Chelsea made history in the USA by winning the first edition of this new and revamped Club World Cup format. The Londoners completed a dream season: Conference League and World Cup. With this title, Enzo Maresca’s side join the select list of clubs who were the first champions in a major tournament.
Enzo Fernandez is the first player to be a ‘double world champion’ in history. (2022 World Cup Argentina and 2025 Club World Cup Chelsea).
In this privileged list are clubs and national teams such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Corinthians, Uruguay, Portugal and others. We take a brief look at these titles
1916 Copa America: Uruguay
Uruguay won the very first edition of the Copa America, held in Argentina in 1916. There were only four participants: Argentina (host), Uruguay, Brazil and Chile. All the teams competed against each other and the one with the most points was the champion. Uruguay beat Chile (4-0), Brazil (2-1) and a goalless draw against Argentina
1930 World Cup: Uruguay
The same result in the first edition of the World Cup. The Uruguayans made history by becoming the first team to win the first World Cup in history. And they did so in their own country. It was an unusual tournament, as only 13 teams took part
Uruguay were drawn in a group of three (beating Romania and Peru in the group stage), Yugoslavia in the semi-finals (6-1) and Argentina, again, in the final (4-2). They won again in 1950.
1956 European Cup: Real Madrid
The Spanish team could not be missing from this list. Real Madrid, the most successful team in Europe, won the first edition of the 1955-1956 European Cup, beating Stade Reims 4-3 in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Since then, Madrid’s love affair with its favorite competition began. Up to five times in a row (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960).
Later, when the European Cup was renamed the Champions League, Real Madrid once again proved why it is the king of this competition. Under the Champions League format established in 1992, Madrid won another nine titles
1956 AFC Asian Cup: South Korea
The first in history brought together the three winning teams in the qualifying rounds: South Korea, South Vietnam and Israel, as well as the host, Hong Kong. In the same model as the Copa America, all the teams played each other. The Koreans were the champions, winning two matches and in the final 5-3 against South Vietnam
1957 Africa Cup of Nations: Egypt
It was held in Sudan, where it brought together the most important teams in Africa: Egypt, Sudan, South Africa and Ethiopia. The champion was Egypt, who beat Sudan 2-1 in the semi-finals and thrashed Ethiopia 4-0 in the final – who reached the final after South Africa withdrew from the semi-finals – disqualified for political reasons
1958 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: F.C. Barcelona
One of the most prestigious European club tournaments that ever existed. Barcelona has the honor of being the first champion in history. It was a competition that was born from FIFA and was in force until the 1970-1971 season.
A total of 12 teams took part, divided into four groups. The Catalans came through the group stage without any problems and defeated Birmingham City in the semi-finals in the third play-off and a London team in the final (2-2 and 6-0). Barca won the Fairs Cup on three occasions (1958,1960 and 1966)
1960 European Nations’ Cup: USSR
Only four teams made it to the final stage: France, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the USSR. In the semi-finals, the USSR defeated Czechoslovakia 3-0 and in the final Yugoslavia 2-1
1960 Copa Libertadores: Peñarol
One of the most important tournaments in existence, formerly known as the Copa de Campeones de America and now the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores, it brought together the champions of the seven South American countries: San Lorenzo, Esporte Clube Bahia, Penarol, Millonarios, Universidad de Chile, Jorge Wilstermann and Club Olimpia
As was the case with the Copa America and World Cup, Uruguay was the big winner. Home and away matches (the third, a tiebreaker). Penarol were the first champions, beating the Bolivians (Jorge Wilstermann) 2-8 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, 2-3 to San Lorenzo de Almagro in the semi-finals and 1-2 in the final against Olimpia of Paraguay
2000 Club World Cup (the old format): Corinthians
The first edition was held in Brazil with eight teams in total. From UEFA: Real Madrid (1998 Intercontinental Cup winners) and Manchester United (1998-1999 Champions League winners). From CONMEBOL: Vasco de Gama and Corinthians. The line-up was completed by Necaxa (CONCACAF), Al-Nassr (AFC), Raja Casablanca (CAF) and South Melbourne (OFC).
The format consisted of two groups of four teams each. Only the first team went through and the champion was Corinthians. They were leaders in the group stage (2-2 against Real Madrid) and in the final they beat Vasco da Gama (leaders of Group B) in a penalty shootout (4-3) after the 0-0 at the end of extra time.
2019 Nations League: Portugal
UEFA created the tournament in order to do away with friendly matches. Switzerland, the Netherlands, Portugal and England were the four teams that qualified for the first edition of the Nations League
Portugal beat Switzerland 3-1 in the semi-finals with a Cristiano hat-trick and 1-0 against the Netherlands in the final. They would go on to retain the title last June against Spain on penalties
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