Poetic finale. This is what Lionel Messi experienced on Sunday, at the end of his career, by winning his first World Cup against France (3-3, 4-2 in tab). Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola confirmed on Wednesday that Messi was “The greatest player of all time”With a guarantee that he won’t change his mind.” Even if Leo doesn’t win the World Cup on Sunday.” However, this success played in the eyes of some observers the mark that “La Pulga” would leave in the history of his sport. Unlike him, the other Legends were unable to climb to the top of the world, despite the perceived opportunities.
Johan Cruyff (Netherlands), uncrowned king
Johan Cruyff’s career was particularly marked by the aesthetics of his dribbling and his string of titles with Ajax (three-time winner of the Champions League Cup, eight-time Dutch champion). But his lack of trophies with the Dutch national team has always been a black spot. During the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, the player walked on water and notably rolled Argentina (4-0) with a brace, before beating Brazil (2-0) by scoring a goal. Therefore, the Netherlands came to a strong position in the final match against Germany and set the starting tone. From the first minute, Cruyff went it alone in the opposing camp before wiping out goalkeeper Sepp Maier. Uli Hoeneß was forced to mow him in the chest. Johan Neeskens converts the penalty kick and gives the advantage to the Orani. As the game progressed, the Batavians lost track and ended up losing (1-2), after a penalty from Paul Breitner and a goal from Gerd Müller.
Johan Cruyff (right) played in the World Cup only once, that was in 1974 (L’Equipe)
For the only World Cup, the “Flying Dutchman” took the most prestigious awards, but did not win them, although he was named the best player in the tournament. In 1978, the year the Netherlands clinched a second successive final (losing 1-3 to Argentina), Johan Cruyff was not selected. The accounts differ, as some argue the dispute with the federation over rewards, and others explain the boycott of the Argentine World Cup due to the dictatorship. Nothing was ever settled, but Cruyff was never able to win back the World Cup.
Eusebio (Portugal), win over Brazil and podium
The movie “Black Panther” allowed Portugal to exist on the world stage. In 1966, the Seleção participated in their first World Cup in England. Eusebio scored against Bulgaria in the second match (3-0) and entered the third match against Brazil in a position of strength. More often compared to Pele, he crosses his path and wins (3-1) by scoring twice. However, the Brazilian was forced out on a stretcher after the intervention of Portugal’s João Moraes.
Eusebio in the semi-finals of the 1966 World Cup. Despite the striker’s goal, Portugal lost 2-1 to England at Wembley. (the team)
After another double in the quarter-finals against North Korea (5-3), the Lusitanian striker faces the host country: England, at Wembley. Despite the feat of their star, the Portuguese lost (1-2) and strengthened themselves by defeating the Soviet Union in the mini-final (2-1). Eusébio adds a goal to his total goals and on this occasion finishes as top scorer in the competition with 9 goals. Selection will have to wait 20 years before a re-test at the World Cup, but it certainly put morale down.
Paolo Maldini (Italy), curses on penalties
Paolo Maldini has played in four World Cup tournaments, and has been eliminated three times on penalties. In 1990, he participated in his first World Cup. Despite a good performance, he was eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina (1-1, 4-3 on the pens) Four years later, in the United States, an even more severe result awaits the Milan defender. After a checkered journey symbolized by a third-place finish in the group stage and victories in the finals in the round of 16 (2-1 local time against Nigeria), in the quarter-finals (2-1 against Spain) and in the two-half (2-1 against Spain). Bulgaria), Transalbenes reach the final to challenge Brazil Romário and Bebeto.
Paolo Maldini during his World Cup debut in 1990 (A. Lecoq / L’Équipe)
At the end of a closed confrontation, the Seleção won on penalties (0-0 ab, 3-2 pens) after a failed attempt by Roberto Baggio. The shock is palpable, and the person concerned will announce this failure: “It was engraved in me for life. I never got over this episode. I will never get over it. I learned to live with it.” Paolo Maldini never attempted a shot on goal in the three tournaments he attended, even during the elimination against France in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup (0-0 points, 3-4 on pens), reinforcing the sense of bitterness related to these defeats.
