Legendary club footballers who failed to perform for their country

Some players excel for their club, but fail for their country. These great footballers were or are unrecognisable when they put on their country's shirt.

Football history – especially English football – is littered with such players. Let's take a look at some of the most notable examples of great club players who were subpar in international appearances.

That same year, he set an unfortunate record: 37 shots without scoring in a single tournament, the most by any player since the 1966 World Cup, according to The Guardian.

Despite scoring 32 goals in 75 appearances for Argentina, as documented by Transfermarkt, Gonzalo Higuain's international career is often overshadowed by high-profile misses. These crucial errors, particularly in key moments, are remembered for having cost Lionel Messi and his teammates the 2014 World Cup.

More than 260 career goals, according to Transfermarkt , but only 10 with the Red Devils. An iconic PSV striker in the 90s, Luc Nilis always disappointed with Belgium.

With 207 goals for Lazio, four Serie A top scorer titles, and a record 36 goals in a single season – tying with Gonzalo Higuain – Ciro Immobile has firmly cemented his place in Italian football history. However, his performances for the national team have been far less impressive, marked by inconsistency and underwhelming displays. Immobile has managed only 17 goals in 57 appearances for Italy, often failing to replicate his club-level success.

In absolute terms, Eric Cantona’s record for France wasn’t poor – he scored 20 goals in 45 appearances. By most standards, that's a solid performance. However, when you compare his transformative impact at Manchester United to his contributions to the international stage, the difference is striking. The "King" never quite reached the same heights with the French national team.

If you ask a Turkish fan about Hakan Çalhanoğlu's performances with the national team, disappointment is likely to be their response. While he has excelled at Bayer Leverkusen and Inter, the midfielder's contributions to the national team have been rather subdued, even with over 90 caps to his name.

Regarded as the "bad boy" of French football, Nicolas Anelka left a significant mark on the history of the Blues due to his infamous clash with coach Raymond Domenech during the 2010 World Cup. This is still the stuff of nightmares for some French fans today!

Among the list of number nines who have struggled with the Argentine national team – such as Higuain, Icardi, and Lautaro Martinez – Sergio Agüero deserves a mention. A legend at Manchester City, the striker never managed to establish himself as a key player for the Albiceleste.

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