Video: Nine other great players who have never won the Champions League as Gianluigi Buffon looks to end wait

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Manchester United and Arsenal legends are amongst the great players to have never won the Champions League.

As Gianluigi Buffon incredibly goes into this season’s Champions League final still looking to win the competition for the first time, HITC Sport has taken a look at nine other players who have surprisingly never lifted Europe’s premier trophy…

Ronaldo

Ronaldo was, for a long time, the most lethal goalscorer playing in Europe, representing the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He joined Real Madrid after their 2002 triumph at Hampden Park, and repeated the trick when he joined AC Milan shortly after they beat Liverpool in the final in 2007.

Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won practically everything across many of Europe’s major leagues during his career, but like Ronaldo, poor timing has prevented him getting his hands on the big one. He left Inter Milan the season before they won the competition under Jose Mourinho and was on Barcelona’s books in 2011 when they won the trophy, but was actually out on loan with AC Milan.

Pavel Nedved

Pavel Nedved was one of Europe’s most talented players around the turn of the Millennium but was suspended for the 2003 final when Juventus took on AC Milan at Old Trafford. Milan won on penalties, so perhaps the Czech Republic hero’s presence in the team would have tipped the game in the Old Lady’s favour.

Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira left Arsenal the year before the 2006 final that the Gunners reached and lost to Barcelona, and agonisingly, left Inter Milan just five months before they beat Bayern Munich in 2010.

Patrick Vieira

Francesco Totti

The few honours that Francesco Totti has won do not do justice to how great a career he has enjoyed. Roma have never reached the final during Totti’s career.

Robert Lewandowski

It will be a big surprise if Robert Lewandowski ends his career without a Champions League trophy. The Bayern Munich star was a runner-up in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund, and is yet to reach the final since.

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Despite playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid during his career, Ruud van Nistelrooy never reached the Champions League final. He did win the competition’s golden boot three times however.

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Fabio Cannavaro

Fabio Cannavaro is a World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner and played for Inter, Juve and Real Madrid during his career, but never won the Champions League.

Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram was a losing finalist with Juve in 2003 and arrived at Barcelona shortly after their 2005 triumph. Unfortunately for the legendary full-back, Barca would also win the trophy in the first season following his departure.