The European Championship competitions will kick off next week, amid the absence of a group of players who have stood out recently, foremost among them the Manchester City star Erling Haaland. The Norwegian national team did not qualify for the European Championship, causing Haaland and his compatriot Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard to miss a major tournament for the second time, having missed the 2022 World Cup together. Haaland pays the price for the poor performance of his national team in various qualifiers, making participation in major international events extremely difficult. Haaland fears that the situation will remain the same until the moment of his retirement, joining a group of legends who were unable to participate in the World Cup finals or even the European Championship.
The following report presents a list of 4 legends who never experienced participation in the World Cup finals or the European Championship:
**Alfredo Di Stefano**
Despite many considering him one of the best footballers, Real Madrid legend Di Stefano never participated in the World Cup or the European Championship. Throughout his career, Di Stefano represented three national teams: Spain, Colombia, and Argentina, but he never played in the World Cup. Argentina did not qualify for the 1950 World Cup, and Di Stefano was ineligible for the 1954 World Cup after previously representing Argentina and Colombia. After obtaining Spanish citizenship, he played some qualifying matches, but the Spanish team failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. When Spain reached the finals in 1962, Di Stefano was unable to participate due to injury. Di Stefano was close to playing for Spain in the 1960 European Championship, but the team withdrew from the tournament.
**George Best**
With magical skills, Best became a legend at Manchester United, but he was unable to lead Northern Ireland to the World Cup. Best participated in 37 international matches with Northern Ireland, scoring 9 goals. Although the team's coach, Billy Bingham, considered calling up Best for the 1982 World Cup, he ultimately did not go through with it.
**Ryan Giggs**
Considered one of the best Welsh players in history, Giggs was unable to qualify for any tournament at the national level. After winning numerous titles as a player for Manchester United, Giggs's international career remains very modest compared to what he achieved with the "Red Devils," for whom he won every possible title. Giggs represented the Welsh national team 64 times and scored 12 goals, but Wales was unable to qualify for various tournaments during his era until the arrival of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
**George Weah**
One of the greatest African football players of all time, Weah's dream of participating in the World Cup remained elusive, even after he became coach of the Liberian national team following his retirement. Weah's club career was astounding with Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan, and he won the Ballon d'Or as well, but Liberia's performance was modest compared to the African football powerhouses. Weah's hands did not receive applause alone before he received special consolation by watching his son, Timothy Weah, represent the United States in the 2022 World Cup.
