Ronaldo, Buffon and Ibrahimovic Among Greatest XI Never to Win the Champions League

Manchester City's spellbinding, toe-tingling brand of football under Pep Guardiola finally managed to break the glass ceiling of winning the UEFA Champions League after they edged out Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

The victory by the Citizens did not only end their long wait for the Holy Grail but also saw the Mancunian club emulate their neighbours, Manchester United's 1999 treble feat of winning the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the coveted UCL.

It invariably means more than two-thirds of Pep's charges had the winner's medal around their neck for the first time after their long dominance of English football.

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While the likes of John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Erling Haaland managed to etch their names into the competition's history books as winners, there remains a strong set of football icons who never got the opportunity to hoist the big-eared trophy.

Sports Brief takes a look at the greatest footballers who missed out on winning the Champions League, despite their illustrious careers.

Gianluigi Buffon - goalkeeper

A World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, Buffon's sterling career has been bereft of only one major trophy - the UEFA Champions League. Despite playing in the 2003, 2015, and 2017 finals, the iconic custodian was on the losing end, per FourFourTwo.

A move to PSG could not change his Champions League status, and while remaining active at age 45 with boyhood club, Parma, Buffon will disappointedly miss out on winning the big-eared trophy.

Fabio Cannavaro - defender

Fabio Cannavaro was another Italian who also missed out on winning the coveted trophy. Despite being one of the very few defenders to have won the Ballon d'Or, he would no doubt love to trade his individual gong for Europe's first-tier club competition.

Lillian Thuram - defender

Perhaps there is something that comes with playing for Juventus, i.e. not winning the Champions League. A fine defender during his prime, Thuram had a hugely successful career that saw him annex the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), World Cup, and Euros, among a plethora of domestic trophies - but not the UCL.

Bobby Moore - defender

For the first time on this list, a player with no Juventus allegiance has been mentioned - Bobby Moore, the iconic English defender who helped the Three Lions win their only World Cup in 1966 to date.

His unwavering loyalty to West Ham probably robbed him of winning the Champions League.

Patrick Vieira - midfielder

Vieira was a colossus of a midfielder during his heydays with Arsenal and the French national team. Although he had a remarkable career filled with personal accolades and played for unbeatable teams and consistent champions, the courageous Frenchman ultimately retired with a noticeable void in his collection of trophies.

Cesc Fabregas - Midfielder

A classy midfielder that was deft with the ball at his feet, Fabregas amassed more than 100 appearances in the competition. He even experienced a runner-up finish with Arsenal in 2006.

However, his aspirations came to fruition when he secured a move back to his beloved childhood club, Barcelona, shortly after their fourth triumph in the modern era of the Champions League.

In 2014, Fabregas departed for Stamford Bridge just before Barcelona clinched their fifth and most recent victory in the prestigious tournament.

Michael Ballack - midfielder

Ballack, a commanding presence in midfield, could be seen as the epitome of ill-fated circumstances. He found himself as a runner-up in the World Cup, Euros, and Champions League not once but twice, showcasing a series of unfortunate events that accompanied his career.

The German seems to always be the near man, despite boasting an illustrious career.

Diego Maradona - attacker

Touted by many as the greatest to have ever graced the sport, Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup still resonates among football fans after many decades.

His sheer class and invincibility at the national team level were in sharp contrast during club team football, bar his fairytale-like spell with SSC Napoli.

Despite remaining the best ever in the eyes of many, the iconic Argentine never won the Champions League.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - striker

The towering Swede has firmly established himself as an undeniable force of greatness. With his distinctive appearance, alpha mentality, and self-confidence often bordering on arrogance, the former Manchester United player embodies the spirit of a born winner, collecting trophies wherever he sets foot on a football field, regardless of the location.

Despite amassing numerous accolades and lifting trophies for the multitude of clubs he has represented, Ibrahimovic has yet to claim a UEFA Champions League title to enhance his illustrious collection, AS reports.

Ronaldo Nazario - striker

Another great alongside Diego Maradona is Brazil legend, Ronaldo Nazario de Lima.

Having triumphed in La Liga, Serie A, the Copa America, and the FIFA World Cup during his career, El Fenomeno had the opportunity to raise every trophy imaginable, with one notable exception - the Champions League.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy - striker

Van Nistelrooy holds the unenviable distinction of being the highest-scoring player to never have secured victory in the tournament.

He joined Manchester United two years after their momentous treble in 1999 and departed two years prior to their subsequent European triumph. The striker was unable to taste continental glory during his tenure with the club.

Similarly, during his four-year stint with Real Madrid, he fell short of achieving notable success on the European stage.

Haaland surpassing Ronaldo's UCL record?

Sports Brief also reported that while it is safe to say Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record will stay for years to come, some interesting scenarios suggest players could still surpass him.

A case in point is everyone’s favourite, Erling Haaland, who has an impressive 35 Champions League goals at only 22 and is expected to get better with age - possibly even matching the Portuguese star.

The Norwegian would need to average eight goals in the competition between now and age 35 - the average age at which world-class football players decide to explore competitions outside Europe.