10 World Cup winners that have played for Chelsea

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Winning a Premier League title is some achievement, as is capturing a Champions League crown, but conquering the world is another matter entirely. Only a select few can claim to have scaled those heights, with just 22 global gatherings having taken place since an inaugural event in 1930.

Victorious

Interest in such tournaments is always high, as the best endeavour to separate themselves from the rest, with those looking for a World Cup bet presented with plenty of choice when it comes to picking a winner.

World Cup betting tips can help fans decipher the contenders from the pretenders, but only one team will emerge victorious and land the ultimate prize. Plenty of those to have lifted a famous trophy have graced a Premier League stage down the years, with many plying their club trade at Stamford Bridge.

Here are 10 of the best World Cup winners to have turned out for Chelsea.

Cesc Fabregas

Joined the Blues in 2019 having previously starred in English football for Arsenal. Won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and Europa League having formed part of Spain’s triumphant squad at the 2010 World Cup.

Frank Lebeouf

Graced the 1998 World Cup final after stepping in for the suspended Laurent Blanc and kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Brazil. Spent five years at Stamford Bridge, winning two FA Cups, the League Cup and a Cup Winners’ Cup.

Marcel Desailly

Another of those to have conquered the world with France in 1998, with the classy centre-half joining Chelsea on the back of that triumph – allowing him to link up with countryman Lebeouf and take in a FA Cup success.

Juan Mata

Won two Player of the Year awards at Chelsea, with the Spanish playmaker becoming a fan favourite. Won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with the Blues, having previously become a world champion with Spain in 2010.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker famously flopped in west London, on the back of a big-money transfer from Liverpool, but he boasts a World Cup winners’ medal from 2010 and was one of the most fearsome forwards on the planet at one stage.

Didier Deschamps

Captain of the French side that claimed a historic World Cup crown on home soil in 1998, with that success repeated as a coach in 2018. One of the best holding midfielders in the business, he spent a solitary FA Cup-winning season with Chelsea in 1999-2000.

Juliano Belletti

Belletti saw limited game time for Brazil due to the presence of Cafu in his position, but did become a World Cup winner in 2002. Three seasons at Chelsea delivered two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League final appearance.

Andre Schurrle

Chelsea never really saw the best of the German forward across two years in England, but he did savour World Cup glory while on the Blues’ books – with Die Mannschaft claiming the ultimate prize in 2014.

Olivier Giroud

Now France’s all-time leading goalscorer, passing Thierry Henry along the way, Giroud may have drawn a blank at the 2018 finals, but he still lifted the World Cup trophy and was well respected during three years at the Bridge.

N’Golo Kante

Arguably the finest defensive midfielder of his generation, Kante’s qualities were put to good use by France in their 2018 World Cup triumph. An unsung hero has also won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League and Club World Cup with Chelsea.

Winners

Other notable figures to have graced the Blues’ books that have savoured World Cup success include another of France’s heroes from 1998, Emmanuel Petit, and Spanish winger Pedro. Two members of England’s 1966 squad have also represented Chelsea, with Jimmy Greaves and Peter Bonetti spending time at Stamford Bridge.