Players Who Won the World Cup More Than Once: Multiple Champions
Only a small elite of footballers have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy more than once. Pelé stands alone with 3 titles (1958, 1962, 1970). Nineteen other players have won twice — almost all from Brazil's golden generations or Italy's back-to-back 1934–1938 squads.
Related → Greatest World Cup players · Brazil: most successful team · World Cup champions
Pelé — The Only 3-Time Winner
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Titles | 1958, 1962, 1970 |
| World Cup goals | 12 |
| Finals scored in | 1958, 1970 |
Pelé scored in the 1958 final at age 17, won 1962 despite injury, and dominated 1970 as the complete player. No one else has won three World Cups as a player.
Players Who Won 2 World Cups
Brazil (most multiple winners)
Brazil's 1958 and 1962 squads overlap heavily. Notable two-time winners include:
- Pelé (also 1970 — 3 total)
- Garrincha, Vavá, Gilmar, Djalma Santos, Nílton Santos, Zagallo, Zito
- Cafu (1994, 2002)
- Ronaldo (1994, 2002)
Italy (back-to-back champions)
- Giuseppe Meazza and Giovanni Ferrari won 1934 and 1938 — the last nation to defend the title until Brazil in 1962.
France
Four players appeared in both the 1998 and 2018 winning squads: Didier Deschamps, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Lilian Thuram.
Argentina
Lionel Messi won in 2022. Ángel Di María was in the same squad. No Argentine has won twice as a player since the tournament's modern era.
Why Winning Multiple World Cups Is So Rare
- Four-year cycle — players need 8–12 years of peak international form
- Only 8 nations have ever won — most players never get one title, let alone two
- Squad turnover — coaches, tactics, and teammates change between tournaments
- Injury and form — even legends miss tournaments (Pelé in 1966, Ronaldo in 1998)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many players have won the World Cup more than once?
Roughly 20 outfield players are recognised as multiple World Cup winners as players, with Pelé the only three-time champion. Brazil's 1958 and 1962 squads account for many of the two-time winners. Four French players won in both 1998 and 2018.
Who is the only player to win 3 World Cups?
Pelé is the only player to win 3 FIFA World Cup titles — in 1958, 1962, and 1970 with Brazil. He scored in the 1958 and 1970 finals and was part of the 1962 squad despite injury.
Which players won back-to-back World Cups?
Brazilian players from the 1958 and 1962 squads won consecutive titles, including Pelé, Garrincha, Gilmar, and Vavá. Italy's 1934 and 1938 squads also achieved back-to-back wins. No player has won consecutive World Cups since 1962.
Has any goalkeeper won multiple World Cups?
Yes. Gilmar (Brazil) started both the 1958 and 1962 finals. He is the only goalkeeper to start in two World Cup-winning finals for the same nation.