Sextuple in Football: The Rarest Achievement in Club Sports

In the world of professional football, winning a double (two trophies) or a treble (three trophies) is a celebrated milestone. However, there exists a far more elusive peak of success: the sextuple. A sextuple occurs when a club wins six official national and international titles within a single season or calendar year.

Achieving this feat requires a level of consistency and depth that few teams in history have possessed. It demands dominance across domestic leagues, national cups, and the most prestigious continental competitions.

Key Facts

Definition: Winning six official trophies in one season or calendar year.
Exclusive Club: Only three teams have achieved a sextuple: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Eligibility: Currently, only clubs from top-flight leagues in Africa, Europe, or South America can realistically pursue a sextuple due to the availability of continental super cups.
World Titles: The world champion component of the sextuple is typically the FIFA Club World Cup or the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

The Anatomy of a Sextuple

To reach six trophies, a club must typically sweep all available competitions. These are generally categorized into three levels of competition:

National Titles

The national league (e.g., La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1).
The primary national cup (e.g., Copa del Rey, DFB-Pokal, Coupe de France).
A national supercup or league cup.

Continental Titles

The top continental competition, such as the UEFA Champions League in Europe or the Copa Libertadores in South America.
The continental super cup, such as the UEFA Super Cup or Recopa Sudamericana.

Global Titles

The FIFA Club World Cup or the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

The Elite Three: Sextuple Winners

Only three clubs have managed to navigate the grueling schedule and pressure required to secure six trophies in a single campaign.

Barcelona (2009)

Under the management of Pep Guardiola, Barcelona became the first club to achieve the international sextuple. Their 2009 run was defined by a dominant style of play that swept every competition they entered.

Pep Guardiola, former Barcelona manager, who achieved the first international sextuple in 2009.

The six trophies won by Barcelona in 2009 on display in the Camp Nou museum.

Bayern Munich (2020)

Managed by Hansi Flick, Bayern Munich matched Barcelona's feat in 2020. Their journey culminated in a victory at the FIFA Club World Cup, securing their place in history.

Hansi Flick, former Bayern Munich manager, who achieved the second international sextuple in 2020.

The six trophies won by Bayern Munich in 2020 exhibited in the Allianz Arena.

Paris Saint-Germain (2025)

The most recent addition to this exclusive list is Paris Saint-Germain, led by Luis Enrique. PSG secured their sextuple in 2025, including a victory in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Luis Enrique, current Paris Saint-Germain manager, who achieved the third international sextuple in 2025.

Club	Year	Manager	World Title Won
Barcelona	2009	Pep Guardiola	FIFA Club World Cup
Bayern Munich	2020	Hansi Flick	FIFA Club World Cup
Paris Saint-Germain	2025	Luis Enrique	FIFA Intercontinental Cup

The "Almost" Clubs: Missed Sextuples

Many legendary teams have come agonizingly close, winning five trophies (a quintuple) only to fall short in the final match or a critical knockout round. Notable examples include:

Ajax (1995): Lost the KNVB Cup quarter-finals.
Al Ahly (2006): Lost the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals.
Inter Milan (2010): Lost the UEFA Super Cup.
Barcelona (2011, 2015): Missed out via the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España respectively.
Bayern Munich (2013): Lost the DFL-Supercup.
Real Madrid (2017, 2022, 2024): Failed to secure the Copa del Rey.
Manchester City (2023): Lost the FA Community Shield.

Beyond the Sextuple: Seven and Eight Titles

While the sextuple is the gold standard, it is technically possible to win even more. In England, for example, a club could win a seventh trophy by adding the EFL Cup (a secondary national cup) to a standard sextuple.

Since 2025, the introduction of the revamped quadrennial FIFA Club World Cup alongside the FIFA Intercontinental Cup has created a theoretical path to seven or eight trophies for clubs in countries with league cups (such as England, Egypt, Japan, Portugal, and Scotland). PSG attempted this in 2025 but fell short after losing the FIFA Club World Cup final to Chelsea.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sextuple in football?

A sextuple is the achievement of winning six official national and international trophies within a single football season or calendar year.

Which teams have won a sextuple?

Only Barcelona (2009), Bayern Munich (2020), and Paris Saint-Germain (2025) have achieved this feat.

Is it possible to win more than six trophies?

Yes. Clubs in countries with secondary league cups (like the EFL Cup in England) can potentially win seven or eight trophies, especially with the current structure of FIFA's global competitions.

Why can't all clubs attempt a sextuple?

A sextuple requires the existence of specific competitions, including a continental super cup. Currently, only clubs in Africa, Europe, and South America have access to these specific tournament structures.

Who was the manager of the first sextuple-winning team?

Pep Guardiola was the manager of Barcelona when they achieved the first international sextuple in 2009.