Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Out, Lionel Messi Features: 6 Players Who Have Completed Football

• Lionel Messi won the only trophy missing from his illustrious trophy cabinet when he led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup
• The Mundial triumph came months after he won the 2021 Copa America, his first trophy with the Argentina national team
• He often talks about completing football during interviews, but he is not the only one who has the privilege of saying that

Lionel Messi captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, winning the only missing silverware in his illustrious trophy cabinet.

The Inter Miami star graciously talks about completing football in every interview since winning the World Cup. In the 2024 Copa America buildup, he has said it thrice in two weeks.

According to Planet Football, he shares this honour with five other players in an exclusive group to have won a continental trophy (Euro/Copa), World Cup, Ballon d'Or, European Cup and a top five league title.

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Sports Brief looks at the six players who have completed football.

Players who have completed football

1. Lionel Messi

The group's newest member, Messi, won the Copa America and World Cup with Argentina within 18 months. He is a four-time UEFA Champions League winner and has 12 league titles, 10 with Barcelona and two with Paris Saint-Germain. He has won the Ballon d'Or eight times, a record according to Goal.

2. Gerd Muller

The Bayern Munich legend scored in the finals of the World Cup, Euro and European Cup and won them all. He won four Bundesliga titles with Bayern and was the Ballon d'Or winner in 1970. He passed away in 2021 after a six-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

3. Franz Beckenbauer

Another legend of German football who starred alongside Muller and won it all together for Bayern Munich and West Germany. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1970 and 1976, the only defender to win the award twice. He passed away on January 7, 2024.

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4. Rivaldo

The Brazilian great was the fastest to accumulate all the trophies and awards to complete football. He won the La Liga title with Barcelona in 1998, Copa America in 1999, the 2002 World Cup, and the 2003 Champions League. He won the Golden Ball in 1999.

5. Zinedine Zidane

Zizou, as he's famously referred to, won three league titles with Juventus and Real Madrid. He won the 1998 World Cup on home soil with France, earning him the Ballon d'Or. He followed it up with the European Championship in 2000. He completed the set by winning the UCL with Madrid in 2002.

6. Ronaldinho

One of the most loved footballers of all time and a great entertainer. He won the 1999 Copa America and 2002 World Cup with Brazil. He won two league titles with Barcelona and one with AC Milan. He won the 2005 Ballon d'Or, beating Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. He won the 2006 UCL, helping Barca beat Arsenal.

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Ronaldo settles GOAT debate

Sports Brief previously reported on Ronaldo settling the GOAT debate with Messi, declaring the rivalry between him and the Argentina captain was over at a Portugal press conference last year.

This admission came after Messi left European football and headed for Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where he has won another Ballon d'Or.