Johan Cruyff, Eusebio, Zico... Lionel Messi? Argentina star misses out on first major trophy for his country... so, here are 10 other greats who never won internationally

• Chile 0-0 Argentina (AET, 4-1 pens): Lionel Messi loses on penalties
• Barcelona superstar Messi has never won a major trophy for his country
• Messi, 28, is running out of time to avoid missing out on the honour 

By Kieran Gill for MailOnline

Published: 07:53 EST, 6 July 2015 | Updated: 09:15 EST, 6 July 2015

Only Lionel Messi knows what went through his mind when a young supporter asked for a selfie on the pitch in Santiago, just moments after Argentina had failed to end their 22-year trophy drought.

Unfortunately for the Barcelona superstar, posing for photographs and signing autographs is part of the duty of being the world's greatest footballer, even after your dreams have just been crushed.

The 28-year-old may never get to lift a major trophy with Argentina before he retires, with Messi's only success for his country coming at the 2008 Olympics in China.

Yet the four-time Ballon d'Or winner is not the only legend of the game to miss out. Here, Sportsmail look at 10 other greats who never won a major honour at international level.

Argentina's Lionel Messi gestures during their penalty shoot-out defeat by Copa America 2015 hosts Chile

Messi's Argentina lost in the final after playing out a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes against hosts Chile

Messi is running out of time to win a major trophy with his country after the superstar recently turned 28

Johan Cruyff, Holland (1966-77: 48 caps, 33 goals)

Trophy after trophy for Ajax, Barcelona and Feyenoord, but none for Holland. At club level, he won 10 titles in Eredivisie and La Liga, and three European Cups.

Yet the closest the legend came on the international stage was runner-up at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, which was won by the hosts, and third place at Euro 1976 in Yugoslavia.

Johan Cruyff won plenty of trophies for Ajax, Barcelona and Feyenoord but never for Holland

Ferenc Puskas, Hungary (1945-55: 85 caps, 84 goals), Spain (1961-62: 4 caps, 0 goals)

Hungary dominated football in the early 1950s. Puskas, like Messi, won gold at the Olympics in 1952, and they were unbeaten in four years as they arrived at the 1954 World Cup.

They reached the final, where Puskas scored the opener despite playing with a hairline fracture.

Hungary went 2-0 up, but were eventually beaten 3-2 by West Germany. So close, yet so far for the man who scored a remarkable 84 goals in 85 appearances for his country.

Ferenc Puskas played for Hungary between 1945 and 1955, earning 85 caps and scoring 84 goals

Eusebio, Portugal (1961-73: 64 caps, 41 goals)

One of the greatest to ever step foot on a pitch with 11 titles and a single European Cup for Benfica.

Yet the 1965 Ballon d'Or winner only came closest to winning on the international stage in 1966, when Portugal finished third at the World Cup.

Portugal's national team simply wasn't good enough to go on to win the tournament, and Eusebio was destined to win nothing for his country.

Eusebio was one of the greatest to step foot on a pitch with 11 titles and a single European Cup for Benfica

Zico, Brazil (1976-86: 71 caps, 48 goals)

The individual honours won by Zico go on and on. The attacker was arguably the best player in the world in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which Pele acknowledges, but his CV is incomplete.

Zico came third at the 1978 World Cup and reached the quarter-finals in 1986, but would always miss out on the trophy itself.

Zico came third at the 1978 World Cup and reached the quarter-finals in 1986 but never won the tournament

Paolo Maldini, Italy (1988-2002: 126 caps, 7 goals)

Maldini won seven Serie A titles with AC Milan, as well as five European Cups. Yet when it came to playing for Italy, the defender could not win a thing.

Runners-up at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000, third place at the 1990 World Cup, and semi-finalists for Euro 1988.

Then, just his luck, Maldini retired at the age of 34 after the 2002 World Cup, four years before Italy won the tournament in 2006.

Paolo Maldini won seven Serie A titles with AC Milan but could never win a major trophy for Italy

Roberto Baggio, Italy (1988-2004: 56 caps, 27 goals)

Another one of Italy's greatest, who helped drag his team to the 1994 World Cup final after ending as top goalscorer during their qualifying campaign.

Sadly for Baggio, that was as far as the attacker would get. Italy drew 0-0 with Brazil, and it came down to penalties. Baggio missed the last spot-kick, and the Brazilians won the coveted trophy.

He bizarrely never featured in a European Championship, and is currently the Italian with the most caps to never do so. Baggio made his 56th and final appearance for Italy in 2004.

Roberto Baggio missed the final penalty of the 1994 World Cup that saw Brazil beat Italy for the trophy

Michael Ballack, Germany (1999-2010: 98 caps, 42 goals)

Ballack dragged Germany to the final of the 2002 World Cup, but a booking for a tactical foul during their semi-final with South Korea saw him suspended for the showdown with Brazil.

The Germans lost 2-0, and the Brazilians were victorious once more. He starred in Euro 2008, and captained Germany as they were beaten by Spain.

As memorable as his spells at Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Chelsea were, Ballack never won an honour on the international stage.

Michael Ballack could not win a major trophy with Germany across his 11 years playing for his country

Paul Gascoigne, England (1988-98: 57 caps, 10 goals)

Sure, you could name other England icons such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, but Gazza deserves his place in this list for those tears at Italia '90.

It was there where England finished fourth and Gascoigne was famously reduced to tears after receiving a yellow card against West Germany, meaning he would be suspended for the final. 

The pain goes on for Gazza and England supporters everywhere.

Paul Gascoigne was reduced to tears at Italia '90 when England lost to West Germany in the semi-final

Michael Laudrup, Denmark (1982-98: 104 caps, 37 goals)

Plenty believe Laudrup was to the 1990s what Cruyff was to the 1970s. Laudrup was a superstar, winning trophies for Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax.

Yet he never managed to get a major trophy with Denmark. They cruised through Group E at the 1986 World Cup, but lost 5-1 to Spain in the following round.

And when Denmark won Euro 1992, Laudrup had already retired internationally during qualifying. A great shame for the former Swansea City manager to miss out.

Former Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup never won a major trophy with Denmark 

Brian Laudrup won Euro 1992 with Denmark but his brother Michael didn't take part in the tournament

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (2003-NOW: 120 caps, 55 goals)

Time is running out for the 30-year-old to ensure he does not retire from international football without a major win to add to his already-remarkable CV.

Ronaldo should never make this list, of course. It was in the final of the Euro 2004 that Greece stunned Portugal to win the tournament, and they humiliated the host country.

Can he or Messi right this wrong? At 30 and 28 respectively, time is running out for both. 

Cristiano Ronaldo was stunned in the final of the Euro 2004 (pictured) when Greece beat Portugal

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