CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
How many players have won the Champions League and the World Cup in the same season?
Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez recently won the World Cup in Qatar 2022 with Argentina.
Two Argentine forwards will be part of the Manchester City and Inter squads taking part in this year’s Champions League final.
Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez recently won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina and are now hoping to win the Champions League with their respective clubs next month.
Álvarez scored in City’s 4-0 home win over Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Martínez captained Inter as they beat AC Milan 1-0 in Tuesday’s semi-final second leg.
Winning the World Cup and the Champions League in the same season is no mean feat and we take a look at the players who have achieved such success.
Bayern Munich and Germany players
In 1974, Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner, Sepp Maier, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, Gerd Müller, Uli Hoeness and Jupp Kapellmann won the European Cup with Bayern Munich and the World Cup with West Germany in a historic period.
Real Madrid and World Cup success
Twenty-four years later, in 1998, Christian Karembeu lifted the World Cup with France at France 98′. Karembeu was also part of the Real Madrid side that won the Champions League in the same year.
Another Real Madrid man did the rare double in 2002. Legendary left-back Roberto Carlos won the World Cup with Brazil in Korea and Japan. Madrid were champions in Europe once again, beating German outfit Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the final held at Hampton Park.
Over a decade later, in 2014, another Real Madrid player lifted two of the most-coveted trophies in the game. Defensive midfielder Sami Khedira was part of successful sides on the domestic and international fronts.
Injury did, however, prevent Khedira from featuring in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina. Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner helped Germany over the line against La Albiceleste.
Varane lifts both trophies
Current Manchester United centre-back Raphaël Varane won the World Cup and the Champions League in a remarkable 2018 for the Frenchman. He lifted the Champions League in May 2018 with Los Blancos, before going on to triumph with France in Russia.