5 goalkeepers who won the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup are extremely prestigious trophies. These competitions represent the pinnacle of success in the careers of many professional football players. Winning even one of them counts a lot for any footballer. Some players have, however, won not just one but both of these competitions.
Some popular winners of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League
A number of players have won both the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League in their careers. Examples of such players include Phillip Lahm, Raphael Varane, N'Golo Kante, Thomas Muller, Cafu and a host of others. Our focus, however, is on the goalkeepers who have achieved this feat. Without further ado, here is a list of five goalkeepers who have won the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League.
#5 Victor Valdes (FC Barcelona and Spain)
Victor Valdes enjoyed a successful playing career that was filled with trophies all through. The goalkeeper came through the famed La Masia academy of FC Barcelona and went on to become the club's first-choice goalkeeper for a decade.
Valdes was in goal for FC Barcelona in the 2005/06, 2008/09 and 2010/11 UEFA Champions League triumphs. He was also part of the Spanish national team squad that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Barcelona's 2006 Champions League trophy belongs to Victor Valdes. https://t.co/EJWoVQKVRb
Valdes played for FC Barcelona from the start of his career until 2014 when he moved to Manchester United for free. The Spanish goalkeeper won a record five Zamora trophy awards for being the goalkeeper with the best record in the league. He also won the La Liga Goalkeeper of the Year award twice in his career.
#4 Fabien Barthez (Olympique Marseille and France)
French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is another who has enjoyed a successful career laden with many trophies for club and country. He has represented various clubs in Europe and also served as the first-choice goalkeeper for France for a number of years.
Barthez was in goal for Olympique Marseille in the 1992/93 season as they won the UEFA Champions League, keeping a clean sheet against AC Milan in a 1-0 victory. He also won the FIFA World Cup in 1998 as France's first-choice between the sticks.
Here's a young Fabien Barthez (with flowing locks) making a brilliant save in 1993 Champions League Final.
He was brilliant right up until he joined us ๐
. https://t.co/EHKwVyTwzw
When he won the UEFA Champions League in 1993, he was the youngest goalkeeper to win the competition. He went on to represent AS Monaco, Manchester United, Olympique Marseille and FC Nantes before retiring in 2007. After his retirement, he ventured briefly into coaching and also became a motorsport driver.
#3 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Manuel Neuer is one of the best goalkeepers in world football. He has enjoyed a very successful career on every front, winning major titles and honors. The Germany captain presently plays for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He joined the club from Schalke 04 in 2011.
Neuer won his first UEFA Champions League title in 2013 before captaining the club to glory in the competition seven years later in 2020. He won the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014 as the first-choice goalkeeper for the German national team.
๐๐๐ games ๐
Manuel Neuer breaks Oliver Khan's record for the most Champions League appearances as a goalkeeper for Bayern.
#UCL https://t.co/E12WNf36lG
Neuer is one of the most adept goalkeepers with the ball at his feet. He has redefined the "sweeper keeper" role and has achieved widespread popularity. The goalkeeper presently captains both Germany and Bayern Munich.
#2 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain)
Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas is one of the most successful goalkeepers in European football history. He graduated from Real Madrid's academy before going on to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Casillas won the UEFA Champions League in 2000, 2002 and as captain in 2014. He also captained Spain's national team to FIFA World Cup glory in 2010. The Spaniard was only 18 years old when he won his first Champions League crown in 2000, making him the youngest goalkeeper to win the competition.
Most UEFA Champions League appearances for Real Madrid:
Casillas
Benzema
Roberto Carlos
Cristiano Ronaldo๐ Most UEFA Champions League appearances for Real Madrid:
150 ๐ช๐ธ Casillas
130 ๐ช๐ธ Raรบl
129 ๐ช๐ธ Sergio Ramos
117 ๐ซ๐ท Benzema
107 ๐ง๐ท Roberto Carlos
101 ๐ง๐ท Marcelo
101 ๐ต๐น Cristiano Ronaldo
#HalaMadrid #UCL
Casillas spent the majority of his career with Real Madrid before moving to FC Porto in 2015. The Spaniard retired after suffering from a heart condition in 2020.
#1 Dida (AC Milan and Brazil)
Dida is a legendary figure among South American goalkeepers. The Brazilian played at the highest level of his career both in his native Brazil and in Europe.
Dida won the UEFA Champions League on two occasions in his ten seasons as an AC Milan player. The Brazilian goalkeeper was the hero of the penalty shootout in the 2003 final against Juventus and played in the 2007 final against Liverpool. He also won the FIFA World Cup in 2002 as Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper.
Copa Libertadores
Dida has kept a clean sheet in the final of the following competitions:
๐ Copa Libertadores
๐ Copa Amรฉrica
๐ Champions League
And he has a winners' medal to show for each one. ๐ฅ https://t.co/KCH9LV3wQx
Dida left AC Milan after a successful stint in Europe and moved back to Brazil. He represented Portuguesa, Gremio and Internacional before his retirement in 2015.