Raphael Varane joined an exclusive club on Sunday, becoming just the ninth player to win the Champions League and the World Cup in the same year. He joins esteemed company such as Roberto Carlos and Christian Karembeu.
Defensive players rarely get the credit they deserve in the Ballon d’Or stakes so don’t expect this feat to launch him into genuine contention for the award—if it did it would be great, but history suggests it’s unlikely—but it’s enough to put him in the conversation at least.
Varane’s World Cup quarter-final and semi-final performances were sensational, scoring in the former and defending like a demon in the latter, and he was France’s best defender in a strong unit.
It helps you forget about some slightly indifferent form for Real Madrid this year, where Sergio Ramos probably did more in the run to the Champions League than the 25-year-old.
