Figo, Ramos, Zlatan: 5 football legends who never scored a world cup goal

Scoring a FIFA World Cup goal has immortalised several A-listers over the decades. Yet a few of the game's biggest names have never found the back of the net on football's grandest stage — including these five superstars.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored over 500 goals for top clubs worldwide, but never replicated that form for Sweden. Across the 2002 and 2006 editions, he failed to score, and had already retired internationally by the time Sweden returned in 2018.

Frank Lampard, among the most complete players in Premier League history, never scored at the FIFA World Cup. Representing England's golden generation in 2006, 2010 and 2014, he was never on the scoreboard for the Three Lions.

Luis Figo, the 2000 Ballon d'Or winner and one of the game's best wingers, led Portugal's golden generation across 2002 and 2006. Despite reaching the semis in 2006, Figo finished his World Cup career with 10 appearances and no goals.

Pavel Nedvěd, the 2003 Ballon d'Or winner, saw his prime years wasted as the Czech Republic failed to qualify. By the time they did in 2006, he was in his career's twilight and was knocked out goalless in the group stage.

Sergio Ramos won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and scored 130 club goals, mostly for Real Madrid, with clinical headers and long-range strikes. Yet across four World Cup editions from 2006 to 2018, he never scored for Spain.

Two Ballon d'Or winners, a World Cup-winning captain, and football's most decorated club legends — all united by one missing line on their résumé: a FIFA World Cup goal that simply never came.