Source: Daily_Mail
THE LIST: The best footballers to have never played in the World Cup - 40-31
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is the greatest player to never play at the World Cup? The World Cup draw takes place on Friday when the world's top stars will discover who they go head-to-head with in South Africa. It is the pinnacle of any player's career but there are plenty of leading figures who have missed out over the years. Who do you think is the greatest player to never walk out at the World Cup? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK With the 2010 World Cup draw just days away in Cape Town, spare athought for the nations that won't be pulled out of the hat for nextsummer's finals in South Africa.[LNB]And then consider the host ofworld class stars who won't be there either next June. Keane, Arshavin,Adebayor and Cech immediately spring to mind.[LNB]But who are the best ever players to have never played in what is the pinnacle of any footballer's career?[LNB]Read Nos 50-41Sportsmail'sexperts have cast their deciding votes and we'll guide you through theall-star list of 50 everyday, counting down to Friday's draw when we'llreveal our top 10.[LNB]And, as ever, make sure you have your say...[LNB] 40 Japhet N'DoramThe striker made his name in the French league with Nantes and became something of a cult hero after scoring the winning goal in the Champions League match against Juventus and claiming a French championship medal in 1995. [LNB]Unfortunately for N'Doram he was born in Chad, a country which has never qualified for the Finals.[LNB] Chad luck: N'Doram has never been able to play on the biggest stage of all[LNB]39 Colin ToddTodd won two League titles with Derby County, was voted the PFAPlayer's Player of the Year in 1975 and won 27 caps for England.[LNB] Butthe international honours came at a time when the national side wasn't terribly fond ofqualifying for major tournaments and the central defender was neverable to strut his stuff beside the best in the world.[LNB] Unlucky: Todd[LNB]Unpredictable: Bellamy[LNB] 38 Craig BellamyBellamy's on-off relationship with his national side is an irrelevance asthey haven't qualified since 1958.[LNB]But the forward has scored goals for every club he's represented and would not look out of place at a World Cup.[LNB][LNB]37 Tony CurrieOne of football's almost men, Currie very nearly won the League Cupwith Leeds, he went close in the FA Cup with QPR and England were afantastic Polish goalkeeping display away from qualifying for the World Cup of1974. [LNB]Currie retired with 17 caps to his name butnone of them came at the big one.[LNB] Bring it on: Currie mixes it with the Brazilians during an England friendly[LNB][LNB]36 Andrei KanchelskisThis is a controversial one as Kanchelskis was an important part of theRussia side that qualified for the 1994 World Cup in USA but missed outafter senior players refused to play for boss Pavel Sadyrin. [LNB]The former ManchesterUnited, Everton and Rangers winger made it to European tournaments butnever the World Cup.[LNB][LNB] Wide boy: Kanchelskis never managed to wing his way to the World Cup [LNB]35 Mark LawrensonLawro loves to wax lyrical about the finer points of football wheneverhe's on the Match of the Day sofas but the mustachioed-one neveractually made it to the World Cup Finals. [LNB]He was good enough to winfive League titles, one European crown, one FA Cup and three LeagueCups but he made his last appearance for Ireland two years before theirfirst Finals.[LNB] Bad timing: Lawrenson[LNB]Bad boy: Di Canio[LNB] 34 Paolo Di CanioDi Canio was famed for his fiery personality and his goals - some of thebest the Premier League is ever likely to see.[LNB]But he was always overlookedby the Italy selectors. He brought so much entertainment to footballlovers in Scotland and England but was deemed not worthy of asingle international cap.[LNB][LNB]33 Paul MadeleyThe utility man won the Fairs Cup, League Cup and two League titles with Leeds United - the only team he ever played for.[LNB]Englishman Madeleywas offered a place at the 1970 World Cup Finals but declined it as hewas to be taken solely as cover in case of injuries.[LNB][LNB] Bootiful game: Madeley didn't go to Mexico in 1970[LNB]32 Abedi PeleThe former Ghana captain was namedAfrican Footballer of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and his Braziliannamesake branded him as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers inMarch 2004. [LNB]Plaudits aplenty but Ghana have qualified just the oncefor the Finals - in 2006 - and that came eight years after he hadretired from international football.[LNB][LNB] Well named: Pele[LNB]Oh Bulgar: Berbatov[LNB] 31 Dimitar BerbatovThe Bulgaria striker has entertained the Premier League since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 - and has won the League Cup with Spurs and the title at Manchester United.[LNB]The all-time top scorer for his country but Berbatov has never played at the World Cup. The last time Bulgaria qualified, he was just 17 years old. [LNB]The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 Merseyside derby heroesSportsmail's top 50 players from Tottenham or ArsenalSportsmail's top 50 football kits of all time Sportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's worst 50 strikers in the Premier LeagueSportsmail's top 50 stars who failed to play fairSportsmail's top 50 midfield maestrosSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 free-kick kingsSportsmail's top 50 England heroesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's top 50 signings of the season Sportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroesSportsmail's top 50 partnerships [LNB] Explore more:Places:Leeds, Cape Town, Bulgaria, Chad, South Africa, Russia, Italy, Scotland, Ghana, Ireland, United Kingdom, Mexico
