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UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious tournaments at the club level and winning it is a dream come true for many players. The same goes for the UEFA European Championship held on an international level.
While winning both these tournaments individually is a special feeling, it only gets more amazing when players win them in the same year. Not many players have been lucky to achieve this feat.
Some world-class players have won both the Champions League and Euros in the same year
It is not an easy thing to win both the Champions League and Euros as it requires a player to be an integral part at both club and national level. It is shocking how the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta are not part of this unique list. Especially since Spain have won the Euros twice in 2008 and 2012 and how dominant Barcelona were during that period.
On that note, let's have a look at five of the best players to have won both the UEFA Champions League and the European Championship in the same year.
Notable mentions: Ronald Koeman, Nicolas Anelka and Luis Suarez (Inter Milan/Spain)
#5 Jorginho (Chelsea/Italy)
Jorginho has been an integral part of the Chelsea team ever since he joined the Blues in 2018. His partnership with N'Golo Kante in midfield has been a delight to watch.
The Italian had a successful campaign last season with Chelsea as the club won the UEFA Champions League under Thomas Tuchel. It was the second Champions League title in the club's history. Jorginho was also involved in the heroic victory for Italy at Euro 2020 held this summer.
The Italian midfielder missed his penalty in the shootout in the Euro 2020 final but luckily it didn't come back to haunt Jorginho. Him and Emerson are the only Italian players to have won the Champions League and Euros in the same year.
#4 Pepe (Real Madrid/Portugal)
Pepe has been one of the finest defenders of his generation. He was an important part of the Real Madrid team that won multiple Champions League titles under Zinedine Zidane.
With his aggressive and sharp defending, Pepe was a rock at the back. His partnership with Sergio Ramos reaped benefits for Los Blancos on a consistent basis.The former Porto centre-back won the Euro 2016 with Portugal and in the same year won the Champions League with Real Madrid. The centre-back is now back at Porto.
#3 Fernando Torres (Chelsea/Spain)
The 2015-16 Champions League runner-up was once one of the best forwards in football. Fernando Torres was a star at Atletico Madrid before deciding to join Liverpool in the summer of 2007.
With his amazing footwork, smart dribbling and sensational ability to score goals, Torres was a menace with the Reds. The Spaniard scored 65 Premier League goals in 102 appearances for Liverpool before making a surprise move to Chelsea in 2011.
With the Blues, Torres struggled in front of goal. Despite that, he won the Champions League with Chelsea in his very first season and in the same year, he was part of the Spanish side that won Euro 2012.
#2 Juan Mata (Chelsea/Spain)
Juan Mata is one of the finest playmakers the Premier League has ever seen. With his elegant left foot, the Spaniard has been responsible for creating a lot of goals using his superb technique and amazing vision.
The former Real Madrid youth player joined Chelsea in the summer of 2011. Mata was an important player for the Blues as he provided 13 assists in his very first season in the Premier League. In the same season, he won the Champions League with the London club.
Given his impressive form, Mata was also part of the Spain team that won the Euros in 2012. Him along with Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez are the only Spanish players to win the Champions League and Euros in the same year.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal)
There is hardly anything that Cristiano Ronaldo has not achieved in his football career. The Portuguese has been a sensation ever since his introduction to the football world.
What's most impressive about Ronaldo is that he has done amazingly well with the Portugal national team. Not every world-class player has been able to do so and that is why the former Juventus player stands out more than most of his competitors.
The Portuguese captain led his team to win the Euro 2016. Cristiano Ronaldo scored thrice in the tournament, playing an important role in the process. That same year, he was involved in winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. It may not have been his first, but winning it with the Euros would have made it more special for Ronaldo.
