The World Cup is a communal offering, breathing joy into thoroughfares across the world. It belongs to the children, to the workers, to the peasants — to the masses of people who dance when ball caresses their foot.
And yet, the beautiful game's most beautiful competition is also shaped by individuals. The sport's greatest players are musicians, moving the ball to a melody that is jazz, folk, samba and semba.
Not all are rewarded for their contributions to this wall of sound. Countless greats have failed to get their hands on the World Cup trophy, from Ferenc Puskas, Eusebio and Johan Cruyff to Marco Van Basten, George Weah and Luka Modric.
It's hard to win a World Cup. It's even harder to win it multiple times.
So, just which players have accomplished such a feat? And of those talents, who has the most titles in World Cup history? Here's what you need to know.
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Which player has won the most World Cup titles?
The list of players to capture multiple World Cup crowns is littered with Brazilians, an unsurprising phenomenon given the nation's footballing prowess. One footballer stands alone atop the list, with Pele capturing three Jules Rimet Trophies across his glittering career. Pele starred in the 1958 World Cup as a 17-year old, becoming the youngest player to ever take part in a World Cup Final. He swept Sweden aside with two strikes — one of which saw him flick the ball over a defenders head before lacing it into the corner.
Pele also hoisted the World Cup in 1962 and 1970, although he only took part in two games in the former before succumbing to injury. He is joined by a host of his Brazilian teammates, including Garrincha, who nabbed the Golden Ball in the 1962 competition. Also featuring on the list of multiple-time World Cup winners are Cafu and Ronaldo, who led the Selecao to glory in 1994 and 2002, as well as a quartet of Italians from the Azzurri's 1934 and 1938 Cup-winning sides. Daniel Passarella is the lone non-Brazilian and non-Italian to win two World Cups, featuring on Argentina's 1978 and 1986 sides as a sweeper.
Here's a complete look at the players to have won two or more World Cups in their careers.
| Rank | Player | Country | Position | No. Of World Cup titles | Years Won |
| 1 | Pele | Brazil | Striker | 3 | 1958, 1962, 1970 |
| 2 | Bellini | Brazil | Centre Back | 2 | 1958, 1962 |
| Cafu | Brazil | Right Back | 2 | 1994, 2002 | |
| Castilho | Brazil | Goalkeeper | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Giovanni Ferrari | Italy | Attacking Midfielder | 2 | 1934, 1938 | |
| Garrincha | Brazil | Right Winger | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Gilmar | Brazil | Goalkeeper | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Guido Masetti | Italy | Goalkeeper | 2 | 1934, 1938 | |
| Mauro | Brazil | Centre Back | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Giuseppe Meazza | Italy | Striker | 2 | 1934, 1938 | |
| Eraldo Monzeglio | Italy | Right Back | 2 | 1934, 1938 | |
| Nilton Santos | Brazil | Left Back | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Daniel Passarella | Argentina | Sweeper | 2 | 1978, 1986 | |
| Pepe | Brazil | Left Winger | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Ronaldo | Brazil | Striker | 2 | 1994, 2002 | |
| Vava | Brazil | Centre Forward | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Mario Zagallo | Brazil | Left Winger | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Zito | Brazil | Defensive Midfielder | 2 | 1958, 1962 | |
| Zozimo | Brazil | Centre Back | 2 | 1958, 1962 |
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How many World Cups has Pele won?
- World Cups won: 3
- Years: 1958, 1962, 1970
- World Cup Final opponents: Sweden (1958), Czechoslovakia (1962), Italy (1970)
- No. Of World Cup goals: 12
Pele is the most prolific winner in World Cup history, although his place at the top of the list is a bit contentious. The famed artisan cast spells atop the pitch during his World Cup debut in Stockholm in 1958, emerging as the world's best player at the tender age of 17. He collected six goals in the tournament, his golden No. 10 shirt dancing through defenses in a samba-like rhythm.
Pele opened his 1962 appearance in the tournament in similar form, slaloming beyond four defenders before coolly slotting against Mexico in the opening game. In the second, he was felled by an injury. He was left out for the remainder of the tournament. Garrincha emerged in his stead, capturing player of the tournament honors as Brazil downed Czechoslovakia to repeat as World Cup champions.
At the time of Brazil's win, only players who appeared in World Cup finals were granted championship medals. As such, Pele wasn't initially considered a World Cup champion. FIFA changed its rules in 1978, with medals given to any member of the playing squad. Pele was retroactively made a member of the 1962 Cup-winning side.
Pele returned to the national side in 1970 after vowing to never play in the competition following a contentious defeat to Portugal in the 1966 tourney. He shined at the Azteca Stadium, scoring four goals. The pick of the lot was his header against Italy in the final; Pele leapt high before rifling the ball into the back of the net.
A known big-game player, Pele tacked on two assists in the final as Brazil walked out 4-1 winners. He was summarily named the tournament's Golden Ball winner for the second time in his career.
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How many World Cups has Ronaldo won?
- World Cups won: 2
- Years: 1994, 2002
- World Cup Final opponents: Italy (1994), Germany (2002)
- No. Of World Cup goals: 15
A prodigious talent, Ronaldo Nazario was a part of the Brazilian squad that took home the 1994 World Cup title. The then-17-year-old failed to make an appearance during the competition. But his placement on the star-laden roster suggested a breakthrough was on the horizon.
