Zico and co miss out on the biggest prize.

Is it a travesty of justice that Zico never won a World Cup winners’ medal? Even in the fickle world of football you would have to say yes.

Recognised as one of the greatest players of all time, he appeared 72 times for Brazil, scoring an impressive 52 goals.

He represented his country at the 1978, ’82 and ’86 World Cups, setting the game alight with his array of skills, dribbling and fearsome shot on each occasion. But it was the squad of '82 – featuring the likes of Falcao, Socrates and Junior, and recognised as one of the best ever – that had the football world perplexed at their Second Round exit.

Modestly, the great Pele is believed to have said, “throughout the years, the one player that came closest to me was Zico.” High praise indeed, although some may argue that even without the medals, the “white Pele” has the edge over the original.