Friday, July 24th 2026
The star of Spain, Alex Baena, has become the first footballer in history to achieve extraordinary success, after winning three major trophies in a row with the national team, following the 1-0 triumph over Argentina in the World Cup final.
The 25-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder started the match as a starter on the left side of midfield at the MetLife Stadium.
He was substituted in the minute. 75th by Nico Williams, as Spain looked for the winning goal before extra time.
Although it did not happen in regular time, another substitute, Ferran Torres, scored the only goal of the game in the 106th minute, giving Luis de la Fuente’s side the title of world champions.
The entire Spanish national team were crowned world champions for the first time, but for Alex Baenan this triumph has an even more special meaning.
He is the first footballer in history to win the European Championship, the Olympic gold medal and the World Cup consecutively.
Spain is the reigning champion of Europe after defeating England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final, while also winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, triumphing 5-3 over France after sequels.
Baena scored Spain’s second goal in the Olympic final. In Euro 2024 he did not play a single minute, as he had just become part of the national team A.
A group of Uruguayan footballers came very close to this record in the years 1928-1930. They
won Olympic gold in 1928 and the first World Cup in 1930, but by the time the next South American Championship took place in 1935, Italy had already won the 1934 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the United States Women’s National Team won the 2019 World Cup and the CONCACAF Championship for women in 2022.
However, the Americans were eliminated in the semifinals of the 2021 Olympics, and when they won gold in 2024, Spain was already the reigning women’s soccer world champion.
However, only the U.S. women’s national team can match Baena’s record next summer.
She will receive part of the 2026 CONCACAF W tournament, which runs from November to December and is considered the top favorite to win.
Next will be the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
A total of 16 players from the 2024 Olympic team, including attacking stars Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson, could match the record if the U.S. wins both tournaments.
A new record could also be set at the coaching level.
Emma Hayes could become the first coach to win this ‘triple’, while Luis de la Fuente failed to do so on Sunday.
De la Fuente took charge of Spain’s national team ahead of Euro 2024 and has led the team to a remarkable period of success.
However, he did not manage the Olympic team of Spain in 2024, after the Spanish Football Federation entrusted that role to the coach of the U21 national team, Santi Denia./GazetaExpress/
Source: prizrenpost
