Álex Baena becomes first player ever to win Euros, Olympics, and World Cup in succession

At just 25 years old, Atlético Madrid winger Álex Baena has carved his name into football history. In Sunday's World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, he became the first European player — and the first footballer ever — to win the European Championship, the Olympic Games, and the World Cup in consecutive tournaments. Baena's remarkable streak began in the summer of 2024 when he helped Spain lift the European Championship under head coach Luis de la Fuente. He came off the bench in group-stage wins over Italy and Albania. Later that summer, he was a key figure for Spain at the Paris Olympics, scoring two goals as La Roja beat hosts France 5-3 in the final. At the World Cup, Baena started every match after the opening 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. He scored the only goal in a crucial 1-0 victory over Uruguay and provided an assist in the Round of 16 win against Austria. Until now, only two players had won their continental tournament, Olympic gold, and the World Cup: Argentina legends Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. Messi and Di María won Olympic gold in Beijing 2008, the Copa América in 2021, and the World Cup in Qatar 2022. Baena's achievement stands out because he is the first European to complete the triple and the first player in history to win all three major international titles back-to-back, starting from the summer of 2024.