João Cancelo has achieved a unique milestone by becoming the first player ever to win league titles in four of Europe’s five major leagues. After clinching the Serie A trophy with Juventus in 2018/19, he secured three consecutive Premier League championships with Manchester City from 2020/21 to 2022/23. He then added a Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 2022/23 and, following Barcelona’s Clásico victory over Real Madrid, claimed the LaLiga crown. This remarkable feat sets Cancelo apart, as no other footballer has managed to win titles in four different top-tier European leagues.
While 21 professionals, including Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Arjen Robben, Sami Khedira, and Jens Lehmann, have won championships in three of the five strongest European leagues, Cancelo now stands alone as the record holder.
Cancelo’s latest triumph is his second league title secured while on loan. After beginning his career at Benfica, he moved through Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Manchester City before a loan spell at Bayern Munich in the winter of 2022/23. Under Thomas Tuchel, he helped Bayern win the Bundesliga on the final matchday. Following his return to Man City, he was loaned to Barcelona for a season before being sold to Al-Hilal for €25 million in 2024/25. In January 2026, Cancelo left Saudi Arabia on loan to return to the Catalan club, who were seeking defensive reinforcements due to injuries. His many transfers have generated a total transfer fee of approximately €145 million, second only to Matthijs de Ligt among defenders.
With a 14-point lead and three matches remaining, Barcelona have secured the title. A draw in the Clásico would have been enough, but the win also puts a new milestone within reach: the record margin after 38 matchdays is 15 points. For Real Madrid, this marks a second season without a major domestic trophy or Champions League victory. Meanwhile, LaLiga’s leaders have won 11 consecutive league games.
The LaLiga title is Cancelo’s seventh overall, including six in top European leagues and one in Portugal. However, he still trails far behind the players with the most titles in top leagues. Teammate Robert Lewandowski, for instance, now has 13 league titles—ten in the Bundesliga and three in LaLiga—matching Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Kingsley Coman, and Ryan Giggs.
The futures of both Lewandowski and Cancelo beyond this season remain uncertain. Barcelona’s management reportedly wants to extend Lewandowski’s contract by a year, but the striker has not yet decided. Meanwhile, Spanish outlet *Sport* reports that Hansi Flick has given the green light for Cancelo to stay, although Barça’s financial situation would require Al-Hilal and the player to make concessions. A permanent move would need to be free of charge, and Cancelo would likely have to accept a pay cut. The Portuguese international has a contract with Al-Hilal until 2027, earning an estimated €12 million per year. In 19 appearances for Barcelona, he has contributed five goals and assists, with a current market value of €9 million.
