Just like the world cup, the champions league is considered the biggest prize in club football, a competition which sees the best club teams compete to become the king of European football and whilst a good number of players have attained legendary status through this competition, there are still some great players that have never lifted the prestigious trophy in spite of their individual brilliance, this remains a spanner in the works for most of these stars who have had a trophy laden career.
Here we shall be taking a look at 5 of these famous stars who never won the greatest prize in club football.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Winning a total of 30 career trophies and scoring a total of 507 goals in 846 games at club level and 62 goals in 120 games at the international scene, the legendary Swedish front man remains a surprise inclusion on the list as he is considered one of the greatest attackers to ever play the game. Representing some of the biggest clubs in Europe such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, Ajax, Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, and Manchester United, Zlatan has written his name into the history books of the champions league as the 11th highest goal scorer of the competition and is still looking sharp even at the age of 40.
It’s quite stunning that a player of Zlatan’s caliber has never lifted the prestigious trophy given his incredible history in the competition and also very shocking to know that the closest he ever came to lifting it was in the quarter final of the 2015-2016 season with Paris Saint Germain. However this doesn’t take away the fact that Ibrahimovic remains one of the greatest to aver grace the competition.
- Sergio Aguero
Another name on the list that will come as a surprise to many is the Argentine super star. Playing an instrumental role in Manchester city’s dominance in global football, the legendary no.9 will go down in history as one of the citizens greatest ever signings winning over 15 trophies and scoring over 200 goals. He has led city to many trophies including 5 premier league titles but has never won the champions league during his trophy laden career.
Finally getting a chance to break the jinx at the Estadio do Dragoa stadium in Porto on the 29th of may 2021 UEFA champions league final, Sergio Aguero failed to lift the one trophy which has eluded him in his club career, Losing 1-0 to rivals Chelsea on the night in Portugal, Aguero’s search for the highly prized trophy came to an end as he was forced to retire through a heart related disease.
- Gianluigi Buffon
The legendary Italian goalie continues the list of great players to never lift the prestigious trophy. At 43 Buffon continues to shine as he nears his 1000th appearances on club level. currently at Parma, he made a name for himself in the world of football at Juventus, the Italian great has lifted an impressive 28 trophies in his career and despite making it to three champions league finals with Juventus in, 2002-03, 2014-15, and 2016-17 seasons, Buffon still wasn’t able to win it as he was made to settle for a runners up spot on all 3 occasions.
It’s quite heart breaking looking at the fact that a keeper of the quality of Gianluigi never got to win a champions league given how much of a leader and talented he is. However, fans of Buffon can still cheer up knowing he played alongside Francesco Totti and Canavaro in the Italian team that conquered the world at the 2006 world cup in Germany.
- Francesco Totti
Joining the list of Italian greats to never win the highly prized trophy, the Italians loyalty to AS Roma will be seen by many as a character worthy of emulation, Totti chose not to leave Roma even without a champions league medal in his personal trophy cabinet the devoted Italian chose instead to stay and become a symbol of loyalty and passion to other players at the club and rightly earning his status as a legend at the club as he represented the club on 786 occasions scoring a total of 307 goals.
Despite enjoying success at different levels, Totti’s biggest career achievement would easily be his success at the 2006 world cup in Germany were Italy defeated France in the Finals on Penalties. However, one of the major lows in his career would be the fact that in spite all his longevity and efforts he was only able to win 6 trophies with the champions league amongst one of the major trophies which has eluded him all through his career.
- Dennis Bergkamp
With a great record of 120 goals in 423 appearances for Arsenal, the Dutch magician rounds off the list of stars to never win trophy. He could be seen as a Legend at Arsenal after previously representing Ajax and Inter Milan and was also part of the “invincibles” that won the premier league in 2004. His greatest chance to win the champions league came in the 2006 finals with Arsenal but unfortunately Arsenal lost 2-1 to Barcelona.
