The question of which football greats never set foot on English soil has intrigued fans for years. Cameron Turner posed the query to The Knowledge, wondering if any legends avoided the 'home of football' entirely. The answer, it turns out, is a mix of distant history and South American stars from the black-and-white era.
Arthur Friedenreich, Brazil's first global superstar, never played in England. He starred in Brazil's first international match in 1914 against Exeter City—but that was in Brazil. His only European tour came in 1925 with Paulistano, visiting France, Switzerland and Portugal, where French press dubbed him the 'King of Football'.
Clodoaldo, the hip-swinging midfielder from Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning side, also qualifies. He was part of Santos' 1973 European tour that included games against Fulham and Plymouth, but he did not appear in either match. Other eligible greats include Roger Milla, who was due to play for Cameroon at Wembley in 1991 but pulled out over a fee dispute, and Obdulio Varela, Uruguay's 1950 World Cup-winning captain.
The Knowledge also delved into unusual football trivia, such as hat-tricks scored against three different goalkeepers. Chris Pike achieved this for Hereford against Colchester United in 1993, while Alvin Martin famously did so for West Ham against Newcastle in 1986, scoring past two outfield players after the keeper was injured.
Another query asked about the highest ratio of European Cup titles to domestic league titles. The Knowledge invites readers to send further nominations for the greatest footballer never to play in England, aiming to compile a full XI.
