Just six players achieved it
Champions League winners Chelsea have sent 17 players to Euro 2020—more than any other club. Five of those players will be involved in the final on Sunday: three for England, two for Italy. It is logical that Champions League winners play a significant role in their national teams. Nonetheless, only six players have been able to win both trophies in the same year.
Anelka & Co.: Players that won the UCL & Euros in the same year
Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, and Reece James will attempt to win England’s first title since 1966. Jorginho and Emerson, in the meantime, are part of a Squadra Azzura team that has not lost in 33 games. Either way, at least two players will join an exclusive club of six players: two Frenchman, two Spaniards, and two Portuguese players that have won the Euros and UCL in the same year.
The first two players to achieve the double were Nicolas Anelka and Christian Karembeu. They won the Champions League with Real Madrid against Valencia on May 24, 2000 (3-0) and then just a few weeks later beat Italy in the final of the Euros (2-1 after extra time). Twelve years later Spain won their third consecutive title in a row—but unlike 2008 the squad had two Champions League winners: Fernando Torres and Juan Mata. The two were part of the Chelsea squad that beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena after penalties. Then in 2016 Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe secured Portugal’s biggest success in history after previously winning the first of three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
Since 1960: Alle European Champions at a glance
What stands out is that all six were not playing in their native league when they won the European Championship. Should England win the title on Sunday then Mount & Co. could write history.
