The UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and Ballon d’Or represent the top achievements in football.
The Champions League goes to the best club in the world, the World Cup to the best football nation, and the Ballon d’Or to the best player on the planet.
Winning one or two of these trophies solidifies a player’s place in the history books.
Even top players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Diego Maradona, and Pelé have not achieved this milestone.
Here is a list of the nine players who have won all three awards in football history:
Lionel Messi
Messi became the newest name on this list after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
He holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or titles, with eight.
Messi has won the Champions League three times, in 2009, 2011, and 2015, all with Barcelona.
Brazilians On the List
1. Kaká
Kaká was the last player to win the Ballon d’Or before the Messi-Cristiano era began.
Known as one of the best attacking midfielders, he earned the Champions League and World Cup trophies as well.
Kaká won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 at just 20 years old.
In 2007, he won the Champions League with AC Milan, scoring 10 goals and providing 30 assists in 13 games.
That same year, he won the Ballon d’Or for his exceptional performance.
2. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho is regarded as one of the best players and dribblers to ever play the game.
He is one of the legends who have claimed all three coveted awards.
Ronaldinho won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 2002, the Ballon d’Or in 2005, and the Champions League in 2006 with Barcelona.
3. Rivaldo
Rivaldo is another Brazilian player on this legendary list.
He was part of the Brazil team that frustrated opponents in the 90s and early 2000s.
Rivaldo won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 2002, followed by the Champions League with AC Milan in 2003.
He claimed the Ballon d’Or in 1999 after winning back-to-back La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona.
Also Read: 8 Players Who Have Scored 6 Goals in One Match
Zidane, Rossi & Charlton
1. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane is one of the few people who have won the Champions League both as a player and a coach, and he also appears on this list.
He won the World Cup with France in 1998, scoring two goals in the final against Brazil.
He secured the Ballon d’Or that same year for his outstanding performance.
Zidane won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002.
Also Read: Footballers who Retired Without Ever Receiving a Red Card
2. Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi ranks as one of the greatest strikers in football history.
He won the World Cup in 1982, scoring six goals in the knockout stages.
He claimed the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, making him one of three players to win all three awards in a single FIFA World Cup edition.
His performance earned him the Ballon d’Or in 1982.
Rossi won the Champions League (then known as the European Cup) in 1985.
3. Sir Bobby Charlton
English forward Bobby Charlton was the first player to win all three prestigious titles in football.
He scored three goals in the final against Mexico, helping England win the World Cup in 1966.
Charlton received the Ballon d’Or that same year and later won the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968.
Germans Hat-Trick Champions League Winners
1. Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller remains one of the best strikers to ever play the sport.
He finished his career with 515 goals and remains Bayern Munich’s all-time top scorer.
Müller won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974.
He claimed a hat-trick of European trophies with Bayern Munich in 1974, 1975, and 1976.
Müller won the Ballon d’Or in 1970.
2. Franz Beckenbauer
Beckenbauer was among the stars who won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974.
He played for Bayern Munich’s squad that won three consecutive European Cups.
Additionally, Beckenbauer is one of the few players to have won the Ballon d’Or more than once.
He earned the individual award in 1972 and 1976.
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