Listed: Top 20 Players Unsuccessful in Securing the Champions League Title

In the world of football, winning the Champions League is the pinnacle of success for many players. However, there are several legendary figures who have come close but never quite managed to lift the trophy.

One such player is Lilian Thuram, a defender known for his strength and versatility. Thuram was a member of the Parma team that lifted the UEFA Cup in 1999, but his career in the Champions League was marked by near misses. Despite playing for FC Barcelona and FC Inter Milan, Thuram never won the Champions League. He even played in the 2003 final for Juventus, where he kept Milan at bay for 120 minutes in a 0-0 draw, only to see his team lose on penalties. Thuram shares this unwanted record with players like Pavel Nedved and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have made the most Champions League appearances without ever lifting the trophy.

Another player with a similar story is Dennis Bergkamp. Bergkamp was an unused substitute in the 2006 Champions League final for Arsenal and was part of the Arsenal side that reached the last eight in 2003/04. Despite his contributions to the team, Bergkamp never got to experience the triumph of winning the Champions League.

Patrick Vieira, a midfield powerhouse for Arsenal, also missed out on the Champions League glory. Vieira left Arsenal 12 months before they reached the 2006 final and departed the January before Inter won it in 2010, meaning he wasn't eligible for a medal.

Manchester City's greats, David Silva and Sergio Aguero, also never saw City to Champions League glory. The side consistently went out far earlier than predictions would have expected, leaving these players without the chance to celebrate a Champions League win.

Eric Cantona, Manchester United's charismatic striker, had hung up his boots by the time United finally won the Champions League in 1999.

Roberto Baggio, a legend of Italian football, represented three Italian teams that have won the Champions League, but he never managed to win it himself.

Cesc Fabregas, who started his career at Arsenal, was a runner-up with the club in 2006 and missed out on a Champions League win with Barcelona.

Antoine Griezmann, a prolific striker, has not won a league title or the Champions League, despite numerous accolades in his career.

Kylian Mbappe, one of the most promising young talents in football, has yet to win the Champions League, despite multiple deep runs in the tournament and a 2020 final appearance with PSG.

Michael Ballack finished as runner-up with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 and Chelsea in 2008. Gabriel Batistuta never won the Champions League, despite playing for Roma during their 2000/01 Scudetto-winning season.

Fabio Cannavaro, despite playing for Parma during the peak of their European powers in the late 1990s, and subsequently Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid, never won the Champions League.

These players, despite their incredible careers, will always have the bittersweet taste of near misses in the Champions League. Their stories serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football and the elusive nature of the Champions League trophy.