Top players fail to perform in cup finals

A list has been released ranking the greatest football players who struggled in cup finals. The list features notable names like Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane, and it emphasizes how some top players didn’t perform well during the biggest matches of their careers. Football is often about players stepping up in crucial games. However, the following players faced challenges in cup finals. The ranking considers their fame, the number of finals they played in, and their impact in those moments. Lothar Matthaus, the former West Germany captain, had great moments in the 1990 World Cup but missed a penalty in the final due to unexpected issues with his boots. Hugo Loris, who won the World Cup with France, made a crucial error in the 2018 final and lost other major finals. Alan Shearer, the Premier League's all-time top scorer, lost all three finals he participated in without scoring. Paul Gascoigne faced disappointment in the 1991 FA Cup final due to an injury he caused himself early in the game. Erling Haaland had an outstanding season with Manchester City but hasn’t scored in any of the cup finals he played, while Igor Belanov had highlights in previous matches but failed to contribute in key final matches. Romario, despite winning in some important games, did not shine in the Champions League final and was contained in the 1994 World Cup final. Thierry Henry, while being a talented player, scored only once in ten cup finals. Mohamed Salah, known as one of Africa's best players, has two cup final goals, both from penalties. Lastly, Harry Kane is still waiting for his first cup final win and has not scored in the three played with Spurs or in two finals with England. This list showcases that even the best players can face tough luck on football's biggest stages.