Alex Baena eyes historic treble of Euro, Olympic gold, and World Cup

Spanish midfielder Alex Baena stands on the cusp of a historic football achievement, potentially becoming only the third player ever to win a European Championship, an Olympic gold medal, and a World Cup with his national team. The Atlético Madrid player has already celebrated winning Euro 2024 and, just weeks later, secured the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

During the European Championship, Baena had limited playing time. However, he was a key player in the Olympics, notably shining in the final against France with a direct free-kick goal. Now, in the World Cup final on July 19, he aims to emulate an accomplishment previously achieved only by Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.

These two Argentinian legends won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, followed by two Copa America titles (2021, 2024) and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Baena's potential achievement would mark him as the first Spanish player to secure this remarkable trio of titles.

Despite his growing status, there is no significant marketing campaign surrounding Baena, even as he is recognized as one of the World Cup's top players. His journey from a few months old, featured in a UNICEF calendar photo with Lionel Messi, to potentially winning the World Cup against him, highlights a remarkable career trajectory.