Which 11 players have completed the 'golden triple' of Ballon d'Or, World Cup and Champions League? And who missed out by a matter of minutes
Published 18/07/2025 at 12:08 GMT+1
The Ballon d'Or, World Cup and Champions League are three of the most prestigious prizes in world football, and only an elite list of legends have completed the set. Eleven players have lifted all three trophies, comprising nine men and two women. There is also one man who missed out on joining the club by minutes, having suffered heartbreak at the hands of Manchester United.
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The FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or are arguably the three most coveted prizes in world football.
Winning one of the famous trophies has defined the careers of some of the greatest players to have ever graced the beautiful game.
However, to win all three is a different story entirely.
It is an achievement that places you in the upper echelons of the sport, a level of greatness that only the very best have achieved.
Eleven players have done it, and ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign, we thought we should find out who they are.
Bobby Charlton
The first player to win the World Cup, Champions League (formerly the European Cup) and Ballon d'Or was none other than England and Manchester United icon Sir Bobby Charlton.
He won the first of the three prizes when he inspired The Three Lions to the 1966 World Cup, a moment that his country has still not replicated in the 59 years since.
His heroics during England’s finest hour saw him win the Ballon d'Or that same year.
Two years later, and ten years on from the Munich Air Disaster which tragically claimed the lives of eight of his United teammates, Charlton completed the set with a 4-1 win over Benfica in the European Cup final.
Gerd Muller
It was Gerd Muller’s turn to write his name into the history books during the 1970s.
He won the 1970 Ballon d'Or after a sensational season with club and country, but the German star was not done there.
Four years later, he inspired Bayern Munich to victory in the European Cup before helping Germany win the 1974 World Cup.
Franz Beckenbauer
Muller was not the only player from that golden era of German football to achieve the feat, though.
He won the World Cup and European Cup alongside defender Franz Beckenbauer.
Beckenbauer, who many consider to be the greatest German footballer of all time, also won the Ballon d'Or twice, first in 1972 and then again in 1976.
Paolo Rossi
In 1982, Italy returned to the top of world football for the first time since 1938, helped in part by the goals of Paolo Rossi.
The striker was a key part of the team that lifted the trophy and was subsequently awarded the Ballon d'Or that same year.
Then, in 1985, he was part of the Juventus side that won the European Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Zinedine Zidane
Few players have displayed the skill that Zinedine Zidane showed on the grandest stage, but the French midfielder also has the trophy cabinet to back it up.
Zizou won the Ballon d'Or in 1998 after guiding France to victory in the World Cup on home soil.
He was on the losing side in two Champions League finals whilst at Juventus, but after moving to Real Madrid, he finally got over the line during the 2001/2002 season.
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Rivaldo
Only European players could win the Ballon d'Or until 1995, but once that rule changed, a string of South American stars started to join this elite list.
The first to do it was Rivaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1999 before claiming the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and the 2002/2003 Champions League with AC Milan.
Ronaldinho
The great entertainer Ronaldinho followed in Rivaldo's footsteps just a few years later.
He was also part of that superb Brazil side that won the 2002 World Cup.
However, he would have to wait slightly longer to become the best player in the world, winning the 2005 Ballon d'Or and the 2005/2006 Champions League with Barcelona.
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Kaka
Kaka was the third player from the 2002 World Cup winning Brazil side to win all three prizes.
He followed the World Cup win with a Ballon d'Or triumph in 2006 and a Champions League crown with AC Milan during the 2006/2007 season.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi joined the elite list with his glorious win with Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
The living legend had already won four Champions Leagues and seven Ballon d'Ors.
After winning the World Cup, he added an eighth Ballon d'Or to his collection for good measure.
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Alexia Putellas
Alexia Putellas became the first woman to win all three of football’s greatest prizes after lifting the 2023 World Cup with Spain.
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She has also won three UEFA Women’s Champions League titles with Barcelona and the Ballon d'Or Feminin twice.
Aitana Bonmati
Aitana Bonmati joined Putellas on the list of legends after being named the winner of the 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin.
She had already been part of the Spain side that won the 2023 World Cup and the Barcelona side that lifted the Champions League three times between 2021 and 2024.
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One unlucky legend
One man who came oh so close - a matter of minutes, to be precise - from joining this elite club was Lothar Matthaus.
The legendary German - with the 1990 Ballon d'Or and 1990 World Cup already in his pocket - was sitting pretty when subbed off in the 80th minute of the 1999 Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, as the German side led 1-0.
But we all know what happened next, as Teddy Sheringham and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck late to dash his dreams.
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Lothar Matthaus
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