9 Greatest Footballers Of All Time (Who Never Went To A World Cup)

Nowadays every footballer is a celebrity. Some are more high profile than others, but fans around the world can follow the every moves of their favourite teams and players through social media and their lifestyles and excesses are regular tabloid fodder.

The pioneering football celebrity was undoubtedly George Best, who became known in the 1960s for his playboy antics off the pitch as much as his dazzling talents on it, gaining the moniker of the 'fifth Beatle'.

The Belfast-born winger broke into Matt Busby's Manchester United side as a teenager, establishing a formidable attacking partnership with Bobby Charlton and Denis Law that became known as the 'United Trinity' (now commemorated by a statue of the three outside Old Trafford).

Following United's European Cup triumph in 1968, Best began a sharp decline as his increasingly alcohol and womanising fuelled lifestyle started to catch up with him. Though he was still playing (at the age of 36) in 1982 when his native Northern Ireland made their one and only appearance at the World Cup, he was not recalled to the team, with only brief consideration given to the prospect by manager Billy Bingham given that it'd been five years since his last appearance.

Alcoholism then plagued Best for the rest of his life, ultimately claiming it in 2005. Had he been able to conquer his demons, a World Cup cameo would've been a fitting tribute to a career that was still incredible despite its short lifespan.