Only a few players in football's long and distinguished history can claim to have left a truly indelible mark on the game with their sheer ability on the field. While some have had brief flirtations with the highest levels, and others have spent decades at the top without ever quite breaking into that elite group, every now and then an extra-special talent emerges that can combine exceptional quality with remarkable longevity.Despite the abundance of greatness that has flooded the football scene, only a few players have won it all in the game. In light of this, consider the only nine players to have won the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d'Or.
Bobby Charlton is number one.
Sir Bobby Charlton is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. After winning the World Cup with England in 1966, he was 85 years old and won the Ballon d'or the same year. Charlton won the Champions League and the European Cup with Manchester United two years later.
2- Franz Beckenbauer
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner won three European Cups with Bayern Munich and the World Cup with West Germany in 1974.
Gerd Muller
Three-time European Cup winner won the Ballon d'Or in 1970, and four years later, West Germany won the World Cup.
4- Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi, an Italian legend, was the next man to accomplish the feat. In 1985, he was a member of the Juventus team that defeated Liverpool in the European Cup final. But before that, he won the World Cup with Italy in 1982, and his exploits earned him the Ballon d'or award.
5- Zinedine Zidane
Zidane was a member of the France squad that won the World Cup in 1998, earning him the Ballon d'Or. Four years later, he scored a spectacular volley to help Real Madrid win the Champions League.
6- Rivaldo
He won the Ballon d'Or a year after Zidane for scoring twice in Brazil's 3-0 win over Uruguay in the Copa America final. He won the World Cup three years later, followed by the Champions League with Italian giants AC Milan in 2003.
7- Ronaldinho
He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, the Champions League with Barcelona in 2005, and the Ballon d'Or that year.
8- Kaka
Kaka was a member of Brazil's World Cup-winning team in 2002. He won the Champions League with AC MILAN in 2007, and his performance that year earned him the Ballon d'or award.
Lionel Messi
After seven Ballon d'Or awards and four Champions League titles, the only trophy Messi needed to win to prove his greatness was the World Cup. He recently accomplished this feat in Qatar, as Argentina won its third World Cup title.
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