The Ballon d'Or and the World Cup are the two most prestigious honours a professional footballer can aspire to. Winning either of these trophies guarantees a permanent place in the history of the sport.

However, the group of players who have managed to win both awards during their careers is extremely small. Only 13 players have been able to display these titles in their trophy cabinets.

So, in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, we’ll take a look back at the careers of the legends who make up this exclusive club. From defenders who redefined their position to strikers who defined eras with their goals.

Ballon d’Or and World Cup winners

Bobby Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton was the first footballer to win both awards. In 1966, he led the England national team to their only World Cup victory on home soil. His performance was decisive in the tournament, where he scored three crucial goals. That same year, he won the Ballon d’Or.

The midfielder also built a legendary career at Manchester United, a club he helped rebuild after surviving the Munich air disaster in 1958. He stood out for his great physical presence and his powerful mid-range shot, becoming the benchmark who opened this exclusive list.

Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer joined this group after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1974 World Cup. The defender had already won his first Ballon d'Or in 1972 thanks to his technical ability and tactical awareness, qualities with which he completely redefined the role of the sweeper in modern football.

In 1976, he received his second Ballon d’Or, cementing his international dominance both with his national team and with Bayern Munich, the club with which he won three consecutive European Cups. Beckenbauer remains one of the most influential leaders in history and the first defender to achieve this double honour.

Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller joined this select group in the 1970s. The legendary German striker first won the Ballon d’Or in 1970 following a stunning World Cup in Mexico, where he was the top scorer with 10 goals. Four years later, in 1974, he achieved collective glory by winning the World Cup with West Germany, scoring the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.

Müller built his reputation on lethal finishing inside the box, both for his national team and for Bayern Munich. His ability to finish off moves in tight spaces made him one of the most prolific goalscorers in football history, to such an extent that there is now a trophy named after him that is awarded precisely to top scorers.

Paolo Rossi

Paolo Rossi had one of the most perfect years in football history in 1982. The striker led the Italian national team to victory in the World Cup in Spain, a tournament in which he was crowned top scorer and best player. That same year he received the Ballon d’Or.

His hat-trick against Brazil in the quarter-finals remains one of the most memorable individual performances in World Cup history. Rossi was an opportunistic striker, with intelligent movement and a quick finish.

Lothar Matthäus

Lothar Matthäus joined the club in 1990 as the leading figure in German football. He captained the German national team to their third World Cup title at the 1990 tournament in Italy, displaying impeccable physical and tactical prowess in midfield.

His undisputed leadership and consistency throughout the year earned him the Ballon d'Or that same season.

Matthäus also stood out for his longevity in the sport, having played in a total of five World Cups, and his successful career at clubs such as Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane etched his name into this record in 1998, the year France hosted and won their first World Cup. The midfielder was the star of the final, scoring two headed goals against Brazil at the Stade de France.

This triumph in the world’s most prestigious tournament earned him the Ballon d’Or that season.

Zidane combined atypical technical elegance with a great ability to control the tempo of matches, qualities he successfully displayed at Juventus and Real Madrid.

His impact on the game made him the benchmark for a generation and one of the most influential playmakers in history.

Ronaldo Nazário

Ronaldo is one of the most prominent names on this list, having won both trophies at different stages of his career. He was part of the Brazil squad that won the World Cup in 1994 and claimed his first Ballon d’Or in 1997.

However, his definitive crowning moment came at the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan, where he scored eight goals — including two in the final against Germany — to lift his second World Cup and secure his second Ballon d'Or that same year.

Known as 'O Fenômeno', his speed, physical power and clinical finishing whilst wearing the shirts of Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team established him as one of the greatest centre-forwards of all time.

Rivaldo

Rivaldo achieved the double crown at the turn of the century. The Brazilian forward received the Ballon d’Or in 1999 after leading Barcelona to the LaLiga title and guiding Brazil to the Copa América title.

His definitive global recognition came at the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan, where he scored five crucial goals to help his country secure their fifth World Cup title.

The left-footed player stood out for his excellent individual technique, powerful mid-range shot and ability to set up his teammates. His partnership with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in 2002 formed one of the most feared attacking trios in World Cup history.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho added his name to this golden list after dazzling the world with his creative play. He was crowned world champion with Brazil at the 2002 World Cup, being one of the team’s key players at just 22 years of age.

His ultimate individual accolade came in 2005, the year he won the Ballon d’Or thanks to his spectacular performances for FC Barcelona.

Ronaldinho’s career was characterised by joy, improvisation and outstanding technical ability that allowed him to produce unprecedented moments of genius.

Kaká

Kaká rounds off the list for the historic Brazilian generation of the early 2000s. He was part of the Brazilian squad that were crowned world champions at Korea-Japan 2002.

Five years later, in 2007, he reached the pinnacle of his individual career by winning the Ballon d’Or after leading AC Milan to victory in the UEFA Champions League, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer.

The attacking midfielder stood out for his powerful stride in a straight run, great vision for the final pass and remarkable effectiveness in front of the opposition’s goal.

Fabio Cannavaro

Fabio Cannavaro made history at this club by becoming a central defender in 2006. The Italian captained the 'Azzurri' to victory at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, leading a defence that conceded just two goals throughout the tournament.

His impeccable performance at the World Cup, coupled with his club performances for Juventus and Real Madrid, convinced the voters to award him the Ballon d’Or that same year.

Cannavaro made up for his average height for the position with perfect anticipation, great jumping power and consistent leadership.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi joined this exclusive club after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he captained the Argentina national team to their third world title.

The forward was named the tournament’s best player after scoring seven goals, a feat that rounded off his impressive personal trophy cabinet and secured his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.

Unlike most of the players on this list, Messi had already established himself as the most successful winner in the history of the Ballon d’Or (won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021) before lifting the World Cup.

Ousmane Dembélé

Finally, Ousmane Dembélé joined this select club by winning the Ballon d’Or in 2025, thus complementing the ultimate team glory he had achieved seven years earlier.

The forward was part of the France squad that were crowned world champions at Russia 2018, where, at just 21 years of age, he brought his unpredictability and pace to help his country secure the second star in their history.

The ultimate individual accolade came after a breakthrough season with Paris Saint-Germain. Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, Dembélé refined his playing style, scoring 35 goals and leading the Parisian side to a historic quadruple, including the UEFA Champions League.