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Making it big in a top-five European league is probably on every footballer’s wishlist. Every footballer wants to become a household name, wants to play and win the most prestigious trophies on offer. Unfortunately, very few are able to crack into Europe's top-five leagues, let alone win the biggest accolades.
The players on our list today are anomalies in that sense. Not only have they played for a top-five European league but have also somehow managed to succeed in at least three of them.
Now, without further ado, let us check out five active footballers who have made it big in multiple top-five European leagues:
#5 Mesut Ozil – Bundesliga, La Liga, Premier League
One of the best attacking midfielders of the century, Mesut Ozil weaved his magic in three respected European leagues. The Schalke U19 star earned his first senior team contract in 2006. After a couple of mighty impressive seasons, a transfer to Werder Bremen followed. Buoyed by his creativity, Bremen won the DFB Pokal in the 2008-09 season.
Mesmerized by his displays at the 2010 World Cup, Real Madrid brought the German to La Liga ahead of the 2010-11 season. He displaced Kaka in the team and emerged as an indisputable first-team star under Jose Mourinho.
Ozil's passing and vision helped Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey in his debut campaign and the league title the following season.
Ozil left for Arsenal in 2013 and immediately became a crowd favorite at the Emirates Stadium. He couldn’t win the Premier League with the Gunners but was one of their standout performers as they marched on to four FA Cup triumphs.
Following his controversial exit from Arsenal in 2021, the 2014 World Cup winner joined Fenerbahce SK. He has since played 34 games for the Turkish club and is their current captain.
#4 Dani Alves – La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1
One of the best right-backs in the history of football, Barcelona’s Dani Alves is the definition of perseverance. Despite being written off time and again over the course of his career, the Brazilian has consistently bounced back.
The full-back joined La Liga outfit Sevilla from Bahia initially on a loan deal in 2002 before making the move permanent next summer. His explosiveness helped him stand out, and as expected, several big clubs came knocking at Sevilla’s door.
Alves, however, was not interested in moving just yet. He held firm and helped the Andalusian outfit to five trophies between 2005 and 2007, including a Copa del Rey and two UEFA Cups.
Alves joined Barcelona in 2008 and won every possible trophy over the next eight years, including two trebles. He helped the Catalonian outfit to six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues amongst other honors.
Following his controversial exit from Barcelona in 2016, brief spells at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain followed. He did nothing groundbreaking for either club but won domestic titles with both.
The 38-year-old moved to Sao Paulo in 2019 and eventually became a free agent a couple of seasons later. Just when everyone had written him off, Xavi’s Barcelona got in touch with him and brought him back to the Camp Nou. He has already featured in four games for the Blaugrana this season, registering two assists.
#3 Arturo Vidal – Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga
Inter Milan’s Arturo Vidal may not be the most esthetic midfielder in the history of football, but he could very well be one of the most determined. Known for his relentless pressing and endless stamina, Vidal has plied his trade in Germany, Italy, and Spain, proving himself in all three domestic leagues.
Bundesliga’s Bayer Leverkusen was the Chilean’s first European team. He spent four seasons there, helping them take the fight to the most dominant teams in Germany.
Impressed with his performance, Juventus came knocking and got him on their books in 2011. Over the next four seasons, he helped the Bianconeri emerge as the most dominant force in Italy. During his spell, the club from Turin won four consecutive Serie A titles.
In 2015, he moved to Bayern Munich and added three more league titles to his name. Following his spell in Germany, he joined La Liga club Barcelona in 2018 and helped them to the league title in the 2018-19 season.
The 34-year-old moved back to Italy in 2020, joining Inter Milan and aiding them in snatching the Serie A title from Juventus.
If all goes according to plan, Vidal could end up celebrating his sixth Serie A title at the end of the current campaign.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has represented nine football teams in his professional career. He has played for Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy over the last 23 years.
The Swedish sharpshooter has taken on some of the best teams in the world and emerged victorious in impeccable style.
Lauded as one of the best strikers of this generation, Ibrahimovic moved to Serie A in 2004, signing for Juventus. He spent two seasons in Turin, netting 26 times in 92 appearances.
A move to Inter followed in 2006, where he scored 66 times in 117 games. Then came his controversial spell at Barcelona, where he famously fell out with Pep Guardiola and made only 46 appearances across all competitions. Having spent only a season at the Camp Nou, he was shipped off to AC Milan.
Between 2012 and 2020 he represented PSG, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy before returning to AC Milan. His PSG spell was particularly successful as he netted a whopping 156 times in 180 appearances for the Parisians.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Ibrahimovic has won a 32 trophies, including 11 league titles across four leagues.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo – Premier League, La Liga, Serie A
Cristiano Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of men’s football, has proven his mettle in three of the most competitive European leagues. The man from Madeira, Portugal, moved to the Premier League from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
Playing for Manchester United, Ronaldo won every trophy conceivable in the next six years, including three consecutive league titles and his first Champions League. For his excellent displays in Manchester United’s colors, the Portuguese won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008.
In 2009, he moved to La Liga giants Real Madrid for a then-record €94 million fee. He helped Los Blancos take the fight to Barcelona in the league and become an unstoppable force in Europe.
Ronaldo won two La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his nine-year stay in Madrid, emerging as the club’s leading goalscorer with 451 goals. The 36-year-old won four more Ballons d’Or during his record-breaking spell at the Bernabeu.
Having won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid, Ronaldo moved to Juventus in 2018, looking for a new challenge. The superstar could not take the Bianconeri to Champions League glory but helped them win two Serie A titles.
He scored 101 goals in 134 games for the Old Lady before rejoining Manchester United ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
