List of World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament records and statistics

Last updated February 27, 2024

This is a list of records and statistics of the men's water polo tournament at the World Aquatics Championships since the inaugural official edition in 1973.

Confederation statistics

Best performances by tournament

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament.^[1]

Legend

1^st – Champions
2^nd – Runners-up
3^rd – Third place
4^th – Fourth place
Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament

Confederation	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024
Africa – CANA	—	—	—	15th	—	15th	15th	14th	—	—	15th	14th	15th	16th	15th	12th	16th	12th	12th	16th	15th
Americas – ASUA	5th	4th	5th	5th	4th	4th	6th	7th	7th	6th	11th	9th	4th	6th	9th	7th	12th	9th	6th	7th	9th
Asia – AASF	—	15th	—	10th	—	14th	12th	11th	12th	15th	14th	13th	12th	11th	12th	11th	10th	11th	9th	11th	12th
Europe – LEN	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
Oceania – OSA	14th	11th	9th	11th	10th	8th	10th	4th	10th	7th	10th	10th	10th	9th	8th	8th	7th	6th	11th	10th	11th
Nations	16	16	16	16	15	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16

All-time best performances

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation at the World Aquatics Championships.^[1]

Legend

^* – Host team
^† – Defunct team

Confederation	Best performance	Men's team
Africa – CANA	12th	South Africa (2015, 2019, 2022)
Americas – ASUA	4th	Cuba (1975), United States (1986, 1991, 2009)
Asia – AASF	9th	Japan (2022)
Europe – LEN	1st	Croatia (2007, 2017, 2024), Hungary (1973, 2003, 2013, 2023), Italy (1978, 1994^, 2011, 2019), Serbia (2009, 2015), Serbia and Montenegro* ^† (2005), Soviet Union ^† (1975, 1982), Spain (1998, 2001), Yugoslavia ^† (1986, 1991)
Oceania – OSA	4th	Australia (1998^*)

Team statistics

Debut of teams

Legend

^* – Host team
^† – Defunct team

#	Year^[1]	Debuting teams					Number	Cumulative total
#	Year^[1]	Africa	Americas	Asia	Europe	Oceania	Number	Cumulative total
1	1973	–	Cuba , Mexico , United States	–	Bulgaria , Great Britain , Greece , Hungary , Israel , Italy , Netherlands , Romania , Soviet Union ^†, Spain , West Germany ^†, Yugoslavia ^*†	Australia	16	16
2	1975	–	Canada , Colombia ^*	Iran	–	–	3	19
3	1978	–	–	–	–	–	0	19
4	1982	Egypt	–	China	France	New Zealand	4	23
5	1986	–	Brazil	–	–	–	1	24
6	1991	–	–	–	Germany	–	1	25
7	1994	South Africa	–	Kazakhstan	Croatia , Russia	–	4	29
8	1998	–	–	–	Yugoslavia ^†^{[lower-alpha 1]}, Slovakia	–	2	31
9	2001	–	–	Japan ^*	–	–	1	32
10	2003	–	–	–	–	–	0	32
#	Year	Africa	Americas	Asia	Europe	Oceania	Number	Cumulative total
11	2005	–	–	–	–	–	0	32
12	2007	–	–	–	Serbia	–	1	33
13	2009	–	–	–	Macedonia , Montenegro	–	2	35
14	2011	–	–	–	–	–	0	35
15	2013	–	–	–	–	–	0	35
16	2015	–	Argentina	–	–	–	1	36
17	2017	–	–	–	–	–	0	36
18	2019	–	–	South Korea ^*	–	–	1	37
19	2022	–	–	–	Georgia	–	1	38
20	2023	–	–	–	–	–	0	38
21	2024	–	–	–	–	–	0	38
Total		2	7	5	22	2

