The Complete List of World Cup Winning Captains

Learn the complete list of every World Cup winning captain. Discover which legends have led their teams to glory and the youngest to ever lift the trophy.

With the World Cup being the most prestigious tournament in international football, leading your team to glory is something that many players can only dream of. Being backed by an entire nation, winning the competition means something special, especially if you were at the heart of it all.

But which players are lucky enough to have captained their sides to a World Cup tournament win since the format began back in 1930?

This blog will cover every World Cup winning captain and when they were able to bring home success for their nation, as well as the youngest to ever have done it.

All FIFA World Cup winning captains

Below, we have a table listing every World Cup winning captain, the national team they played for, and the year they lifted the trophy:

Looking at the 2026 World Cup, who might be the next captain to lift the trophy?

With Lionel Messi appearing again in the upcoming tournament, could he become the first captain to ever win the World Cup twice?

There are many other elite national sides with top players and captains, though, meaning we may soon have a new name to add to the list. Whether it’s Alvaro Morata for Spain, Kylian Mbappe for France, Harry Kane for England, or Marquinhos for Brazil, all will have one goal in mind – to be the next captain to bring the trophy home for their nation.

Who are the youngest World Cup winning captains?

Being able to captain a national team to a success as big as winning the World Cup is something which requires real maturity and a presence within the team. But who are the youngest players to have impressively achieved this feat?

This table summarises which captains have been the youngest to win the World Cup, and the age they were when they won:

How to bet on the World Cup

World Cup betting is always a thrill for bettors around the globe, so it’s definitely something to keep an eye on. As the world’s best national teams fight against each other and compete for the biggest prize in international football, there aren’t many better prospects.

At Betway, you can choose from a wide range of markets like top goalscorer, World Cup winner betting, and in-play betting. With more markets available as the tournament gets closer, there’s lots to look forward to!

Head over to the Betway site or use our mobile app through the App Store or Play Store to start your World Cup betting now!

FAQs

Who is the oldest World Cup winning captain?

Dino Zoff is the oldest ever World Cup winning captain, with the goalkeeper being 40 years old when he won with Italy in 1982.

Has anyone won the World Cup as captain and manager?

Yes, there are three managers that have won the World Cup as a captain and a manager: Mario Zagallo (Italy), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), and Didier Deschamps (France).

Who are Argentina’s World Cup winning captains?

Argentina have had three World Cup winning captains: Daniel Passarella (1978), Diego Maradona (1986), and Lionel Messi (2022).

Who are Brazil’s World Cup winning captains?

Brazil have had a different captain for each time they’ve won the World Cup: Bellini (1958), Mauro (1962), Carlos Alberto (1970), Dunga (1994), and Cafu (2002).

Who are Germany’s World Cup winning captains?

Germany have had four separate World Cup winning captains: Fritz Walter (1954), Franz Beckenbauer (1974), Lothar Matthaus (1990), and Philipp Lahm (2014).

Who are Italy’s World Cup winning captains?

Italy have had four World Cup winning captains: Gianpiero Combi (1934), Giuseppe Meazza (1938), Dino Zoff (1982), and Fabio Cannavaro (2006).