Culled from THE TRIBUNE: The UEFA Champions League is one of the most sought-after prizes in the world of club football. Victory in the Champions League would be the crowning jewel in any club history. However, there have been some special players who simply have not been lucky enough to lift the trophy. These legends have simply been scintillating on the field but lady luck has not smiled upon them, according to sportskeeda. Michael Ballack : No player has more runner-up medals than Michael Ballack . Twice runner-up in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea, he must be the most unlucky player in the history of football. He has been runner-up in the European Championships, World Cup, Premier League.The 37-year-old retired in 2012 and has no chnace to get hold of the famous club trophy. Dennis Bergkamp: 272 career goals with clubs like Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal must surely be enough for a striker to win the Champions League. But it is not to be in the case of Bergkamp. Blessed with the touch of Van Basten and the finishing of Pele’, Bergkamp’s goals were all pure class. Why then would a player of his talent not win the Champions League. Roberto Baggio: Probably the best Italian striker ever, Baggio has played for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus. The year after he left Juventus, The Old Lady won the Champions League (in 1996) with a certain Del Piero who was hailed as the next Baggio. He was a legend in every sense for the Turin giants. His goal in the 1990 World Cup, his superb first touch and his lobs were all top draw. He left Juventus at the wrong time and his career came to a standstill. Alan Shearer: Alan Shearer is probably one of the best English strikers of all time. The Premier League record goals scorer scored 200 + goals for Blackburn and Newcastle. England have yet to find a striker who can match his skill and pace. Had he moved to Manchester United he would have been celebrating the Champions League four years after winning the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers. Luis Ronaldo: El Fenomeno is probably the best ever player to have not won the Champions League.The all-time top scorer in the World Cup, the Brazilian was not that lucky in the Champions League. His move to Real Madrid in 2001 was delayed because of his serious knee injury. He watched his future team batter Bayer Leverkusen to lift the trophy (in 2002). The 2002 World Cup winner joined the club one year later but he never won the Champions League even though he performed consistently season after season in Europe. Ruud Van Nistelrooy: With 56 goals in the Champions League, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the fourth all-time top scorer in the competition. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker had a good goals per season ratio in the tournament. All these statistics counted for nothing. His performances in the Champions League deserved a trophy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s story demands sympathy. He left Inter Milan in 2009 and they won the Champions League the next year. He left Barcelona in 2010 and they won the Champions League in 2011. The Sweden international has not been consistent enough in the Champions League. Gianluigi Buffon: Probably one of the best goalkeepers in the modern world of football, Buffon deserved better from Europe. the 36-year-old lost a penalty shootout to AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2003 and that was the closest he ever got to winning the Champions League. His saves against Real Madrid in that same edition gives any football fan goosebumps. The 2006 World Cup winner was the Most Valuable Player in the Champions League that year. He had a chance to move after the Calciopoli scandal but he chose to stick with Juventus. Francesco Totti: The Gladiator has fought many battles and has come out successfully. He rejected offers from mega-rich clubs and stayed at AS Roma. His personality made him one of the most watchable footballers. The 37-year-old 2006 World Cup winner and his team probably lost steam in the Champions League. Totti was not picked by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 05:43:17 +0000