Results of host teams and defending finalists

Legend

^† – Defunct team

#	Year^[1]	Host team	Finish	Defending champions	Finish	Defending runners-up	Finish
1	1973	Yugoslavia ^†	3rd of 16 teams	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear
2	1975	Colombia	16th of 16 teams	Hungary	2nd of 16 teams	Soviet Union ^†	1st of 16 teams
3	1978	West Germany ^†	7th of 16 teams	Soviet Union ^†	4th of 16 teams	Hungary	2nd of 16 teams
4	1982	Ecuador	Did not participate	Italy	9th of 16 teams	Hungary	2nd of 16 teams
5	1986	Spain	5th of 15 teams	Soviet Union ^†	3rd of 15 teams	Hungary	9th of 15 teams
6	1991	Australia	8th of 16 teams	Yugoslavia ^†	1st of 16 teams	Italy	6th of 16 teams
7	1994	Italy	1st of 16 teams	Yugoslavia ^†	Defunct	Spain	2nd of 16 teams
8	1998	Australia	4th of 16 teams	Italy	5th of 16 teams	Spain	1st of 16 teams
9	2001	Japan	16th of 16 teams	Spain	1st of 16 teams	Hungary	5th of 16 teams
10	2003	Spain	5th of 16 teams	Spain	5th of 16 teams	Yugoslavia ^†^{[lower-alpha 1]}	3rd of 16 teams
11	2005	Canada	13th of 16 teams	Hungary	2nd of 16 teams	Italy	8th of 16 teams
#	Year	Host team	Finish	Defending champions	Finish	Defending runners-up	Finish
12	2007	Australia	10th of 16 teams	Serbia and Montenegro ^†	Defunct	Hungary	2nd of 16 teams
13	2009	Italy	11th of 16 teams	Croatia	3rd of 16 teams	Hungary	5th of 16 teams
14	2011	China	15th of 16 teams	Serbia	2nd of 16 teams	Spain	5th of 16 teams
15	2013	Spain	5th of 16 teams	Italy	4th of 16 teams	Serbia	7th of 16 teams
16	2015	Russia	14th of 16 teams	Hungary	6th of 16 teams	Montenegro	5th of 16 teams
17	2017	Hungary	2nd of 16 teams	Serbia	3rd of 16 teams	Croatia	1st of 16 teams
18	2019	South Korea	15th of 16 teams	Croatia	3rd of 16 teams	Hungary	4th of 16 teams
19	2022	Hungary	7th of 16 teams	Italy	2nd of 16 teams	Spain	1st of 16 teams
20	2023	Japan	11th of 16 teams	Spain	3rd of 16 teams	Italy	5th of 16 teams
21	2024	Qatar	Did not participate	Hungary	7th of 16 teams	Greece	5th of 16 teams
#	Year	Host team	Finish	Defending champions	Finish	Defending runners-up	Finish

Comprehensive team results by tournament

Note: Results of qualification tournaments are not included.

Legend

1st – Champions
2nd – Runners-up
3rd – Third place
4th – Fourth place
Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
– Hosts
^† – Defunct team

