Every player to win UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores
Not for the first or last time, a headline sparked outrage. Yet, the back page of an issue from December 1954 prompted the creation of something positive out of the cries of fake news.
«Hail Wolves, Champions of the World,» the English red top declared after Stan Cullis' side defeated Hungarian champions Honved. Former French international turned editor of, Gabriel Hanot, was so disgusted by the suggestion that Wolves were the elite example that he set the wheels in motion for the first edition of the European Cup, which would later become the UEFA Champions League.
Chile was the driving force behind the South American equivalent but had to convince the Atlantic leaders — Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay — that money could be made from the pan-continental competition. Eventually, the Copa Libertadores was born in 1960.
Only 15 players have ever claimed winners' medals from both competitions in the modern era. Here is a look at those select individuals that could accurately be hailed as 'Champions of the World'.
Champions League win: 1996 (Juventus)
Copa Libertadores win: 1996 (River Plate)
The TED Talk that Juan Pablo Sorin delivered in 2017 was simply titled: «No.» A meander through how he overcame the setbacks in his career includes a fleeting six-month spell at Juventus.
Sorin left the Turin giants midway through the season after playing just 44 minutes in a Champions League campaign that Juve won without him. River Plate fully exploited the left-back's talents, using Sorin throughout the club's triumphant Copa Libertadores run that same year.
Champions League win: 2003 (Milan)
Copa Libertadores win: 1999 (Palmeiras)
It must be pretty easy to not have any remorse after winning the pile of trophies Roque Junior stacked
