As the Champions League final is just around the corner, moreover, following a season that featured the rare occurrence of the World Cup in between, delve into this article to discover players who achieved the rare feat of winning both competitions in a single season.
Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
For many, Franz Beckenbauer is the greatest defender of all time. Some even consider him the most important player in Bayern’s history, the club he played for from 1964 to 1977.
Uli Hoeness (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
About Uli Hoeness, Franz Beckenbauer once said “…was a stroke of luck for Bayern, not just as a player but as general manager, chairman and president. What the club is today and the values for which it stands are to a large extent thanks to him”.
Gerd Müller (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
Nicknamed ‘der Bomber’ (The Bomber), Gerd Müller is regarded as one of the most lethal strikers of all time. Collectively, he won almost everything he competed for.
Paul Breitner (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
Paul Breitner is regarded as one of the great German players of the 1970s. He holds the distinction of being one of only four players to have scored in two different World Cup finals, joining the esteemed company of Pelé (Brazil), Vavá (Brazil), Zinedine Zidane (France), and Geoff Hurst (England).
Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
The former defender is one of the players with the most appearances for Bayern Munich in history. He spent 14 seasons with the team, playing over 500 matches, which solidifies his status as one of the great Bavarian idols
Sepp Maier (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
Sepp Maier, legendary goalkeeper, played a crucial role in West Germany’s 1974 World Cup triumph, solidifying his status as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
Jupp Kapellmann (Bayern Munich and West Germany 1974)
Jupp Kapellmann’s principal contributions was in the 1974 European Cup final against Atletico Madrid. With the score tied 0-0 in extra time, Kapellmann made a crucial clearance off the line to keep Bayern in the game. They eventually won the match on penalties, securing their first European Cup title.
Christian Karembeu (Real Madrid and France 1998)
It took over two decades to witness an achievement equal to that of 1974. In 1998, when Real Madrid won their seventh Champions League title, the French national team, in an unprecedented manner, also emerged victorious in the World Cup. Karembeu was present in both campaigns.
Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid and Brazil 2002)
Roberto Carlos redeemed himself from the 1998 World Cup final loss by winning the tournament with Brazil in 2002. At Real Madrid, he also made the cross for the stunning goal by Zidane against Bayer Leverkusen, securing the club’s 9th title. The goal is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful ever scored in a tournament final.
Sami Khedira (Real Madrid and Germany 2014)
Sami Khedira, won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2014, defeating Atletico Madrid, and a month later, celebrated Germany’s World Cup victory over Argentina.
Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid and France 2018)
Despite retiring from the French national team at the young age of 29, Varane achieved both prestigious titles in 2018. He also played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s historic cycle, securing four Champions League titles, three of which were consecutive, between 2014 and 2018.
And, yes, we’ll see this feat achieved again this year, as Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, both of whom won the FIFA World Cup in 2022, have now secured a place in the Champions League final that will be played in Istanbul on June 10th!