Men's team^[1]	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Years
Africa – CANA (2 teams)
Egypt				15th		15th																2
South Africa							15th	14th			15th	14th	15th	16th	15th	12th	16th	12th	12th	16th	15th	13
Americas – ASUA (7 teams)
Men's team^[1]	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Years
Argentina																16th				13th		2
Brazil					12th			12th	13th	13th			13th	14th		10th	12th	13th	15th	WD	14th	11
Canada		14th	14th	14th	13th	13th	14th	13th	15th	14th	13th	12th	8th	10th	11th	9th	15th		16th	12th		18
Colombia		16th																				1
Cuba	6th	4th	10th	5th	7th	11th	11th				12th											8
Mexico	9th	9th	15th																			3
United States	5th	8th	5th	6th	4th	4th	6th	7th	7th	6th	11th	9th	4th	6th	9th	7th	13th	9th	6th	7th	9th	21
Asia – AASF (5 teams)
Men's team^[1]	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Years
China				10th		14th				16th	16th	13th	12th	15th	14th	15th				15th	12th	11
Iran		15th						15th														2
Japan									16th	15th	14th	16th		11th		13th	10th	11th	9th	11th	13th	11
Kazakhstan	Part of Soviet Union						12th	11th	12th				16th	13th	12th	11th	11th	14th	14th	14th	16th	12
South Korea																		15th				1
Europe – LEN (22 teams)
Men's team^[1]	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Years
Bulgaria	13th	12th	8th																			3
Croatia	Part of Yugoslavia						4th	9th	8th	9th	4th	1st	3rd	3rd	3rd	2nd	1st	3rd	4th	9th	1st	15
France				13th	8th	12th											14th			6th	4th	6
Georgia	Part of Soviet Union																		10th			1
Germany	See West Germany					5th	9th		14th	11th	9th	8th	6th	8th	10th			8th	13th			11
Great Britain	15th																					1
Greece	12th		12th	12th	11th	10th	7th	8th	6th	4th	3rd	6th			6th	3rd	4th	7th	3rd	2nd	5th	18
Hungary	1st	2nd	2nd	2nd	9th	3rd	5th	2nd	5th	1st	2nd	2nd	5th	4th	1st	6th	2nd	4th	7th	1st	7th	21
Israel	16th		16th		15th																	3
Italy	4th	3rd	1st	9th	2nd	6th	1st	5th	4th	2nd	8th	5th	11th	1st	4th	4th	6th	1st	2nd	5th	2nd	21
Montenegro	Part of Yugoslavia						Part of FRY / SCG						9th	7th	2nd	5th	5th	10th	8th	8th	8th	9
Men's team	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Years
Netherlands	8th	7th	13th	4th	14th		8th		9th													7
North Macedonia	Part of Yugoslavia												14th									1
Romania	7th	5th	6th			9th	13th			12th	6th	11th	7th	12th	13th						10th	12
Russia	Part of Soviet Union						3rd	6th	3rd	10th	7th	7th				14th	8th		DQ	DQ	DQ	8
Serbia	Part of Yugoslavia						Part of FRY / SCG					4th	1st	2nd	7th	1st	3rd	5th	5th	4th	6th	10
Serbia and Montenegro ^†^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Part of Yugoslavia							3rd	2nd	3rd	1st	Defunct										4
Slovakia	Part of Czechoslovakia							10th	11th	8th												3
Soviet Union ^†	2nd	1st	4th	1st	3rd	7th	Defunct															6
Spain	10th	10th	11th	8th	5th	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	5th	5th	3rd	2nd	5th	5th		9th	2nd	1st	3rd	3rd	20
West Germany ^†	11th	6th	7th	3rd	6th	See Germany																5
Yugoslavia ^†	3rd	13th	3rd	7th	1st	1st	Defunct															6
Oceania – OSA (2 teams)
Men's team^[1]	1973	1975	1978	1982	1986	1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Years
Australia	14th	11th	9th	11th	10th	8th	10th	4th	10th	7th	10th	10th	10th	9th	8th	8th	7th	6th	11th	10th	11th	21
New Zealand				16th		16th	16th	16th				15th			16th			16th				7

Total teams	16	16	16	16	15	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16

Finishes in the top four

The following table is pre-sorted by total finishes in the top four (in descending order), number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively.

Legend

^* – Host team
^† – Defunct team

Rk	Men's team^[1]	Total	Champions	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place	First	Last
1	Hungary	14	4 (1973, 2003, 2013, 2023)	7 (1975, 1978, 1982, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2017^*)	1 (1991)	2 (2011, 2019)	1973	2023
2	Italy	13	4 (1978, 1994^*, 2011, 2019)	4 (1986, 2003, 2022, 2024)	1 (1975)	4 (1973, 2001, 2013, 2015)	1973	2024
3	Croatia	11	3 (2007, 2017, 2024)	1 (2015)	4 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2019)	3 (1994, 2005, 2022)	1994	2024
4	Spain	10	3 (1998, 2001, 2022)	4 (1991, 1994, 2009, 2019)	2 (2007, 2023, 2024)		1991	2024
5	Serbia	6	2 (2009, 2015)	1 (2011)	1 (2017)	2 (2007, 2023)	2007	2023
6	Greece	6		1 (2023)	3 (2005, 2015, 2022)	2 (2003, 2017)	2003	2023
7	Soviet Union ^†	5	2 (1975, 1982)	1 (1973)	1 (1986)	1 (1978)	1973	1986
8	Yugoslavia ^†	4	2 (1986, 1991)		2 (1973^*, 1978)		1973	1991
9	Yugoslavia ^†^{[lower-alpha 1]} / Serbia and Montenegro ^†	4	1 (2005)	1 (2001)	2 (1998, 2003)		1998	2005
10	United States	3				3 (1986, 1991, 2009)	1986	2009
11	Russia	2			2 (1994, 2001)		1994	2001
12	Montenegro	1		1 (2013)			2013	2013
13	West Germany ^†	1			1 (1982)		1982	1982
14	Australia	1				1 (1998^*)	1998	1998
	Cuba					1 (1975)	1975	1975
	France					1 (2024)	2024	2024
	Netherlands					1 (1982)	1982	1982
Rk	Men's team	Total	Champions	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place	First	Last

Medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively.

