In football, titles and trophies are often seen as the ultimate measure of greatness. Yet, some truly world-class players simply didn’t have the luck of playing for the right teams or at the right time. Here are 10 legendary footballers who never won a major title — even though they absolutely deserved to.
George Best from Northern Ireland was one of the most gifted dribblers ever. Despite his incredible skill, he never won the World Cup or Champions League, only English league titles with Manchester United. As he famously said, "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars — the rest I just wasted."
Matt Le Tissier, an Englishman, was technically brilliant and stayed loyal to the modest Southampton FC. However, he never won a World Cup, European Championship, or league title.
Bernd Schuster, a midfield maestro for Barcelona and Real Madrid, enjoyed success in Spain but never lifted the World Cup or European Championship for Germany.
Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool legend and one of the best box-to-box midfielders in history, famously missed out on the Premier League title and never won a major international tournament with England.
Italy’s Antonio Di Natale was a prolific scorer for the smaller club Udinese and a Serie A top scorer but never claimed the Scudetto or a World Cup. His best international result was a runner-up finish at Euro 2012.
Finnish playmaker Jari Litmanen was an Ajax legend with flawless technique, but Finland never qualified for a World Cup or European Championship during his career.
Giuseppe Signori, a three-time Serie A top scorer with teams like Lazio, never won the Scudetto and saw Italy fall short in the 1994 World Cup final.
Mexican striker Hugo Sánchez was a Real Madrid icon known for spectacular goals but never tasted World Cup glory, as Mexico wasn’t a top contender at the time.
Dimitar Berbatov, the elegant Bulgarian striker who played for Tottenham, Manchester United, and Fulham, never won a major international title, though he did lift the Premier League with United.
Finally, Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa dazzled fans at Fiorentina and AC Milan but lost the Euro 2004 final in a stunning upset against Greece.
Conclusion: Greatness isn’t always about trophies
These players proved that true football greatness isn’t measured only by titles. Their incredible talent and passion inspired fans around the world — even without World Cups, Champions League trophies, or league championships.
