5. Liam Brady

The Irish hero never got to reach the promised land after a falling out with, then manager, Jack Charlton led to the winger being dropped. The Dubliner missed World Cups in Italy and America.

4. George Weah

The 1995 world player of the year never had a hope of going to a major let alone a world cup.  Having said that, the Liberian would still have been terrific to watch on the biggest stage of them all.

3. Eric Cantona

‘The King’ as he was known to the Old Trafford faithful, never really figured for ‘Les Blues’ and possibly the biggest footballing shame of world cup ’98 was that their best striker wasn’t playing.

2.  George Best

Maradona good, Pele better, George Best.  The Belfast born winger had a chance to go to Spain 1982 but couldn’t get fit in time. A European winner with United in 1968, Best was a massive absence from the World Cup.

1. Ryan Giggs

The Welsh wizard is the most decorated footballers in the history of the beautiful game.  Giggs has won two World and European Cups with United but has never featured at a major of any description.  Germany 2006 was as close as he got, when Wales finished third in qualifying.