Brazilian legend Kaká welcomed Lionel Messi to the “Triple Crown Club,” an elite group of players who have won the World Cup, the Champions League and at least one Ballon d’Or. The Argentine now has the World Cup along with 7 Ballon d’Ors and 4 Champions League medals. “Welcome to the club, Leo Messi”, Kaká had published on his Instagram story as reported by SPORTbible.
The PSG superstar scored 2 goals in the World Cup final, one from a penalty and one from open play before his teammate Kylian Mbappe scored a hattrick to drag the match to penalties with the score tied at 3- 3. Argentina would ultimately win the match and the cup after defeating the French 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
Messi became the last to join that list that includes figures such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Paolo Rossi, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaká himself.
“Welcome to the club, Leo Messi”, Kaká had published on his Instagram story. (Credit: Instagram)
Charlton won the World Cup with England in 1966, the 1968 European Cup with Manchester United and the 1966 Ballon d’Or while Beckenbauer won the World Cup in 1974, has three European Cups with Bayern Munich and he was named the Ballon d’Or winner in 1972 and 1976. His German compatriot Gerd Muller won the World Cup in 1974 and won European Cups from 1974 to 1976 and the Ballon d’Or in 1970.
Paolo Rossi won the 1982 World Cup, the 1985 European Cup and the 1982 Ballon d’Or, while Zinedine Zidane won the 1998 World Cup, the 2002 Champions League and the 1998 Ballon d’Or.
Brazilians Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Kaká were part of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning squad. Kaká won the Champions League in 2007 and the Ballon d’Or in the same year while Ronaldinho won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and the Champions League in 2006. Rivaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 1999 and the Champions League in 2003.
