Let’s be real: Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal between France and Spain was about way more than just a ticket to the final. This was a heavyweight grudge match, a rematch of last year’s Euro semifinal that Spain won en route to the title. You had Barca’s teenage phenom Lamine Yamal squaring off against Real Madrid’s World Cup killer Kylian Mbappé. But simmering beneath all that drama was a streak so bizarre it felt like a cosmic joke—one that had been running since 1982.
See, for the last 44 years, every single World Cup final had at least one player from either Bayern Munich or Inter Milan. That’s right—since Italy beat West Germany in ’82, the two clubs have been a permanent fixture on the game’s biggest stage. But Spain’s 2-0 takedown of France in Arlington not only crushed Les Bleus’ dreams of a third straight final appearance; it also snapped that incredible run. France has Bayern’s Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano, plus Inter’s Marcus Thuram, but Spain’s squad? Zero. Nada. The streak had to die sometime, and Spain delivered the knockout punch.
The good news for Bayern and Inter fans? The streak lives on for one of them. Either Bayern’s Harry Kane or Inter’s Lautaro Martínez will play in Sunday’s final after Wednesday’s other semifinal between England and Argentina. But it’s impossible for both clubs to have a representative now. So let’s take a walk down memory lane and tip our caps to the players who kept this wild streak alive for over four decades.
Buon compleanno Alessandro Altobelli! 🇮🇹🎂
He scored the goal that sealed victory in the 1982 #WorldCup Final, securing his country’s first global title for almost half a century 🏆⚽️
@azzurri | @FIGC pic.twitter.com/2Vl9snesWM
The streak was born in ’82 when Bayern had three Germans (Rummenigge, Breitner, Dremmler) and Inter had three Italians (Bergomi, Oriali, Altobelli). Altobelli’s goal in a 3-1 win over West Germany sealed the deal, and we were off and running.
🗣️ “I always say that because of Batista’s beard, it looked as if Jesus had appeared to tell us we were now destined to become world champions.”
🎈 Happy 58th birthday to the man who scored @Argentina’s winner in the 1986 #WorldCup Final, @jburruchaga 🏆pic.twitter.com/PD65Z7Oekh
In ’86, it was all West German as Bayern’s Matthäus, Hoeness, and Eder joined Inter’s Rummenigge. But Maradona’s Argentina spoiled the party, with Burruchaga scoring the winner.
🎯 Andi Brehme hit a superb winner in the last 16, was crucially on target in the semi-final, and scored the goal that won West Germany the 1990 #WorldCup. He was a left-back 🤯
🎂 Happy birthday to a multifunctional legend 🏆
#HBD | @DFB_Team_ENpic.twitter.com/1RufVkvwB7
Redemption came in ’90 as West Germany beat Argentina 1-0. Bayern’s Augenthaler, Kohler, and Reuter joined Inter’s Brehme, Klinsmann, and Matthäus. Brehme’s late penalty—after Matthäus chickened out because of uncomfortable boots—sealed it.
🔙 The 15th #WorldCup ended in ecstasy for Brazil #OnThisDay in 1994 🇧🇷
🥇 Those toe-pokes, that header, the shootout penalty in the Final, the @adidas Golden Ball… it undoubtedly belonged to @RomarioOnze 🤩pic.twitter.com/V86umnm8E5
In ’94, only two players: Bayern’s Jorginho (Brazil) and Inter’s Berti (Italy). Jorginho went off injured after 21 minutes, replaced by a young Cafu. The game went to penalties, and Roberto Baggio—who’d later play for Inter—skyed the decider.
1-0! It’s that man Zidane at the near post!
Tune in to the rest of 🇧🇷🆚🇫🇷 kicks on Facebook now!
👉https://t.co/uzMtTkvxsV pic.twitter.com/3pN0JuxeBh
1998 saw Bayern’s Lizarazu and Inter’s Djorkaeff (both France) plus Inter’s Ronaldo (Brazil). Ronaldo had a mysterious fit before the game but played. Zidane’s two headers crushed Brazil 3-0.
🇧🇷 Brazil are in Yokohama for the #OlympicFootball gold medal match 🥇
⏪ The last time A Seleção contested a final there, it worked out pretty well 💛
@CBF_Futebol | @Ronaldo | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/c4U41dOyz4
2002: Bayern had five Germans (Kahn, Jancker, Linke, Jeremies) and Inter’s Ronaldo starred for Brazil. Ronaldo scored twice in the final to win his redemption and Brazil’s fifth title.
On this day in 2006, Zinedine Zidane was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final. It was his last act as a professional footballer.
(via @FIFAWorldCup)pic.twitter.com/EnewQ0bncm
2006: Bayern’s Sagnol (France) and Inter’s Materazzi (Italy). Materazzi gave away a penalty, then equalized, then got headbutted by Zidane. He scored in the shootout as Italy won.
Iniesta’s 2010 #WorldCup final goal changed Spanish football forever!🇪🇸👏🏆
📺https://t.co/ezhfwgVNdI pic.twitter.com/DMSzUDF6iZ
2010: Bayern’s Robben and Van Bommel plus Inter’s Sneijder, all Dutch. Spain’s Iniesta broke their hearts in extra time. The streak continued, but the Dutch couldn’t win.
Forever 🇩🇪 @DFB_Team_EN’s hero at the 2014 #WorldCup final 🦸♂️
Happy birthday to @MarioGoetze! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/dCn9EXveCp
2014: Bayern had seven Germans (Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Müller, Götze) and Inter’s Palacio (Argentina). Götze’s wonder volley won it for Germany.
🔙 A #WorldCup Final hadn’t produced more than 5 goals in 52 years. Then #OnThisDay in 2018 @FrenchTeam & @HNS_CFF treated almost 80,000 in the Luzhniki & over 1 billion watching across the globe to a 6-goal thriller 💥
🇫🇷 🇭🇷 Merci. Hvala. 👏 🙏pic.twitter.com/KqNsoRVEYu
2018: Bayern’s Tolisso (France) and Inter’s Brozovic and Perisic (Croatia). France won 4-2 in a thriller, with Tolisso lifting the trophy.
We’re one year out from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final! 🌎🏆
The 2022 Final between Argentina and France was an instant classic 🎬 pic.twitter.com/FO7qB7Z2
2022: Bayern had four French players (Pavard, Upamecano, Coman, L. Hernandez) and Inter’s Martinez (Argentina). Messi and Mbappé traded blows in a 3-3 classic, but Argentina won on penalties. And now, for the first time since 1982, we might not see both Bayern and Inter in the final. Spain made sure of that.