The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in international football, held every four years and watched by millions around the globe. While teams are celebrated for their collective success, it is often the captain who stands out as a symbol of leadership, resilience, and national pride. Explore the full list of FIFA World Cup winning captains and the countries they led to victory. Updated till 2022, including legends like Messi, Beckenbauer, and Cafu.
The captain is not only responsible for motivating the squad but also lifts the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy on behalf of the team and the entire country.
Since the first World Cup in 1930, many legendary players have had the honour of captaining their FIFA nations to glory. From Italy’s Giuseppe Meazza to Argentina’s Lionel Messi, these captains have etched their names in football history.
Each winning captain represents a story of hard work, unity, and triumph on the world’s biggest stage. Here’s a complete list of FIFA World Cup-winning captains and the countries they led to victory.
List of the FIFA World Cup winning captains and Country
Table of Contents
From 1930 to 1962 (Between 1930-1962, the FIFA World Cup was won by Uruguay, Italy, and Brazil, and from 1962 to 2022, meet the captains who lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy. Get year-wise winners, leadership highlights, and rare records in one place. There are 22 winning captains to claim the glory of the World Cup.
| FIFA World Cup | Host Nation | Team Captain | Winner Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 FIFA World Cup | Uruguay | José Nasazzi | Uruguay |
| 1934 FIFA World Cup | Italy | Gianpiero Combi | Italy |
| 1938 FIFA World Cup | France | Giuseppe Meazza | Italy |
| 1950 FIFA World Cup | Brazil | Obdulio Varela | Uruguay |
| 1954 FIFA World Cup | Switzerland | Fritz Walter | West Germany |
| 1958 FIFA World Cup | Sweden | Bellini | Brazil |
| 1962 FIFA World Cup | Chile | Mauro | Brazil |
| 1966 FIFA World Cup | England | Bobby Moore | England |
| 1970 FIFA World Cup | Mexico | Carlos Alberto | Brazil |
| 1974 FIFA World Cup | West Germany | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany |
| 1978 FIFA World Cup | Argentina | Daniel Passarella | Argentina |
| 1982 FIFA World Cup | Spain | Dino Zoff | Italy |
| 1986 FIFA World Cup | Mexico | Diego Maradona | Argentina |
| 1990 FIFA World Cup | Italy | Lothar Matthäus | West Germany |
| 1994 FIFA World Cup | USA | Dunga | Brazil |
| 1998 FIFA World Cup | France | Didier Deschamps | France |
| 2002 FIFA World Cup | South Korea and Japan | Cafu | Brazil |
| 2006 FIFA World Cup | Germany | Fabio Cannavaro | Italy |
| 2010 FIFA World Cup | South Africa | Iker Casillas | Spain |
| 2014 FIFA World Cup | Brazil | Philipp Lahm | Germany |
| 2018 FIFA World Cup | Russia | Hugo Lloris | France |
| 2022 FIFA World Cup | Qatar | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
Facts of the FIFA World Cup Winning captains:
Who is the captain of the First World Cup (1930) winning team?
Uruguay’s National Team captain José Nasazzi led his team to victory in the inaugural tournament.
Who is the captain of the most recent World Cup (2022) winning team?
Argentina’s World Cup Squad, Lionel Messi captained his country to their third title.
Who is the Most World Cup wins as captain in FIFA World Cup history?
Brazil’s Cafu is the only player to captain in two World Cup finals (2002 as captain and 1994 as a player).
Who has won the World Cup as a manager and player?
Three individuals have accomplished the rare feat of winning the World Cup as both a player and a coach: Mário Zagallo, Franz Beckenbauer, and Didier Deschamps.
Who is the Oldest captain to win the World Cup?
Dino Zoff, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, was the oldest captain to win the World Cup at 40 years old.
Who is the Youngest captain to win the World Cup?
Argentine defender Daniel Passarella, who played for Argentina in 1978, was 25 years old at the time.
Other Facts of the FIFA World Cup Winning Captains:
- Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer (1974): One of the few captains to win both the World Cup as a player and as a coach (1990).
- France’s Didier Deschamps (1998): Later became the coach who led France to another win in 2018.
