The judgment of any professional football player's career depends on their trophies on the club and international level. And it's no secret that the highest trophy of club football is Champions League title.
However, there are great players, who have never won the Champions League, despite their significant careers.
For example, Eric Cantona, who is synonymous with some of Manchester United's greatest successes in the 90s. But he'd retired by the time when his side won the treble in 1999.
Patrick Vieria, meanwhile, left Arsenal a year before they reached 2006 final and he'd also left Inter Milan five months before they won the trophy in 2010.
Here is the list of top 10 greatest players who have never won Champions League title.
Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Batistuta is one of the greatest players in the football history, however, he left Fiorentina when he was 31 and during those years he played in the Champions League only once. In his later years, he failed to progress with AS Roma.
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Ronaldo
Luis Nazario Ronaldo de Lima will be considered as one of the best players. He played for Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan. He won two FIFA World Cup titles with his Brazil national team, however, he failed to win Champions League title.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy was so close to winning the title in 2002 with Manchester United, however, they failed to reach the final. The Dutchman was the competition's all-time goal scorer before Lionel Messi's and Cristiano Ronaldo's reign.
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Dennis Bergkamp
Bergkamp's last game at Arsenal was the Champions League final against Barcelona in 2006. The player was an unused substitute when his side lost to the Catalan giants.
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Francesco Totti
Totti could be considered as the best player in AS Roma's history. The player was also exceptional on an international level. He won FIFA World Cup with Italy national team in 2006. However, Totti failed to win the Champions League title.
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Michael Ballack
Ballack, maybe really unlucky. The midfielder lost out the title with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002. In 2008 his Chelsea side lost to Manchester United in the final. The German scored his penalty in the shootout, however, John Terry's fateful slip and Nicolas Anelka's miss cost him the title.
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Gianluigi Buffon
Buffon has never won Champions League title but the 42-year-old never lost his hope. This Champions League season may be the last chance for him, but due to coronavirus, the league is currently suspended. The goalkeeper played in three Champions League finals, 2003, 2015 and 2017.
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Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas, who currently plays for AS Monaco, failed to be on the winning side on time. He was a runner-up in 2006 with Arsenal. The midfielder played for Barcelona but after they'd won the title in 2011. Unfortunately, they didn't reach another final.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic played in six clubs who have won the Champions League- Ajax, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus. However, by sheer accident of timing, his time with those sides have never coincided with their Champions League triumphs. The 38-year-old currently plays for AC Milan, however, they still need to qualify for the Champions League.
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Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich won the Champions League title in 2013, but in that time, Lewandowski was still playing for Borussia Dortmund. Since then, Bayern Munich failed to have Champions League success. This season is a great opportunity for the Polish striker. Bayern Munich beat Chelsea 3-0, in their first tie of the last-16 stage. The Champions League are currently suspended due to coronavirus pandemic.
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