World Cup final: a triumph for Europe’s clubs

Both of the FIFA World Cup finalists are European, and only one (unattached) of the 45 players left in the running does not play for a UEFA-affiliated side.

Indeed, at least 28 of the 45 look set to feature in the upcoming UEFA Champions League season, with their clubs already confirmed in the group stage. UEFA.com celebrates the European stars who have made it all the way in Russia.

Which clubs have the most players in the World Cup final?

Luka Modrić won the Champions League with Madrid©AFP

3 Atlético (Vrsaljko CROATIA; Lucas Hernández, Griezmann FRANCE)
3 Barcelona (Rakitić CROATIA, Dembélé, Umtiti FRANCE)
3 Juventus (Mandžukić, Pjaca CROATIA; Matuidi FRANCE)
3 Marseille (Mandanda, Rami, Thauvin FRANCE)
3 Monaco (Subašić CROATIA, Sidibé, Lemar FRANCE)
3 Paris (Areola, Kimpembe, Mbappé FRANCE)
3 Real Madrid (Kovačić, Modrić CROATIA; Varane FRANCE)
2 Chelsea (Kanté, Giroud FRANCE)
2 Inter Milan (Pivarić, Brozović CROATIA)

France’s Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba©Getty Images

1 AC Milan (Strinić CROATIA)
1 Bayern (Tolisso FRANCE)
1 Beşiktaş (Vida CROATIA)
1 Dinamo Zagreb (Livaković CROATIA)
1 Dynamo Kyiv (Pivarić CROATIA)
1 Eintracht (Rebić CROATIA)
1 Gent (Kalinić CROATIA)
1 Hoffenheim (Kramarić CROATIA)
1 Leverkusen (Jedvaj CROATIA)
1 Liverpool (Lovren CROATIA)
1 Lokomotiv Moskva (Ćorluka CROATIA)
1 Lyon (Fekir FRANCE)
1 Manchester City (Mendy FRANCE)
1 Manchester United (Pogba FRANCE)
1 Rijeka (Bradarić CROATIA)
1 Salzburg (Ćaleta-Car CROATIA)
1 Sevilla (N’Zonzi FRANCE)
1 Stuttgart (Pavard FRANCE)
1 Tottenham (Lloris FRANCE)
1 NO CLUB (Badelj CROATIA)

Which national leagues have the most players in the World Cup final?

Nabil Fekir plies his trade with Lyon in France©AFP/Getty Images

10 FRANCE
10 SPAIN
6 ENGLAND
6 ITALY
5 GERMANY
2 CROATIA
1 AUSTRIA
1 BELGIUM
1 RUSSIA
1 TURKEY
1 UKRAINE
1 NO CLUB