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THE BALL – Enzo and Otamendi can make history: the world champions who played in Portugal (but with a difference) (Benfica)

Let’s remember: if Argentina crown themselves world champions this Sunday, in the final with a stop in Lusail, Enzo Fernández and Otamendi will go down in history as the first players to become world champions playing for a national club.

There are only five footballers who have played in Portugal with the World Cup in their curriculum. Brazilian defender Anderson Polga, who signed for Sportig in 2003 and won the 2002 World Cup; Capdevila, the Spanish midfielder who joined Luz in 2011 after being European and World Champion in 2008 and 2010; Casillas, the Spanish goalkeeper who strengthened FC Porto in 2015 and captain of Spain in South Africa-2010; Adil Rami, signed by Boavista in 2020 and winner with France in 2018; and finally Draxler: now at Benfica and who celebrated with Germany in Brazil-2014. Of these, Polga and Capddevila were defending champions when playing for Sporting and Benfica.

The big difference between all these world champions and the Otamendi and Enzo Fernández duo, if they succeed, is that the others were not playing for Portuguese clubs at the time of the conquest.

Also known for Branco, Aldair and Ricardo Rocha: in 1994 they celebrated the world title, but after playing in Portugal

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