The Greatest Current Players Without Titles
If there's one thing that every star athlete looks for to write their legacy, it's winning at least one championship.
While some players say it's the most important thing, others will do whatever it takes in order to win just one, even if that means making the most difficult decision of their lives and joining forces with a former rival to get it. (See: Durant, Kevin)
And since earning that major title instantly puts a superstar in a different class, here are the greatest current players who are still searching for that career-defining moment.
It will be interesting to see if any on this list ever achieve it.
J.J. Watt
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The undisputed best defender in the NFL, the Houston Texans' J.J. Watt has seen plenty of individual success during his first five years in the league, but he's still missing the opportunity to win a Super Bowl.
A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Watt can take over a game like no one else on the defensive side of the ball, and he is the anchor of a defense that has the ability to carry the Texans next season.
With the team's signing of quarterback Brock Osweiler this offseason, could Watt finally get the monkey off his back soon? Time will tell.
Carmelo Anthony
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One of the best offensive players in the NBA since entering the league in 2003, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has seen some success as a player, but he has not enjoyed the same triumphs as some of his best friends from that same draft class, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
While Melo has been an annual All-Star and maintained his loyalty to the Knicks to build a championship contender—rather than chase rings elsewhere—he hasn't been successful just yet.
He's a probable Hall of Famer once his career ends, but unless he snags a ring at some point, he'll forever be an underachiever because of what James, Wade and Bosh have accomplished.
Felix Hernandez
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He might not get the credit he deserves because because he plays in the Pacific Northwest, but Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has been one of the most lethal pitchers in all of baseball.
Still just 30 years old, it seems as if King Felix has been around forever, doesn't it? That's because he accomplished so much before hitting 30 earlier this year that many would think he's out of his prime.
Those people would be wrong, though, as Fernandez is, once again, tearing up opponents—even if his win-loss record in 2016 doesn't show that.
If he could ever get the right team around him, Hernandez could be a champion, but it's unknown if it will ever happen in Seattle.
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Philip Rivers
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San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been one of the most consistent signal-callers in the NFL since coming into the league as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Unfortunately, he has also had some bad luck in terms of team success.
While his Chargers have been a playoff team a handful of times—even finishing with the best record in the AFC at 14-2 in 2006—Rivers hasn't been able to take his squad to the promised land, only getting as far as the AFC Championship Game once (2007).
With a young team around him and questions about the Chargers' future in San Diego looming, who knows if Rivers will ever get the ring he desires.
Rickie Fowler
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Now that Dustin Johnson has won his first major championship, snatching up this year's U.S. Open, the question for golf fans might be when Rickie Fowler gets the monkey off his back.
One of the top players in the world, Fowler has the skills, confidence and personality to become the face of the sport, but he's been unable to finish the job in winning a major, routinely finding himself slipping down the leaderboard as the tourney progresses.
Fowler's now the best golfer without a major, so it'll be interesting to see how that added pressure and narrative affects him.
Steven Stamkos
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Following back-to-back Eastern Conference Final appearances, Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos made the wise move of re-upping with the only franchise he's known this offseason, giving him a great opportunity to finally hoist a Stanley Cup.
While Stamkos has never won a Hart Trophy as the league's MVP, he's a premier talent and one of the best players in the world, netting 312 goals and assisting on 250 others during his eight-year career.
Stamkos and his teammates have stiff competition in the East, but Lightning fans hope the former No. 1 overall pick can deliver and win a title for the organization.
Chris Paul
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Even as he gets older, the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul is still one of the top point guards in the league, as he's capable of guiding his team to the playoffs and, when necessary, taking over in ways that only a superstar can.
Unfortunately, even with premier talent around him in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, CP3 has yet to even taste the NBA Finals, coming up short in heartbreaking fashion in 2015 and then seeing himself and Griffin get injured during this past year's playoffs.
Like the aforementioned Carmelo Anthony, Paul is a likely Hall of Famer when all is said and done, but the one award missing from his resume is an NBA championship.
