The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Dani Alves have won a host of prestigious trophies at club and international level, but here are 10 incredible players who missed out on key pieces of silverware, including Lionel Messi, who has lost four major finals with Argentina.
Click through the gallery above to see 10 great footballers who missed out on important trophies.
In measuring the greatness of a footballer, it is often their trophy count that is used as the deciding factor as to where they are placed on an all-time list, and while that might not always be fair, it is perhaps unavoidable.
Bundesliga legend Michael Ballack, considered one of the best players to come out of Germany, experienced what it was like going close to triumph in the UEFA Champions League twice, losing both the 2001/02 and 2007/08 finals, first with Bayer Leverkusen and then with Chelsea.
It was always the German's dream to win the coveted European prize, and it was that desire that led to him choosing the Blues over Manchester United upon his exit from Bayern Munich in 2006, four years after he had joined from rivals Leverkusen.
Ballack believed in Jose Mourinho's project in London, and once admitted he thought they were in a better position to claim the Champions League than the Red Devils were. Two years later, coincidentally, it was United that beat Chelsea in the final of the tournament in Russia.
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For Gianluigi Buffon, Champions League success has been but a dream, having lost three finals. The Italian could still win the trophy this season, but that is only if football returns and if the Bianconeri can turn their round of 16 tie around following their first-leg loss to Olympique Lyon.
Liverpool supporters do not need reminding of Steven Gerrard's failure to win the Premier League, especially with the team being so dominant in England right now. The former club captain went agonisingly close in the 2013/14 campaign, but ultimately slipped up on the chance.
Considered one of the game's greatest players of all time, the only thing missing from Messi's cabinet is an international trophy, and it is not like he has not had the opportunity. The forward first experienced a final defeat at the 2007 Copa America, and that has been the theme of his Argentina career to date.
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The 32-year-old missed out on the coveted World Cup prize after a final loss to Germany in 2014, and lost another two Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016. While many claim he is the best player to have the graced the game, four international honours might have been enough to secure that status.
Ronaldo Nazario and Paolo Maldini are other footballing greats who failed to win certain pieces of silverware – click through the gallery above to see the key trophies some great footballers failed to win!
Can you name any other spectacular stars who missed out on key pieces of silverware? Let us know in the comments section below.
