Ahead of the Champions League final, Goal takes a look back at the clubs, managers and players who don't have the best final record
unknownBenfica | Europe
Benfica were cursed in 1962 when manager Bela Guttman asked for a pay increase in the wake of their European Cup win. His request was quickly turned down and he left the club saying: “'Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion.”
56 years on and Benfica have since been in eight European finals, losing every single one of them. Only 44 more years to go then!
AdvertisementGetty ImagesNetherlands | World Cup
Arguably the best football team to never win the World Cup, the Netherlands innovated ‘Total Football’ in the 1970s and reached two World Cup finals. They lost both finals – to West Germany in 1974 and Argentina four years later – and even took the lead in the first of those showpiece games without their opponents touching the ball.
In 2010, the Dutch reached their third World Cup final but it was anything but ‘Total Football’ for the Netherlands as they picked up a staggering nine yellow cards and one red as Spain won 1-0 after extra time thanks to Andres Iniesta’s goal.
Lionel Messi | Argentina
Lionel Messi has played in four finals for Argentina and has lost every one of them.
He has enjoyed a club career with Barcelona which has been blessed by trophies, but international honours continue to elude the 30-year-old.
Messi has lost the last two Copa America finals on penalties, having lost in the final in that tournament three times, as well as the 2014 World Cup final when Mario Gotze scored the only goal for Germany
GettyArsenal | League Cup
Arsenal are one of the most decorated clubs in English football but one trophy that their cabinet is quite light on is the League Cup.
The Gunners have only won the trophy twice in their history, having suffered six final defeats in all, including surprises losses to Swindon Town, Luton Town and Birmingham City.
It was also a trophy which eluded Arsene Wenger during his 22-year reign as Arsenal boss as he lost in the final three times, including this season to Premier League champions Manchester City.