award. Last season, Aguero came close to claiming the trophy with City, but they were defeated in the final by Chelsea.
5. Diego Maradona
The Argentine superstar, widely regarded as the greatest player in the game’s history, is another name on this infamous list.
He almost single-handedly guided Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, although he never won the European Cup. The UEFA Cup, which he won with Napoli in 1989, was his sole European prize.