Captain America with Team Cap in Captain America Civil War

In the eight years since the release of Captain America: Civil War, Marvel Studios has proven in the worst way possible that Team Cap was actually the winning team. Steve Rogers’ Captain America and Tony Stark’s Iron Man never exactly saw eye-to-eye in the MCU, but their tension came to a head in Civil War following the implementation of the Sokovia Accords, which would restrict the actions of the Avengers. This culminated in an epic battle between the divided Avengers, and while Team Iron Man came out on top, Marvel Studios has flipped the script.

Following Captain America: Civil War, several members of Team Cap were branded fugitives from the United States, while Scott Lang and Clint Barton agreed to house arrest to allow them to remain with their families. This ultimately proved meaningless, as the Avengers reformed to take on Thanos only two years later, but the impact of their battle at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany is still being felt today. While Team Iron Man may have been successful in Civil War, their fates following the Phase 3 movie prove that Team Cap actually won the greater battle.

Each Member Of Team Iron Man Suffered A Tragic Fate After Civil War

Tony Stark's Iron Man wielding the Infinity Stones at the end of Avengers Endgame

Despite being the winners of the battle, Marvel Studios has since proven that Team Iron Man were the real losers of Civil War, as each member of Team Iron Man has suffered a tragic fate. Most notably, Tony Stark sacrificed his own life during the Battle of Earth to eliminate Thanos and his armies, while Romanoff also sacrificed herself in Avengers: Endgame, allowing Hawkeye to claim the Soul Stone. Tragically, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever explored T’Challa’s mysterious death in response to the sudden passing of beloved actor Chadwick Boseman.

Back in Avengers: Infinity War, Vision lost his life twice, first killed by Wanda Maximoff, and then again by Thanos. Vision has since returned, but is completely changed after being rebuilt by SWORD and having his memories corrupted, which will likely be similar to Rhodey’s War Machine, as he spent an indeterminate amount of time unconscious after being replaced by a Skrull long before Secret Invasion. Additionally, Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with everyone in the world forgetting Peter Parker, leaving him completely alone as the final casualty of Team Iron Man.

Only 1 Member Of Team Cap Has Died, But Could Still Return

Team Cap at the German airport in Captain America Civil War

While every member of Team Iron Man has met a tragic fate in the years since Captain America: Civil War, the members of Team Cap have been considerably more lucky. Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson became better-established heroes in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and will be returning to the big-screen in the MCU’s Phase 5, while Ant-Man managed to defeat Kang the Conqueror, and Hawkeye has taken a new hero under his wing. Even Steve Rogers, despite retiring as Captain America, has seen a happy ending, though one member of the team hasn’t been so lucky.

In fact, Wanda Maximoff perhaps has enough bad luck to make up for the rest of Team Cap’s good. Following Civil War, Wanda was forced to kill Vision, and then watch him die again at the hands of Thanos. She then lost Vision once again, as well as her illusory children, in WandaVision, and became a villain in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness before sacrificing herself. Despite her confirmed death, however, speculation suggests the Scarlet Witch will return to the MCU, so even the one death of Team Cap could be reversed.

Steve Rogers Got His True Happy Ending, While Tony Stark Paid The Ultimate Price

Captain America and Iron Man fighting in art from Captain America Civil War

The winners and losers of Captain America: Civil War are further cemented by the fates of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers themselves. Avengers: Endgame saw Stark sacrifice himself, using the Infinity Stones to destroy Thanos at the cost of his own life. Conversely, Rogers retired as Captain America and traveled to an alternate timeline to spend the rest of his days with the love of his life, Peggy Carter. This may have made sense for their overarching storylines, but underlined the heartbreaking fates of all the members of Team Iron Man.

Tony Stark sacrificing himself completed his decade-long redemption arc, as he went from egotistical and self-obsessed weapons dealer to selfless and dedicated superhero. For Steve Rogers, all he had ever wanted was a normal life with Peggy, so this was the perfect ending for his story. However, the fact that Steve Rogers got his happy ending in Avengers: Endgame, while Tony Stark and his family certainly did not, proves that Rogers and Team Cap were the true winners of Captain America: Civil War.