As the soccer world rolls through Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there’s inevitably going to be a lot of discussion about “legacy” and superstars who have never quite broken through with a glorious moment in this competition.
I’m talking, of course, about some of the top dynamos in men’s soccer history who have never won the World Cup. To be clear, the players on this list aren’t necessarily to blame for their countries never standing on top of the international soccer world. This is still a team sport where everyone has to play in unison. And the best team — not the best player (awarded the Golden Ball at every tournament) — wins far more often than not.
From perhaps the greatest player in the history of the world’s most popular game to a prolific, talented striker with genuinely no realistic hope of ever winning the World Cup — here’s a look at the 10 best active players who haven’t won the prestigious championship, along with their respective odds to win this year’s Golden Ball. Note: We’re highlighting players who have been around for a good while but have still never made it to the top of the summit.
(All odds courtesy of BetMGM)
10
Harry Kane, England
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +1600
The 29-year-old Kane has been one of the world’s better No. 9’s for a while now. And, in the international sense, he is a loaded England squad’s best option in the box as a striker. He’s the current face of the “Three Lions” ongoing World Cup drought.
9
Luis Suarez, Uruguay
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +8000
Few players have ever had as much of an impact as the human goal machine/annoying pest (to opponents) in Suarez. At 35, he’s undoubtedly past the best years of his career. But Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer for the Men is in Qatar for at least one more shot at World Cup glory.
8
Eden Hazard, Belgium
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +5000
On the Golden Generation of Belgian Men’s international soccer, it would be a mistake to overlook the 31-year-old’s Hazard failure to climb the World Cup summit. He’s one of the top midfielders of his era and would love nothing more than to finally break through with the sport’s biggest trophy on a team many will still pick to win the whole thing.
7
Luka Modrić, Croatia
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +6500
Another of the top midfielders of his generation, Modrić spearheaded Croatia’s surprise dark horse run to the last World Cup Final. Years later, the Real Madrid talisman is one of the few remaining players from that talented core. This is unfortunate because that means said Final was probably this star’s best (and last) shot.
6
Neymar, Brazil
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +1000
As long as players like Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar are representing Brazil, they’ll always be a popular pick to win it all. If not for other active stars also wearing the No. 10 jersey, he might be rightfully considered the best at his individual position.
5
Karim Benzema, France
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +1400
One of the most accomplished strikers in the history of Men’s soccer, Benzema — who was recently found guilty of sex tape extortion — returns to defending World Cup champion France’s lineup after missing the 2018 edition.
4
Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +1400
Often regarded as the “most complete” player of his era, De Bruyne is still missing that elusive World Cup title despite tearing it up with Manchester City every year. If Belgium is to finally break through, it’ll likely be on the leg and creativity of De Bruyne.
3
Robert Lewandowski, Poland
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +8000
Lewandowski is a classic case study of an incredible, generational player on a team bereft of any supportive talent to match. Save for the next two men on this list, the Polish No. 9 might be the best pure goal scorer that Men’s soccer has ever known. In what might be Lewandowski’s final World Cup, it’s a real shame Poland still doesn’t have a squad up to the par of the most talented player it’s ever had.
2
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +2900
Look, at this point, I have my doubts Ronaldo cares too much about actually winning the World Cup for Portugal, given all he’s accomplished domestically in an illustrious career. But it’s still so weird to know that the arguably second-best player in the Men’s soccer pantheon doesn’t have a World Cup title.
1
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Odds to win the 2022 Golden Ball: +750
In what also might be his last World Cup, few would disagree if you said Messi was the best player in soccer history. Full stop. (Yes, even over Pelé.) Messi doesn’t need a World Cup to validate a distinguished career where he’s scored, assisted on, and won quite literally just about every other meaningful championship. But it sure would be nice to see this living legend finally fill the one moderately-sized gap in his trophy case.
