Shilton played club football until he was 47. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Looking through history it’s clear that most of the game’s greatest ever goalkeepers have won major honours at international level, but Shilton, despite clocking up 125 caps for England, is not one of them. Widely considered as one of the greatest ever goalkeepers, the man who played over 1000 league games in England only ever reached a World Cup semi-final.
Right back – Javier Zanetti
Zanetti won 145 caps for Argentina. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
His international career began all the way back in 1994 and didn’t end until 2011, which shows the level of consistency the Inter legend showed throughout his time with Argentina. Runners-up medals in the Copa América in 2004 and 2007 is all he has to show after 145 caps.
Centre back – Paolo Maldini
Maldini retired from international football before Italy won the World Cup in 2006. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Perhaps the greatest defender of his generation, Maldini retired from international football after the 2002 World Cup, meaning he was never part of the 2006 World Cup winning side. Despite winning everything at club level, Maldini only ever finished on the losing side in the two major international finals he played in.
Centre back – Jaap Stam
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Stam was an imposing figure at the back for Holland. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
The former Manchester United star only played 66 times for his country, but he was one of the finest defenders in the world for around 10 years. Fourth place at the World Cup in 1998 was the pinnacle of Stam’s international career.
Left back – Ashley Cole
Cole was the first choice left-back for England for over a decade. PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
A slightly contentious inclusion, but Cole was arguably the world’s best left-back until about two years ago. After making his debut as a 20-year-old in 2001 for England, Cole went on to endure the many heartbreaks that followed in the coming years for England’s ‘golden generation’.
Right midfield – Luis Figo
Figo suffered heartbreak in the 2004 European Championships' final. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Figo played a massive 127 games for Portugal but his only appearance in a major final ended in heartbreak when they lost to Greece in Euro 2004. Figo was one of the games true entertainers and even won the Fifa World Player of the Year award in 2001.
Centre midfield – Johan Cruyff
Cruyff helped to redefine the way football was played. Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson
When the name Johan Cruyff is mentioned you immediately think of the term ‘total football’. The Dutch playmaker was the conductor of the style of play in almost every team he played in, essentially redefining the way in which football was played. Despite being named Player of the Tournament in the 1974 World Cup, his Holland side lost the final to West Germany.
Centre midfield – Michael Ballack
Ballack retired from international football in bad circumstances. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Ballack may have been able to alter the fact that he never won an international trophy if he wasn’t injured for the 2010 World Cup. The 2002 World Cup was the closest he came to achieving greatness, but Germany lost out to Brazil in the final. Ballack ultimately ended his international career in sour style, falling out with Joachim Low after the manager cut him from the squad.
Left midfield – Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo has carried Portugal for years now. Paulo Duarte
Paulo Duarte
The Real Madrid winger has been the standout performer in the Portuguese side now for some years and is the record goalscorer in the European Championships(including qualifying) and with another few years left in the tank, he could leave an almost insurmountable record to surpass.
Striker – Ferenc Puskás
Puskas' hit 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary. PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
The legendary Real Madrid striker has one of the most eye-watering records in football. He bagged an incredible 84 goals in 85 games during his international career and 508 goals in 521 club games. Hungary were Olympic champions in 1952, but failed to ever win the Euros or a World Cup while he was leading the line.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Messi will lead Argentina into the Copa América final tonight. Jorge Saenz
Jorge Saenz
Messi may finally break this duck tonight when Argentina face Chile in the Copa América final. The Barcelona superstar has already amassed 103 caps by the age of 28 and could go on to break all kinds of international records. Many people won’t consider Messi as the greatest player of all time unless he wins a World Cup, and you feel that 2018 will be his last chance.
A team of legends who've never won an international trophy
Goalkeeper – Peter Shilton
Looking through history it’s clear that most of the game’s greatest ever goalkeepers have won major honours at international level, but Shilton, despite clocking up 125 caps for England, is not one of them. Widely considered as one of the greatest ever goalkeepers, the man who played over 1000 league games in England only ever reached a World Cup semi-final.
Right back – Javier Zanetti
His international career began all the way back in 1994 and didn’t end until 2011, which shows the level of consistency the Inter legend showed throughout his time with Argentina. Runners-up medals in the Copa América in 2004 and 2007 is all he has to show after 145 caps.
Centre back – Paolo Maldini
Perhaps the greatest defender of his generation, Maldini retired from international football after the 2002 World Cup, meaning he was never part of the 2006 World Cup winning side. Despite winning everything at club level, Maldini only ever finished on the losing side in the two major international finals he played in.
Centre back – Jaap Stam
The former Manchester United star only played 66 times for his country, but he was one of the finest defenders in the world for around 10 years. Fourth place at the World Cup in 1998 was the pinnacle of Stam’s international career.
Left back – Ashley Cole
A slightly contentious inclusion, but Cole was arguably the world’s best left-back until about two years ago. After making his debut as a 20-year-old in 2001 for England, Cole went on to endure the many heartbreaks that followed in the coming years for England’s ‘golden generation’.
Right midfield – Luis Figo
Figo played a massive 127 games for Portugal but his only appearance in a major final ended in heartbreak when they lost to Greece in Euro 2004. Figo was one of the games true entertainers and even won the Fifa World Player of the Year award in 2001.
Centre midfield – Johan Cruyff
When the name Johan Cruyff is mentioned you immediately think of the term ‘total football’. The Dutch playmaker was the conductor of the style of play in almost every team he played in, essentially redefining the way in which football was played. Despite being named Player of the Tournament in the 1974 World Cup, his Holland side lost the final to West Germany.
Centre midfield – Michael Ballack
Ballack may have been able to alter the fact that he never won an international trophy if he wasn’t injured for the 2010 World Cup. The 2002 World Cup was the closest he came to achieving greatness, but Germany lost out to Brazil in the final. Ballack ultimately ended his international career in sour style, falling out with Joachim Low after the manager cut him from the squad.
Left midfield – Cristiano Ronaldo
The Real Madrid winger has been the standout performer in the Portuguese side now for some years and is the record goalscorer in the European Championships(including qualifying) and with another few years left in the tank, he could leave an almost insurmountable record to surpass.
Striker – Ferenc Puskás
The legendary Real Madrid striker has one of the most eye-watering records in football. He bagged an incredible 84 goals in 85 games during his international career and 508 goals in 521 club games. Hungary were Olympic champions in 1952, but failed to ever win the Euros or a World Cup while he was leading the line.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Messi may finally break this duck tonight when Argentina face Chile in the Copa América final. The Barcelona superstar has already amassed 103 caps by the age of 28 and could go on to break all kinds of international records. Many people won’t consider Messi as the greatest player of all time unless he wins a World Cup, and you feel that 2018 will be his last chance.
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Ashley Cole bridesmaids Comp:copa america Cristiano Ronaldo Jaap Stam Johann Cruyff Lionel Messi Argentina