Top ten players who have won the most trophies ever: Messi ahead of Ronaldo while Iniesta and Giggs feature alongside surprise Brazilian star

24/04/2024 14:15

At the end of the day, it’s all about winning trophies right?

Winning a major piece of silverware is the hardest thing to do in football – just ask Harry Kane…

He moved to Bayern Munich in pursuit of glory after becoming Tottenham and England’s record goalscorer without a trophy to show for it.

But others make it look easy, with Lionel Messi adding a new honour to his collection only a month after joining Inter Miami.

With that in mind, talkSPORT.com looks at the top ten most decorated players of all time…

Ryan Giggs – 34 trophies

The only player on this list who won the majority of his silverware while playing in England – the Welsh winger’s longevity was astounding!

Giggs is the most decorated player in United’s history having won 34 trophies in a career which saw him make 963 appearances for his only club over 24 years.

Notable trophies won:

• Premier League: 13x (1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13)
• FA Cup: 4x (1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04)
• League Cup: 4x (1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10)
• Champions League: 2x (1998–99, 2007–08)

Cristiano Ronaldo – 35 trophies

A modern great for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo’s hunger for success has seen him break into the top ten.

Ronaldo has more individual awards than everyone on this list except rival Messi and has won everything, including league titles in England, Spain and Italy – and he has the goal records to match.

But the 38-year-old still falls slightly short when it comes to team honours despite his record five Champions League titles.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner seemingly has no retirement plans in sight, having most recently won the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al Nassr.

Notable trophies won:

• Premier League: 3x (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09)
• LaLiga: 2x (2011–12, 2016–17)
• Serie A: 2x (2018–19, 2019–20)
• Champions League: 5x (2007-08, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18)
• European Championship: 2016
• UEFA Nations League: 2018-19

Gerard Pique – 37 trophies

The Spaniard came through the ranks at Sir Alex Ferguson‘s Man United before returning to Barcelona to help his boyhood club win trebles in 2008/09 and 2014/15.

Pique, who hung up his boots in 2022, also played a starring role for Spain in their 2010 World Cup win and their Euro triumph two years later.

Notable trophies won:

• Premier League: 2007-08
• LaLiga: 8x (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19)
• Champions League: 4x (2007-08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
• European Championship: 2012
• World Cup: 2010

Andres Iniesta – 37 trophies

The 39-year-old is still going strong in the United Arab Emirates after a spell in Japan with Vissel Kobe.

But Iniesta will always be celebrated for the pivotal role he played in Barcelona and Spain’s dual domination in the 2000s and 2010s.

The midfielder lifted every trophy on offer during a 16-year spell in Barca’s first-team and scored a 116th-minute winner for his country against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final.

Notable trophies won:

• LaLiga: 9x (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18)
• Champions League: 4x (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
• European Championship: 2x (2008, 2012)
• World Cup: 2010

Maxwell – 37 trophies

A surprise name perhaps but the underrated Brazilian defender had the fortune of playing for the Inter Milan side Jose Mourinho inherited before joining Pep Guardiola‘s all-conquering Barcelona team.

Maxwell was then among the first players to make the switch to PSG following their 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments.

He was the most decorated active European player at the time of his retirement and Maxwell has since become the club’s assistant sporting director.

Notable trophies won:

• Serie A: 3x (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09)
• LaLiga: 2x (2009–10, 2010–11)
• Champions League: 2010–11
• Ligue 1: 4x (2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16)

Sergio Busquets – 37 trophies

An unsung hero during the days of Barcelona and Spain’s domination, Busquets established himself as the best holding midfielder around.

After winning 32 trophies with Barca and a treble with his La Roja, Busquets followed Messi to Miami and added to his tally by securing the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Notable trophies won:

• LaLiga: 9x (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23)
• Champions League: 3x (2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
• European Championship: 2012
• World Cup: 2010
• UEFA Nations League: 2023

Hossam Ashour – 39 trophies

Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah still has a way to go to becoming Egypt’s most decorated player – that honour doesn’t even belong to Ashour!

The defensive midfielder made his debut for Al-Ahly in 2003 and helped the club to 39 trophies over the next 17 years.

He made the switch to Al Ittihad for the final two years of his career in 2020 but failed to add to his glittering collection.

Notable trophies won:

• Egyptian Premier League: 13x (2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20)
• Egypt Cup: 4x (2005–06, 2006–07, 2016–17, 2019–20)
• Egyptian Super Cup: 10x (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017، 2018)
• CAF Champions League: 6x (2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020)
• CAF Confederation Cup: 2014
• African Super Cup: 5x (2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014)

Hossam Hassan – 41 trophies

The once-prolific striker has the honour of being both Egypt’s most decorated player and the country’s record goalscorer.

The 57-year-old claimed 14 Egyptian Premier League titles during his career, while he was also a three-time African Cup of Nations winner.

Notable trophies won:

• Egyptian Premier League: 14x (1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04)
• Egypt Cup: 5x (1984-85, 1988-89, 1992-93, 1995-96, 2001-2002)
• Egyptian Super Cup: 2x (2001, 2002)
• CAF Champions League: 2002
• African Cup of Nations: 3x (1986, 1998, 2006)

Dani Alves – 44 trophies

The Brazilian became the first player in football history to reach 44 trophies after securing Olympic gold in 2021.

Often regarded as one of the best full-backs of all time, Alves won the bulk of his medals in Spain for Sevilla and then Barcelona.

He later enjoyed success in Italy with Juventus and at French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Notable trophies won:

• LaLiga: 6x (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16)
• Champions League: 3x (2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
• Serie A: 2016–17
• Ligue 1: 2x (2017–18, 2018–19)
• Copa America: 2x (2007, 2019)
• Summer Olympics: 2020

Lionel Messi – 44 trophies

A true icon, Messi has won countless individual trophies to go along with his team’s triumphs, including a record eight Ballon d’Or awards.

The Argentine racked up an incredible 34 trophies during his time at Barcelona, before scooping three more at Paris Saint-Germain.

But the crowning moment of his career came during the World Cup in Qatar, with Messi scoring twice in the dramatic final against France.

Not satisfied with stepping away from the beautiful game, the 36-year-old joined Inter Miami where he quickly got his hands on the Leagues Cup – the first-ever piece of silverware for David Beckham‘s MLS franchise.

Notable trophies won:

• LaLiga : 10x (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19)
• Champions League: 4x (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
• Ligue 1: 2x (2021–22, 2022–23)
• Copa America: 2021
• World Cup: 2022