Legend

^† – Defunct team


Rank	Men's team	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Hungary	4	7	1	12
2	Italy	4	4	1	9
3	Spain	3	4	3	10
4	Croatia	3	1	4	8
5	Serbia	2	1	1	4
5	Soviet Union ^†	2	1	1	4
7	Yugoslavia ^†	2	0	2	4
8	Yugoslavia ^†^{[lower-alpha 1]} / Serbia and Montenegro ^†	1	1	2	4
9	Greece	0	1	3	4
10	Montenegro	0	1	0	1
11	Russia	0	0	2	2
12	West Germany ^†	0	0	1	1
Totals (12 entries)		21	21	21	63

Champions

The following table shows results of world champions in men's water polo by tournament.

Legend

6 – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
4 – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
2 – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
100.0% – Winning all matches during the tournament
team – Winning streak (winning three or more world championships in a row)
– Host team
^† – Defunct team

Abbreviation

MP – Matches played
W – Won
D – Drawn
L – Lost
GF – Goals for
GA – Goals against
GD – Goals difference
GF/MP – Goals for per match
GA/MP – Goals against per match
GD/MP – Goals difference per match

**Results of champions by tournament**
#	Men's tournament	Champion	MP	W	D	L	Win %	GF	GA	GD	GF/MP	GA/MP	GD/MP
1	Belgrade 1973	Hungary (1st title)	8	7	1	0	87.5%	58	24	34	7.250	3.000	4.250
2	Cali 1975	Soviet Union ^† (1st title)	8	6	2	0	75.0%	49	26	23	6.125	3.250	2.875
3	West Berlin 1978	Italy (1st title)	8	5	3	0	62.5%	41	31	10	5.125	3.875	1.250
4	Guayaquil 1982	Soviet Union ^† (2nd title)	7	6	1	0	85.7%	68	41	27	9.714	5.857	3.857
5	Madrid 1986	Yugoslavia ^† (1st title)	6	5	1	0	83.3%	61	43	18	10.167	7.167	3.000
6	Perth 1991	Yugoslavia ^† (2nd title)	7	6	0	1	85.7%	81	46	35	11.571	6.571	5.000
7	Rome 1994	Italy (2nd title)	7	7	0	0	100.0%	65	39	26	9.286	5.571	3.714
8	Perth 1998	Spain (1st title)	8	8	0	0	100.0%	65	35	30	8.125	4.375	3.750
9	Fukuoka 2001	Spain (2nd title)	8	8	0	0	100.0%	63	27	36	7.875	3.375	4.500
10	Barcelona 2003	Hungary (2nd title)	6	5	1	0	83.3%	62	37	25	10.333	6.167	4.167
11	Montreal 2005	Serbia and Montenegro ^† (1st title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	69	29	40	11.500	4.833	6.667
12	Melbourne 2007	Croatia (1st title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	65	40	25	10.833	6.667	4.167
13	Rome 2009	Serbia (1st title)	7	5	1	1	71.4%	80	60	20	11.429	8.571	2.857
14	Shanghai 2011	Italy (3rd title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	59	33	26	9.833	5.500	4.333
15	Barcelona 2013	Hungary (3rd title)	7	5	1	1	71.4%	76	54	22	10.857	7.714	3.143
16	Kazan 2015	Serbia (2nd title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	73	43	30	12.167	7.167	5.000
17	Budapest 2017	Croatia (2nd title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	70	47	23	11.667	7.833	3.833
18	Gwangju 2019	Italy (4th title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	60	40	20	10.000	6.667	3.333
19	Budapest 2022	Spain (3rd title)	5	5	0	0	100.0%	74	39	35	14.800	7.800	7.000
20	Fukuoka 2023	Hungary (4th title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%	88	67	21	14.667	11.167	3.500
21	Doha 2024	Croatia (3rd title)	7	6	0	1	85.7%	117	70	47	16.174	10.000	6.174
#	Men's tournament	Total	141	126	11	4	89.4%	1444	871	573	10.241	6.177	4.064
#	Men's tournament	Champion	MP	W	D	L	Win %	GF	GA	GD	GF/MP	GA/MP	GD/MP

Sources:

Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 15);
Todor66: "Men's Water Polo World Championship".

The following table shows men's teams that won all matches during the tournament.

