Three players to have played at 9+ different World Cup & Euro tournaments

All players on this list are Ballon d’Or winners

We are already into the UEFA Euro 2024. It is a tournament organised by the UEFA every four years. Nations from all around Europe compete against each other to become the best football nation on the whole continent. In this edition, 24 teams are competing against each other in Germany, and one of them will be crowned as the champion at the end of the tournament on July 14.

It is the second most popular international football tournament after the FIFA World Cup. The World Cup which is also held every four years decides the best football nation in the whole world. Argentina managed to become the world champion in the recent FIFA World Cup in 2022.

European football is obviously world-class and consists of most of the star players playing. We have seen superstars from Europe gracing the European championships and the FIFA World Cup. They have set the stages on fire and proved their mettle in these tournaments. In this article, we will take a look at the three European footballers who played in over nine different World Cup and European Championship tournaments.

3. Luka Modric

Luka Modric, the veteran and the captain of Croatia is one of the best midfielders in the world. He has been a serial performer for both his club Real Madrid and his nation Croatia. He has won 6 UCL titles for his club Real Madrid and also carried his nation to the final of the World Cup 2018 and the semi final of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Modric is known for his vision and his ability to orchestrate the game with his defence-splitting passes. He has been a legend of the game all throughout these years for Croatia. Modric due to his experience has been part of more than 9 World Cup and European championships together.

He has played in the UEFA Euro in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and this year in 2024. He has also been part of the World Cup in 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time along with Lionel Messi. He has been an absolute champion of the game for breaking the record sheets and coming up clutch in important moments. Ronaldo has been the lynchpin for his Portugal side as their greatest attacking threat and has always delivered for the side.

He also has been part of more than 9 World Cup and European Championships together. The 39-year-old has featured in the UEFA Euros in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024. Ronaldo has also played the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

1. Lothar Matthaus

Lothar Matthaus has been a legend for Germany. He captained West Germany to triumph in the 1990 World Cup where he won the FIFA World Cup Trophy and also won the Ballon d’Or. He appeared in five World Cups in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. Matthaus also managed to play in 4 UEFA Euros in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 2000.

Only three European men have played at 9+ different World Cup / European Championship tournaments:🇩🇪 Lothar Matthäus🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo🇭🇷 Luka ModrićBallon d'Or winners only. 🌕#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/vQzmjR7yTJ

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 15, 2024

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