One of the most traditional clubs on the planet, Inter Milan is making history at the World Cup. But what does that mean? We explain: the Italian team is the only one to have representatives in every World Cup final since 1982.

Hero of Argentina’s victory over England in the semifinal, Lautaro Martínez is the most recent name in a list full of world football legends. Among them are Ronaldo Fenômeno, Jürgen Klinsmann, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Andreas Brehme, and several other athletes who wore the Nerazzurri jersey.

In total, Internazionale has had 21 different players present in the 12 World Cup finals held since 1982, an unprecedented streak among clubs.

Up to the 2026 World Cup, Bayern Munich also had representatives in every final since 1982. However, the eliminations of France (Michael Olise) and England (Harry Kane) in the semifinals allowed the Italian side to claim this historical feat alone.

Read more: See everything about the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain

Another curious fact highlights the importance of Inter’s players in these finals. In six of the 12 finals played since 1982, a club athlete scored at least one goal.

The most emblematic example happened in 2002, when Ronaldo Fenômeno found the net twice in Brazil’s 2–0 win over Germany, which secured the Seleção’s fifth world title. In 1990, Andreas Brehme converted the penalty that sealed West Germany’s victory over Argentina and decided the World Cup.

In the other two finals in which Inter players scored, the goals were not enough to clinch the title. In 1986, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge scored for West Germany, who lost to Argentina. In 2018, Ivan Perišić scored for Croatia, who ended up defeated by France in the final held in Russia.

See all Inter players in World Cup finals since 1982

1982 (Spain)

Beppe Bergomi (Italy) – Starter
Gabriele Oriali (Italy) – Starter
Alessandro Altobelli (Italy) – Substitute (Came on and scored)
Ivano Bordon (Italy) – Substitute (Did not play)
Giampiero Marini (Italy) – Substitute (Did not play)

1986 (Mexico)

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) – Starter (Scored a goal)

1990 (Italy)

Andreas Brehme (West Germany) – Starter (Scored a goal)
Lothar Matthäus (West Germany) – Starter
Jürgen Klinsmann (West Germany) – Starter

1994 (United States)

Nicola Berti (Italy) – Starter

1998 (France)

Youri Djorkaeff (France) – Starter
Ronaldo (Brazil) – Starter

2002 (South Korea/Japan)

Ronaldo (Brazil) – Starter (Scored two goals)

2006 (Germany)

Marco Materazzi (Italy) – Starter (Scored a goal)
Fabio Grosso (Italy) – Starter

2010 (South Africa)

Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands) – Starter

2014 (Brazil)

Rodrigo Palacio (Argentina) – Substitute (Came on)
Hugo Campagnaro (Argentina) – Substitute (Did not play)
Ricardo Álvarez (Argentina) – Substitute (Did not play)

2018 (Russia)

Marcelo Brozović (Croatia) – Starter
Ivan Perišić (Croatia) – Starter (Scored a goal)

2022 (Qatar)

Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) – Substitute (Came on)

2026 (USA/Mexico/Canada)

Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) – Qualified for this Sunday’s final