Last week David Beckham was left out of the England squad to face Switzerland on Wednesday. Coach Fabio Capello's decision leaves Golden Balls stranded on 99 international caps. He may one day get his 100th, but if not, he's not the only nearly man.
SIR DONALD BRADMAN
The Don was arguably the world's greatest cricketer, with a batting average of 99.94 that dwarfed every batsman before or since. All he needed was to score four runs in his final match before retiring at the Oval in 1948 to take it to the magic 100. Instead, England bowled him out for a duck. The Aussies have never forgiven us.
GARY LINEKER
These days Gary Lineker evokes images of potato snacks rather than footballing majesty - a shame, because the presenter scored a whopping 48 England goals in his career, just one short of Sir Bobby Charlton's record. Lineker never got his chance to equalise Sir Bob's tally, after Graham Taylor substituted him in his final England match.
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JOSH GIBSON
You probably haven't heard of Gibson, regarded as one of the greatest baseball players ever, and here's why: in the 1930s an unwritten agreement stipulated that only white people could play in the Major League, meaning Gibson only ever played in the "negro league" and fame and fortune eluded him. It wasn't until 1972, 25 years after his death, that the Black Babe Ruth was finally welcomed into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
JUSTIN GATLIN
Remember rounding up fractions in school maths lessons? The American sprinter Justin Gatlin will probably never forget. In 2006 he recorded a time of 9.766sec for the 100m - a new world record - but officials later ruled that it should have been rounded up to 9.77sec, which only matched Asafa Powell's existing world record.
KEN DOHERTY
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The Irish snooker player needed only to pot the last black during the final of the 2000 Benson & Hedges Masters. Not only would it be Doherty's first maximum 147 break, but it would also win an £80,000 sports car put up as a prize. The black was a sitter, but Doherty still missed it and went on to lose the match. However, his 140 did at least earn him £19,000 for highest break.