Only eight countries have ever won the World Cup
Only eight teams have ever won the World Cup trophy in the 96 years since it was first competed for.
The World Cup is football's most prestigious and adored competition, with the ultimate goal for the majority of footballers to just play in one, let alone win it.
The 2026 World Cup is already in full swing, and it's already been a celebration of the sport, with on-field upsets from the likes of Cape Verde and DR Congo showing just how magical the sport can be.
It's just as well that merely taking part in the World Cup is a worthwhile experience in of itself, as only an exclusive club has ever actually got their hands on the famous trophy.
Advert
The first World Cup took place in 1930 and this year's edition is only the 23rd time it has taken place, with World War II forcing a 12-year gap in the 1940s.
With the World Cup taking place just once every four years, it has proven an incredibly tough competition to win.
Out of the 84 nations to ever play in the tournament, just over 10 per cent of them have managed to win it.
Here's who.
Brazil - 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Brazil are the World Cup's most-iconic team, with a tournament said to not have really got started until their vibrant yellow shirts have taken to the field.
A young Pelé watched his father cry for the first time after Brazil suffered a traumatic final defeat on home soil in 1950, and vowed he would bring the trophy home.
Aged 17, he did just that in 1958 and fired himself to super stardom.
Pelé would go on to be regarded as the game's best ever player as he inspired Brazil to three triumphs alongside the likes of Garrincha, Mario Zagallo, Nilton Santos, Rivellino, Carlos Alberto and Jairzinho.
A more robust Brazil would reclaim the trophy in 1994, but the Samba stars of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo made it a record fifth victory in 2002.
Germany - 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
Germany won the World Cup three times as West Germany before the country was reunited.
By defeating Hungary in 1954 and the Netherlands in 1974, they ensured two of the game's most formidable and tactically revolutionary sides never etched their names on the trophy.
In 1990, it was England who were vanquished in the semi-finals as Paul Gascoigne's tear rained down in Turin, before defeating Argentina in the final.
Their last victory came in 2014, famously destroying hosts Brazil 7-1 in the final before Mario Götze's extra-time winner secured another final win over Argentina.
Italy - 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
Italy are the other nation with four triumphs to their name, though the first two came back in the 1930s in the height of fascism under Benito Mussolini.
There 1982 victory is much more celebrated, as they overcame a sensational Brazil 3-2 in the 'Match of the Century' in the second round as Paolo Rossi fired the Azzuri to victory.
They last won the trophy in 2006 on penalties and haven't won a knock-out fixture in the tournament since, having not qualified for the last three.
Argentina - 1978, 1986, 2022
Argentina are the reigning world champions after Lionel Messi secured his candidacy as one of the greatest players to ever grace a pitch by inspiring his nation to an unlikely third success.
He followed in the footsteps of Diego Maradona, who almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to the trophy in 1986, knocking out England in the process with his infamous 'Hand of God' and scintillating solo strike.
Argentina's first win came in 1978, a tournament they hosted but was marred by the military junta hijacking it for their own propagandistic needs.
France - 1998, 2018
The France of today are known as a footballing powerhouse, a production line of talent almost unmatched.
Yet, it took a long time for them to achieve such prestige. They had twice finished third but hadn't reached a World Cup final until they hosted the tournament in 1998, where they beat Brazil 3-0 in the final.
Their second climb to the top of the world came in 2018, with Kylian Mbappé dazzling as they claimed gold by defeating Croatia in the final.
Uruguay - 1930, 1950
Uruguay were the first ever winners of the World Cup, defeating Argentina 4-2 on home soil in 1930 in a tournament that contained just 12 teams. Striker Hector Castro scored the final goal despite having just one hand, after he lost his right forearm in an electric saw accident when he was 13.
Their second and last victory came in 1950, when Uruguay silenced the Maracanã with a startling 2-1 win that broke Brazilian hearts, led them to change their kit from white to iconic yellow and set Pelé on the path to greatness.
England - 1966
Despite the game being invented in, and then transported to the world from, England, they have only managed to win it once, getting their hands on the iconic Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.
Sir Alf Ramsey was a tactical innovator in his own right, and he guided a fantastic Three Lions team littered with legends to the final on home soil.
England fell behind but led 2-1 before West Germany levelled with with a minute remaining. Yet, deep into extra-time, Geoff Hurst swivelled and hit a shot on the underside of the crossbar which was controversially judged to have gone over the line. Hurst completed his hat-trick in the final moments and remained the only player to score three in a World Cup final until Mbappé matched the feat in 2022.
For England, it's not 60 years of hurt and counting.
Spain - 2010
Spain are the last new team to get their hands on the cup, doing so back in 2010 at the height of Pep Guardiola-inspired TikiTaka.
Vicente del Bosque may have been the Spain manager, but his team contained seven Barcelona players, with Andrés Iniesta grabbing the only goal in a rough and tumble match against the Netherlands in the 116th minute.
Spain had won the Euros in 2008 and would retain the title in 2012, capping off a run of dominance that was only equalled by Argentina in 2024.
Daniel Murphy