In 2002, he ended his World Cup saga on a very sad note. In his 23rd match in the competition, he was eliminated in the round of 16 by South Korea, the host nation (1-2 a.m.). Paolo Maldini won the Champions League five times with AC Milan and was crowned seven times in Serie A. He also had an unhappy selection career. Even during Euro 2000, Sylvain Wiltord and David Trezeguet dashed the hopes of the Italian captain.
Michel Platini (France), crossed out by Germany
Michel Platini, unlike the other players on this list, won a national title: Euro 1984, the first in French football. But the playmaker fared worse at the World Cup. Twice, the FRG shortened the path of the France team. For the first time – and by far the most painful – in 1982, during the “Seville night”. With a penalty kick (27), he responds to Pierre Littbarski’s opener (17). Fatal error by German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston and the French crossbar Later, the two teams try to make the decision in overtime.
Michel Platini in the 1982 World Cup semi-final duel against FRG (3-3 ab, 5-4 on pens) (L’Equipe)
The French national team leads 3-1 after two goals from Marius Tresor (93) and Alain Giresse (100). But Rummenigge, after the counter (104), then Fischer with an acrobatic return (108), grabbed a penalty shootout, the first in the history of the World Cup. At 3-2 in favor of the Blues, Stielike fell short against Ettori but six in turn missed his shot on goal. At 4-4, Bossis hits to the right of Schumacher who pushes the ball wide. Hrubesch converts his attempt and then takes out France. Four years later, the French returned to the semi-finals after a heroic victory over Brazil (1-1, 4-3 at the pens), but again came back against their German rivals (2-0). A taste of the unfinished business of a golden generation who came close to the world summit without ever achieving it.
Ferenc Puskas (Hungary), unfortunate finalist
1954 was the year of Hungary and its star striker, Ferenc Puskas. “The Wonder Team” reaches the World Cup in Switzerland without defeat for four years. The Hungarians crushed South Korea first (9-0) with a brace from Puskas and continued their attacking frenzy by crushing FRG 8-3. Due to an ankle injury, the striker misses the quarter-finals and semi-finals of his team, which is essential in his absence.
Ferenc Puskas against FRG (3-2), in the 1954 World Cup Final (L’Equipe)
Demoted, he still participated in the Grand Final leading to revenge against West Germany. This time, the features of the match are completely different. If Puskas opened the scoring and Hungary took the break, the Germans completely reversed the course of the match and eventually won (3-2). However, the best player in the competition believed in the equalizer at the end of the match, but the signals offside him. The damage has been done, for the first time in four years and at the worst time, Hungary are defeated and see their World Cup dream come to an end.
Cristiano Ronaldo, silent in the final stage
Cristiano Ronaldo experienced the euphoria of being crowned Euro 2016, but things were always more complicated at the World Cup. In 2006, the Portuguese were narrowly eliminated by France in the semi-finals with a penalty kick from Zinedine Zidane (1-0). During the World Cup finals in South Africa, four years later, the Selecao fell on a Spanish team on a cloud and managed to beat them in the round of 16 thanks to David Villa (1-0). In 2014, the year CR7 achieved its first UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, scoring just one goal in the competition, Portugal was eliminated in the first round, culminating in a major setback against Germany (4-0).
Cristiano Ronaldo has spent the last two World Cup matches on the bench. (P. Lahalle/The Team)
His moment may finally have come in 2018. His hat-trick against Spain (3-3), in the Portuguese’s first game in the competition, sends a powerful signal. But once again, the striker failed to break the situation in the round of 16 against Uruguay, who dominated the debates (2-1). The World Cup in Qatar is definitely the last for Cristiano Ronaldo. Apart from a penalty goal against Ghana (3-2) in the group stage, the captain faces an irreparable demotion as the tournament progresses. Instead of Switzerland (6-1) in the Round of 16 and during the quarter-final defeat against Morocco (0-1), he could not leave the mark he wanted in the World Cup.
