Only 14 footballers have lifted the most prestigious trophies on two great stages: Europe and South America.
Winning the Libertadores Cup is the pinnacle of club football in South America, just as the Champions League holds that status in Europe. Yet only fourteen players have had the chance to claim both crowns. The common thread among them is clear: they are predominantly Latin American stars who began their ascent on the old continent during the 1990s, when a new wave of talent crossed oceans to join top European clubs.
COFFEE
Among Brazil’s best-ever left backs, one player began his golden career in Sao Paulo. He helped Palmeiras secure Libertadores titles in 1992 and 1993 under Telê Santana. As his career wound down, he lifted the Champions League with Milan in 2007. Over his club career he also collected the South American Super Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. For the national team, he earned two World Cups, two Copa América titles, and a Confederations Cup.
JUAN PABLO SORIN
Juampi’s path is notable because his timeline intersects with major European success while also delivering continental glory in South America. He arrived at River Plate in early 1996 and went on to win both the Copa Libertadores and the Supercopa Sudamericana, marking him as a rare dual continental champion.
DIDA
The Brazilian goalkeeper, who also tasted world champion status, stood out in club competition. He claimed the 1997 Libertadores with Cruzeiro and, years later, earned European supremacy with Milan before adding another continental triumph in 2007.
ROQUE JUNIOR
Roque’s journey mirrored the sport’s global arc: a Copa Libertadores crown with Palmeiras in 1999 laid the foundation for a 2002 World Cup title, followed by a 2003 Champions League triumph with Milan. His early Libertadores success was the launching pad for a career that bridged continents.
CARLOS TEVEZ
The Boca Juniors icon was part of the 2003 Libertadores-winning side and later etched his name in Europe, joining Manchester United and contributing to their dramatic 2008 campaign. He also played a pivotal role in the 2008 final, converting a decisive penalty in the shootout against Chelsea.
WALTER SAMUEL
The Wall’s presence was decisive for Boca Juniors’ 2000 Libertadores triumph, including a crucial header that kept their semi-final hopes alive. In Europe, his influence helped Inter win the 2010 Champions League under Jose Mourinho.
NEYMAR
The Brazilian talent burst onto the world stage with Santos, lifting the Libertadores in 2011. His extraordinary play soon led to a central role in Barcelona’s MSN era with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, culminating in a 2015-16 Champions League campaign that solidified his status as one of the era’s defining attackers.
RONALDINHO
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira charted a path from Barcelona’s 2005-2006 Champions League glory to later contributing to Atlético Mineiro’s first major continental title seven years on. His career defied borders, proving one player can glow on both sides of the Atlantic.
DANILO
The most recent addition to the group is a current Manchester City full back who started his rise by lifting the Libertadores with Santos in 2011. His European success followed at Real Madrid, with title wins in 2016 and 2017, before returning to add more silverware at the continental level.
RAFINHA
Rafinha ended a long wait by Flamengo clinching the 2019 Libertadores crown. Earlier in his career he had already collected Champions League glory with Bayern Munich during the 2012-13 season, proving a rare dual continental champion across two of the world’s biggest stages.
RAMIRES
Ramíres’s career included a high-profile stint at Chelsea, where he won the 2012 Champions League. Though his Libertadores involvement with Palmeiras came just before the club’s 2020 triumph, his experience across both continents makes him part of this elite club. His presence in top-tier squads across Europe and South America underscores his enduring impact.
WILFREDO CABALLERO
The Boca Juniors keeper joined this exclusive circle by lifting the Libertadores with Boca in 2003 and later securing European glory with Chelsea in 2021, even while serving as a substitute. His career embodies the cross-continental journey that defines this list.
DAVID LUIZ
The Brazil-born defender recorded Champions League success with Chelsea in 2012 after beating Bayern Munich, and a decade later added a Copa Libertadores title with Flamengo, completing a rare two-continental crown run.
JULIAN ALVAREZ
The most recent player to join this select group is Julián Álvarez. He was part of River Plate’s 2018 Libertadores-winning side and witnessed Manchester City claim the 2023 Champions League, sealing his own place among the very few who have conquered both major continental titles.
Source: Goal