That breakthrough came in 1998, when Ronaldo — nicknamed O Fenomeno for his strength and guile around the box — led Brazil to the final. He bagged four goals in the competition and appeared destined to lead the Selecao to glory against France. However, an illness robbed him of fluidity as Brazil fell 3-0 to a resplendent French side.
Ronaldo got his get-back in 2002. He scored eight goals in the tournament, including two in the final, as Brazil cut down Oliver Kahn and Germany, 2-0.
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How many World Cups has Diego Maradona won?
- World Cups won: 1
- Years: 1986
- World Cup Final opponent: West Germany
- No. Of World Cup goals: 8
An attacking midfielder who enchanted audiences with his balance, dancing feet and cultured left foot, Diego Maradona was the people's champion. Described by famed Uruguayan journalist, writer and novelist Eduardo Galeano as "a short-legged bull" who "carries the ball sewn to his foot and had eyes all over his body", Maradona led Argentina to two World Cup Finals across his career. He was key to La Albiceleste's victory in the 1986 tournament, scoring two famous goals against a star-laden England squad in the quarterfinals.
Maradona's first strike was controversial. He clearly punched the ball over Peter Shilton's outstretched grasp, the "Hand of God" giving the Argentines a lead.
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His second strike was undeniable. Four minutes after finding the net, Maradona weaved through England's stout defense, tiptoeing past Peter Beardsley, then Peter Reid, then Terry Butcher, then Terry Fenwick then Terry Butcher (again) before flicking the ball past Shilton and sliding the ball into the back of the net.
It was the "Goal of the Century", a moment of splendor or madness, depending on one's perspective. The sweeping move had geopolitical dimensions — Britain and Argentina engaged in the Falklands War in 1982, resulting in the deaths of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and three Falkland Islanders.
"Although we had said before the game that football had nothing to do with the Malvinas war, we knew they had killed a lot of Argentine boys there, killed them like little birds," Maradona said postgame, per Goal.com. "This was revenge."
Maradona added two goals against Belgium in the semifinal. He didn't get on the scoresheet against West Germany in the final, although he did make the decisive pass for Jorge Burruchaga's game-winning tally.
West Germany got its revenge in the 1990 World Cup, downing Argentina, 1-0 in the final after receiving a contentious penalty. Maradona burst into tears when the referee blew the final whistle.
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How many World Cups has Lionel Messi won?
- World Cups won: 1
- Years: 2022
- World Cup Final opponent: France
- No. Of World Cup goals: 13
Lionel Messi is football's greatest-ever talent. He has tended to perform at his best during the World Cup, tallying 13 markers across five tournaments.
Messi and Argentina fell just short of a World Cup crown in 2014, succumbing to Germany, courtesy of an extra time Mario Gotze goal in Rio.
"La Pulga" had more success in the 2022 iteration of the competition. He scored seven goals, the second-highest tally in the tourney.
Messi struck twice in the final against France, sweeping the ball past Hugo Lloris with a first-half penalty and an extra-time rebound. He also scored in the penalty shootout as Argentina claimed the World Cup title in perhaps the greatest game in football history. Messi was summarily awarded the Golden Ball for his efforts, becoming the only player to receive the official award twice.
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How many World Cups has Cristiano Ronaldo won?
- World Cups won: 0
- Years: N/A
- World Cup Final opponent: N/A
- No. Of World Cup goals: 8
For all of his goals and accomplishments, Cristiano Ronaldo still has not won a World Cup with Portugal. Further, Ronaldo hasn't finished all that close to landing football's ultimate prize — Portugal's best result during the Ronaldo era was a fourth-place finish in 2006.
He does have an international trophy with his country. He was key to Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph, although he had to exit the final with injury.
Ronaldo described Portugal’s Euro 2016 victory as “one of the happiest moments in my career” and “an amazing unique moment for all Portuguese."
He is still seeking the grandest gemstone of them all, with the 2026 tournament likely to be the last of his glint career.
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How many World Cups has Kylian Mbappe won?
- World Cups won: 1
- Years: 2018
- World Cup Final opponent: Croatia
- No. Of World Cup goals: 12
Still in the prime of his career, Kylian Mbappe figures to be football's greatest-ever World Cup goal-scorer when his career ends. He made his World Cup debut in 2018, starring for France as they vanquished all comers en route to the title in Russia.
Mbappe scored six goals in that tournament. He is one of two players to reach that mark as a teenager. His company? Pele in 1958.
Mbappe added to his legacy with a standout campaign in the 2022 tournament, tallying a tournament-high eight goals — including a hat-trick in the final — as France finished as competition runner-ups. He finds himself on the cusp of Miroslav Klose's record for most World Cup goals in a career.
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Most World Cup appearances without a championship
Italy's Paolo Maldini made the most World Cup appearances without winning a World Cup. Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, Maldini made 23 appearances across four World Cups. Italy was unable to claim a crown during his time in defense, falling to Brazil on penalties in the 1994 tournament.
Following the 2002 tournament — one which saw Italy lose controversially to hosts South Korea — Maldini retired from international play. The Azzurri subsequently won the 2006 competition, besting France on penalties.
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Which player has won the most World Cup games?
Klose is the tournament's winningest player, having won 17 games across four tournaments with Germany (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014). The lanky striker never finished worst than third in his World Cup career.