Clayton Kershaw
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When you talk about once-in-a-generation players, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Clayton Kershaw is one of the first athletes to come to mind.
One of only 11 pitchers in MLB history to win both the league Cy Young Award and MVP, Kershaw is the filthiest pitcher in the game, and it's not even close.
With so much individual success, though, Kershaw's Dodgers have yet to make the leap from a playoff team to a World Series champion, leaving the crafty lefty void of a ring, which is the only thing left for him to accomplish.
Kershaw has written an incredible resume to this point, but his legacy would only improve with a title.
Larry Fitzgerald
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For the past 12 seasons, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the most sure-handed wideouts in the NFL, putting up individual success that has him thinking about Canton whenever he calls it quits.
While Fitz has done his thing, his Arizona Cardinals have fallen short on their goals each year, having some bad luck once they've reached the playoffs in the form of a last-minute touchdown catch in the Super Bowl and unfortunate injuries.
Fitzgerald is already an all-timer, and a Super Bowl ring would only add to his greatness.
Cristiano Ronaldo
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One of the world's best soccer players, Cristiano Ronaldo has won on the club level with Real Madrid, but his legacy as an all-time great relies on him winning with the Portuguese national team—which is something he hasn't been able to do yet.
After failing to lead his team deep into the World Cup knockout round in 2014, Ronaldo's next opportunity to win a major title for his country is in this year's Euro 2016, which could happen if his squad can maintain their level of play.
Winning the World Cup is every soccer player's dream, and when a player is as talented as Ronaldo, that dream can become a nightmare with added pressure if he fails to deliver.
Adrian Peterson
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Arguably the greatest running back the NFL has seen in the past 25-plus years, Adrian Peterson has proved he has a spot in Canton waiting for him when all is said and done. If only he could cap his illustrious career with a Super Bowl title.
The Minnesota Vikings star has rewritten the record books and has done everything as an individual, but his Vikes haven't been able to reach the Super Bowl with him yet.
With a diverse and talented roster—and a wide-open NFC—could AP lead Minny to the promised land before his play declines? They're a trendy team to reach the Super Bowl, so fans in Minnesota hope he can take them there.
Kevin Durant
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Whether you agree or disagree with Kevin Durant's decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Golden State Warriors to chase a ring, it's OK because everyone seems to have an opinion about it.
And while the reaction has been more negative than anything, Durant should be commended for understanding his career will forever be incomplete without an NBA championship, so he went to a place where his odds increase dramatically.
Of course, winning a ring loses some allure outside of OKC, but that's a discussion for another day.
The one-time league MVP is in his prime and knows the importance of finishing the job before his career's over because he's, by far, the biggest star in the NBA without a title.
Alex Ovechkin
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When it comes to the four major North American sports leagues, no athlete without a championship ring is a bigger superstar than Alex Ovechkin.
A three-time league MVP and, at 30 years old, already a top-20 player in NHL history, Ovie's individual success is trumped by the dark cloud of his Washington Capitals' historical postseason struggles, as they've yet to even reach an Eastern Conference Final with him.
Through his entire career, Ovechkin has been pitted against the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby in terms of greatness, and with Crosby scooping up his second title this past season, the pressure's even higher on Ovechkin to get the job done and pick up his own.
Lionel Messi
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One of the most accomplished, dynamic and polarizing soccer players to ever lace up a pair of cleats, Argentina's Lionel Messi has failed to do what many before him have: win a major championship for his country.
After guiding his Argentine team to the championship in the 2014 World Cup and this summer's Copa America—coming up short both times—Messi was left stunned and defeated, even announcing his retirement from the national team, all but ending his run as an international great.
If he refutes that decision and plays for Argentina again, the pressure will continue to be there as he chases a world championship, which is something that many critics—including his hero, Diego Maradona—have questioned him about in the past.
Messi is a legend, but he will never be mentioned in the same sentence as Pele and Maradona without a major title on his resume.
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