Players Never To Play In A World Cup

Some great players have been unfortunate enough never to grace the World Cup for a variety of reasons, here are the best of them:

1. Alfredo Di Stefano

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A Real Madrid legend and a player that Pele described as better than Deigo Maradona, Di Stefano never played in a World Cup due to switching nationalities, twice, both times to countries that failed to reach the World Cup finals.

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2. George Best

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Even having one of the best playrs in the World can't guarantee you a spot at the World Cup Finals, as Northern Ireland found during George Best's international career. Sure to be high on any list.

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3. Bernd Schuster

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In the 1980 European Championships he was voted the second best player having helped Germany to the title but he retired from international football at the age of 24 after falling out with the German FA, before getting the chance to play in the World Cup.

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4. George Weah

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Unfortunately for Weah's international career, he was miles better than his Liberia team mates. He won the World, European and African Player Of The Year but never played in a World Cup.

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5. Abedi Pele

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He had the name to play in the World Cup and he also won the African Footballer Of The Year Award three times but Ghana never qualified for a World Cup during his career.

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6. Ryan Giggs

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One of the best players the Premiership has ever seen but Wales have failed to reach the World Cup finals during Giggs' playing career costing the winger a chance to shine on the biggest stage.

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7. Matthew Le Tissier

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One of the most talented footballers ever, Le Tissier never transferred his Southampton form to the international stage.

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8. Valentino Mazzola

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Captain of the Torino side who all perished in an air crash in 1949, Mazzola gained just 12 caps and never played in a World Cup.

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9. Eric Cantona

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'The King' to Man Utd supporters never played in a World Cup having fallen out with management during his career and retiring before France's 1998 World Cup win.

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10. Duncan Edwards

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Bobby Charlton said he was the best player he played with but tragically Edwards was killed in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.

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