**Winning all matches during the tournament**
#	Year	Champion	MP	W	D	L	Win %
1	1994	Italy (2nd title)	7	7	0	0	100.0%
2	1998	Spain (1st title)	8	8	0	0	100.0%
3	2001	Spain (2nd title)	8	8	0	0	100.0%
4	2005	Serbia and Montenegro ^† (1st title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
5	2007	Croatia (1st title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
6	2011	Italy (3rd title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
7	2015	Serbia (2nd title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
8	2017	Croatia (2nd title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
9	2019	Italy (4th title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
10	2022	Spain (3rd title)	5	5	0	0	100.0%
11	2023	Hungary (4th title)	6	6	0	0	100.0%
#	Year	Champion	MP	W	D	L	Win %

The following tables show records of goals for per match.

**Top 5 most goals for per match**
Rk	Year	Champion	MP	GF	GF/MP
1	2024	Croatia (3rd title)	7	117	16.174
2	2022	Spain (3rd title)	5	74	14.800
3	2023	Hungary (4th title)	6	88	14.667
4	2015	Serbia (2nd title)	6	73	12.167
5	2017	Croatia (2nd title)	6	70	11.667

**Top 5 fewest goals for per match**
Rk	Year	Champion	MP	GF	GF/MP
1	1978	Italy (1st title)	8	41	5.125
2	1975	Soviet Union ^† (1st title)	8	49	6.125
3	1973	Hungary (1st title)	8	58	7.250
4	2001	Spain (2nd title)	8	63	7.875
5	1998	Spain (1st title)	8	65	8.125

**Historical progression of records – goals for per match**
Goals for per match	Achievement	Year	Champion	Date of winning gold	Duration of record
7.250	Set record	1973	Hungary (1st title)	9 September 1973	8 years, 332 days
9.714	Broke record	1982	Soviet Union ^† (2nd title)	7 August 1982	4 years, 15 days
10.167	Broke record	1986	Yugoslavia ^† (1st title)	22 August 1986	4 years, 144 days
11.571	Broke record	1991	Yugoslavia ^† (2nd title)	13 January 1991	24 years, 207 days
12.167	Broke record	2015	Serbia (2nd title)	8 August 2015	6 years, 329 days
14.800	Broke record	2022	Spain (3rd title)	3 July 2022	1 year, 229 days
16.174	Broke record	2024	Croatia (3rd title)	17 February 2024	9 days

The following tables show records of goals against per match.

**Top 5 most goals against per match**
Rk	Year	Champion	MP	GA	GA/MP
1	2023	Hungary (4th title)	6	67	11.167
2	2024	Croatia (3rd title)	7	70	10.000
3	2009	Serbia (1st title)	7	60	8.571
4	2017	Croatia (2nd title)	6	47	7.833
5	2022	Spain (3rd title)	5	39	7.800

**Top 5 fewest goals against per match**
Rk	Year	Champion	MP	GA	GA/MP
1	1973	Hungary (1st title)	8	24	3.000
2	1975	Soviet Union ^† (1st title)	8	26	3.250
3	2001	Spain (2nd title)	8	27	3.375
4	1978	Italy (1st title)	8	31	3.875
5	1998	Spain (1st title)	8	35	4.375

The following tables show records of goals difference per match.

**Top 5 most goals difference per match**
Rk	Year	Champion	MP	GD	GD/MP
1	2022	Spain (3rd title)	5	35	7.000
2	2005	Serbia and Montenegro ^† (1st title)	6	40	6.667
3	2024	Croatia (3rd title)	7	47	6.174
4	1991	Yugoslavia ^† (2nd title)	7	35	5.000
4	2015	Serbia (2nd title)	6	30	5.000

**Top 5 fewest goals difference per match**
Rk	Year	Champion	MP	GD	GD/MP
1	1978	Italy (1st title)	8	10	1.250
2	2009	Serbia (1st title)	7	20	2.857
3	1975	Soviet Union ^† (1st title)	8	23	2.875
4	1986	Yugoslavia ^† (1st title)	6	18	3.000
5	2013	Hungary (3rd title)	7	22	3.143

Team records

Teams having equal quantities in the tables below are ordered by the tournament the quantity was attained in (the teams that attained the quantity first are listed first). If the quantity was attained by more than one team in the same tournament, these teams are ordered alphabetically.

