João Cancelo makes history by winning four European leagues.

João Cancelo makes history in European football by winning titles in four of the five major continental leagues, an unprecedented achievement that confirms his status as a truly global and relentless player. Last Sunday, with Barcelona triumphing over Real Madrid 2-0, Cancelo secured the Spanish title and became the first footballer ever to win championships in four of Europe’s “Big 5” leagues.

Cancelo’s journey to this historic milestone began in the 2018/19 season when he was still playing for Juventus. It was that season that he won the Serie A title under the management of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Vecchia Signora finishing with a comfortable 11-point lead over Napoli. This was Cancelo’s first major achievement on one of the most competitive stages in world football.

After his Italian adventure, the Portuguese full-back transferred to Manchester City, where it took until his second season to lift the Premier League trophy. Despite some tension with manager Pep Guardiola, which culminated in a loan to Bayern Munich during the second half of the 2022/23 season, Cancelo maintained his level. At the Bavarian club, under the management of Thomas Tuchel, he lifted the domestic trophy in the Bundesliga again, in a race that went to the final matchday.

This Sunday, at 31 years old, Cancelo was a key starter at Camp Nou, playing the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s victory over eternal rivals Real Madrid, which secured the Spanish championship title for the Catalans. With this triumph, the Portuguese player increases his impressive tally to four titles in the top European leagues — he only needs to win Ligue 1 in France to complete the perfect set.

The importance of João Cancelo lies not only in the trophies but also in the numbers: over his 271 matches in the five major European leagues, he has recorded 16 goals and an impressive 40 assists, highlighting his offensive influence and versatility on the pitch.

Looking to the future, Cancelo’s next mission is clear: to conquer Ligue 1 and firmly cement his place in the history of European football. A feat that few have dared to achieve, but this ambitious Portuguese seems determined to accomplish. João Cancelo is not just a right-back; he is a legend in the making, and the football world is watching every step of this epic journey.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.