List of world champions in men's water polo

This is a list of world champions in men's water polo since the inaugural official edition in 1973.

Legend The following tables show the oldest and youngest male world champions in water polo.

There is only one male athlete who won three gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.

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

There are four coaches who led men's national water polo teams to win two or more gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships.

Ratko Rudić led three men's national water polo teams to win gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships.

[20][21] Spaniard Juan Jané coached the Spain men's national team to two consecutive gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships in 1998 and 2001.

[22] Alessandro Campagna and Ivica Tucak are other coaches who led men's national water polo teams to win two gold medals.

Under Campagna's leadership, the Italy men's national team won two world titles in 2011 and 2019.

[23] Tucak guided Croatia men's national team to win gold medals in 2017 and 2024.

[27][28] Italian Alessandro Campagna won a gold medal at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, coached by Ratko Rudić.

Ratko Rudić coached three men's national teams to the world titles.
Alessandro Campagna of Italy is a dual world champion as coach and player.
Matteo Aicardi , the center forward of the Italy team, won his second world title in 2019.
Pietro Figlioli , the captain of Italy, won his second world title in 2019.
Left-hander Maro Joković of Croatia won his second world title in 2017, with 12 goals.
Sandro Sukno , the captain of Croatia, netted 16 goals at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, becoming the team-leading scorer for the tournament.
Serbia men's national water polo team celebrated after the gold medal match of the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.
Živko Gocić , the captain of Serbia, won his second world title in 2015.
Duško Pijetlović , the center forward of the Serbia team, won his second world title in 2015. He was the team-leading scorer for the tournament.
Márton Szívós scored 12 goals at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, helping Hungary win gold.
Dénes Varga of Hungary netted 13 goals at the 2013 World Championship, becoming the team-leading scorer for the tournament.
Stefano Tempesti , the captain of Italy, saved 64 shots at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships.
Vanja Udovičić , the captain of Serbia, won his second world title in 2009.
Miho Bošković scored 11 goals at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships, helping Croatia win gold.
Aleksandar Šapić , representing Serbia and Montenegro, won world title in 2005.
36-year-old Manuel Estiarte , the captain of Spain, won world title in 1998.
Gianni De Magistris of Italy won world title in 1978.