Tournament positions

Most titles won: 4, Italy (1978, 1994, 2011, 2019); Hungary (1973, 2003, 2013, 2023).
Most finishes in the top two: 11, Hungary (1973, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2023).
Most finishes in the top three: 12, Hungary (1973, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1991, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2023).
Most finishes in the top four: 14, Hungary (1973, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1991, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2023).
Most appearances: 20, Australia, Hungary, Italy, United States (have participated in every tournament).

Consecutive

Most consecutive medals: 7, Croatia (2007–2009–2011–2013–2015–2017–2019).
Most consecutive golds: 2, Spain (1998–2001); Yugoslavia (1986–1991).
Most consecutive silvers: 3, Hungary (1975–1978–1982).
Most consecutive bronzes: 3, Croatia (2009–2011–2013).
Most consecutive finishes in the top four: 9, Croatia (2005–2007–2009–2011–2013–2015–2017–2019–2022).
Most consecutive appearances: 21, Australia, Hungary, Italy, United States (have participated in every tournament).

Gaps

Longest gap between successive titles: 30 years, Hungary (1973–2003).
Longest gap between successive appearances in the top two: 16 years, Hungary (1982–1998).
Longest gap between successive appearances in the top three: 10 years, Greece (2005–2015); Spain (2009–2019).
Longest gap between successive appearances in the top four: 18 years, United States (1991–2009).
Longest gap between successive appearances: 26 years, France (1991–2017).

Host team

Best finish by host team: Champion: Italy (1994).

Other

Most finishes in the top two without ever being champion: 1, Montenegro (2013); Greece (2023).
Most finishes in the top three without ever being champion: 4, Greece (2005, 2015, 2022, 2023).
Most finishes in the top four without ever being champion: 6, Greece (2003, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023).
Most finishes in the top four without ever being medaled: 3, United States (1986, 1991, 2009).

Player statistics

(C)	Captain	Apps	Appearances	Ref	Reference	Rk	Rank
L/R	Handedness	Pos	Playing position	FP	Field player	GK	Goalkeeper

Multiple gold medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), date of receiving the last gold medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.

Serbian player Slobodan Nikić is the first and only male athlete to win three gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.^[2]

There are thirty five male athletes who won two gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.

Legend

– Hosts

**Male athletes who won three or more gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships**
Rk	Player	Birth	Height	Men's team	Pos	Water polo tournament							Period (age of first/last)	Medals				Ref
Rk	Player	Birth	Height	Men's team	Pos	Water polo tournament							Period (age of first/last)	G	S	B	T	Ref
1	Slobodan Nikić	1983	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)	Serbia and Montenegro	FP	2003	2005	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	12 years (20/32)	3	1	1	5	^[2]
1	Slobodan Nikić	1983	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)	Serbia	FP	Does not appear	Does not appear	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	12 years (20/32)	3	1	1	5	^[2]

Multiple medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by total number of medals (in descending order), number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), date of receiving the last medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.

Nine male athletes won five or more medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships. Aside from Brazilian-born Spanish player Felipe Perrone ^[3] (who won six medals), Serbian player Slobodan Nikić ^[2] and Spanish player Blai Mallarach ^[4] (who won five medals each), all others were members of the Croatia men's national water polo team. Andro Bušlje is the first and only athlete (man or woman) to win seven medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships (two gold, one silver and four bronze).^[5]

