Ousmane Dembélé’s triumph in the Champions League at the age of 28 places him in a fascinating cohort of elite footballers who achieved significant continental success at a similar age. Historically, players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the greatest to ever play the game, had already built impressive resumes by the time they reached this milestone. At 28, Messi had already won his fourth Champions League title with FC Barcelona, cementing his legacy as one of the most decorated players in the tournament’s history. In contrast, Ronaldo had also secured four trophies by this age, establishing his own remarkable legacy with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The comparison of Champions League achievements among these iconic players highlights the elite level of performance required to dominate Europe’s most prestigious club competition. To provide clarity, the following table summarizes the Champions League titles won by these stars by the age of 28:

Player Champions League Titles at Age 28
Ousmane Dembélé 1
Lionel Messi 4
Cristiano Ronaldo 4