How many winners of the ‘Ballon d'Or’ have been world champions twice? The answer is clear: only one achieved this whilst playing as a footballer.

If we extend the criteria to include those who also achieved it as managers, the list grows to two.

At that point, if Lionel Messi manages to lift the trophy in the 2026 World Cup final, he will join this prestigious and exclusive club of two-time World Cup winners.

With the match between Argentina and Spain just round the corner, we take a look at the only two giants in history to have achieved the World Cup double.

Ronaldo Nazário: The only one on the pitch

‘El Fenómeno’ sits alone on the throne of footballers who have won the ‘Ballon d'Or’ and lifted two World Cups as players.

Ronaldo was world champion at USA 1994 (as a substitute who did not feature) and the star of the show at Korea-Japan 2002 (as top scorer and scorer of a brace in the final).

His two Ballon d’Or awards (1997 and 2002) round off a perfect record that, to this day, no one else has been able to match on the pitch.

Franz Beckenbauer: The legend in two different roles

‘The Kaiser’ is the only other player to join Ronaldo in this conversation of two-time champions, but with one difference: he won his two World Cups in different roles.

Beckenbauer won his two Ballon d’Or awards in 1972 and 1976. As a player and captain of the German national team, he reached the pinnacle of glory by winning the 1974 World Cup in Germany.

His second World Cup title came at Italy 1990, but this time he led the German side from the touchline as manager.

Lionel Messi: The chance to make more history

This Sunday, Lionel Messi has a date with destiny. A victory for Argentina over Spain would see the Rosario-born star crowned with his second World Cup title following his triumph at Qatar 2022.

Should he achieve this, the star would join Ronaldo and Beckenbauer as a new member of this exclusive club of ‘Ballon d'Or’ winners who are two-time World Cup champions.

Messi, the most successful player in the history of the Ballon d'Or, is set to achieve another legendary milestone in his career.

Will he be crowned champion at the 2026 World Cup?

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