Legend

– Hosts

**Male athletes who won five or more medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships**
Rk	Player	Birth	Height	Men's team	Pos	Water polo tournament													Period (age of first/last)	Medals				Ref
Rk	Player	Birth	Height	Men's team	Pos	Water polo tournament													Period (age of first/last)	G	S	B	T	Ref
1	Andro Bušlje	1986	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	Croatia	FP	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	14 years (19/33)	2	1	4	7	^[5]
2	Maro Joković	1987	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	Croatia	FP	2007	Does not appear	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	12 years (19/31)	2	1	3	6	^[6]
3	Felipe Perrone	1986	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)	Spain	FP	Does not appear	Does not appear	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	Does not appear	Does not appear	2019	2022	2023	2024	22 years (15/37)	1	2	3	6	^[3]
3	Felipe Perrone	1986	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)	Brazil	FP	2001	2003	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	2015	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	22 years (15/37)	1	2	3	6	^[3]
4	Slobodan Nikić	1983	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)	Serbia and Montenegro	FP	2003	2005	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	12 years (20/32)	3	1	1	5	^[2]
4	Slobodan Nikić	1983	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)	Serbia	FP	Does not appear	Does not appear	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	12 years (20/32)	3	1	1	5	^[2]
5	Marko Bijač	1991	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)	Croatia	GK	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	11 years (22/33)	2	1	2	5	^[7]
5	Luka Lončar	1987	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Croatia	FP	2013	2015	2017	2019	Does not appear	Does not appear	2024	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	10 years (26/36)	2	1	2	5	^[8]
7	Blai Mallarach	1987	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Spain	FP	2009	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	2019	2022	2023	2024	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	15 years (21/36)	1	2	2	5	^[4]
8	Josip Pavić	1982	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Croatia	GK	2001	Does not appear	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	14 years (19/33)	1	1	3	5	^[9]
8	Sandro Sukno	1990	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	Croatia	FP	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	8 years (19/27)	1	1	3	5	^[10]
Rk	Player	Birth	Height	Men's team	Pos	Water polo tournament													Period (age of first/last)	G	S	B	T	Ref
Rk	Player	Birth	Height	Men's team	Pos	Water polo tournament													Period (age of first/last)	Medals				Ref

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 After the breakup of Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia men's national water polo team participated at the 1998 and 2001 World Aquatics Championships. In 2003, after the country was renamed from FR Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro, the team was also renamed to Serbia and Montenegro men's national water polo team.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
1 2 3 4 "Slobodan Nikić". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
1 2 "Felipe Perrone". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
1 2 "Blai Mallarach". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
1 2 "Andro Bušlje". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
↑ "Maro Joković". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
↑ "Marko Bijač". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
↑ "Luka Lončar". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
↑ "Josip Pavić". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
↑ "Sandro Sukno". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

Sources

Official Reports (FINA)

PDF documents on the FINA website:

HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics (as of September 2019) (archive) (pp. 14–18)

Official Results Books (FINA)

PDF documents on the Omega Timing website:

12th World Championship (2007)
- General information, Men's Round Summary.

PDF documents on the Sport Result website:

13th World Championship (2009)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

14th World Championship (2011)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

15th World Championship (2013)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

16th World Championship (2015)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

17th World Championship (2017)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

18th World Championship (2019)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

19th World Championship (2022)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

20th World Championship (2023)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

21th World Championship (2024)
- Results, Participants, Statistics.
- Men's Competition Schedule, Men's Round Summary.

Olympedia

Water polo on the Olympedia website:

Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships

Todor66

Water polo on the Todor66 website:

Water Polo World Championship
Men's Water Polo World Championship
1973 World Championship (men's tournament)

1975 World Championship (men's tournament)

1978 World Championship (men's tournament)

1982 World Championship (men's tournament)
1986 World Championship (men's tournament)

1991 World Championship (men's tournament)

1994 World Championship (men's tournament)

1998 World Championship (men's tournament)

2001 World Championship (men's tournament)

2003 World Championship (men's tournament)

2005 World Championship (men's tournament)

2007 World Championship (men's tournament)

2009 World Championship (men's tournament)

2011 World Championship (men's tournament)

2013 World Championship (men's tournament)

2015 World Championship (men's tournament)

2017 World Championship (men's tournament)

2019 World Championship (men's tournament)

2022 World Championship (men's tournament)

2023 World Championship (men's tournament)

2024 World Championship (men's tournament)

External links

FINA Water Polo website

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[FRYugoslavia-2] 1 2 3 4 5 After the breakup of Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia men's national water polo team participated at the 1998 and 2001 World Aquatics Championships. In 2003, after the country was renamed from FR Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro, the team was also renamed to Serbia and Montenegro men's national water polo team.

[HistoFINA_PDF-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

[Slobodan_Nikić_OP-3] 1 2 3 4 "Slobodan Nikić". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Felipe_Perrone_OP-4] 1 2 "Felipe Perrone". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Blai_Mallarach_OP-5] 1 2 "Blai Mallarach". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Andro_Bušlje_OP-6] 1 2 "Andro Bušlje". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Maro_Joković_OP-7] "Maro Joković". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Marko_Bijač_OP-8] "Marko Bijač". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Luka_Lončar_OP-9] "Luka Lončar". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Josip_Pavić_OP-10] "Josip Pavić". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

[Sandro_Sukno_OP-11] "Sandro Sukno". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 30 November 2020.

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