FULL LIST: Top 10 most decorated football players in history – Reports - Punch Newspapers

Argentina's forward, Lionel Messi celebrates after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Argentina and Cape Verde at the Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 3, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Lionel Messi has extended his remarkable trophy collection and remains at the summit of the most decorated players in men’s professional football. The Argentine superstar has amassed an extraordinary haul of silverware across his club and international career, putting further distance between himself and his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi’s latest success with Inter Miami has added another piece of silverware to an already remarkable collection. The 38-year-old has continued to win trophies deep into the twilight of his career, following a glittering spell with Barcelona, a brief period at Paris Saint-Germain and his increasingly successful chapter in Major League Soccer. But how does Messi compare with Ronaldo, and which other legends sit among football’s most decorated players? Here is the top 10 according to Planet Football on Wednesday, based on senior collective trophies won with clubs and national teams. Individual honours such as the Ballon d’Or are not included. *1. Lionel Messi – 46 trophies* Messi sits alone at the top of the list with 46 pieces of collective silverware. The majority of his success came at Barcelona, where he won 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four Champions League titles. His Barcelona collection also includes seven Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups. After leaving Barcelona, Messi added two Ligue 1 titles and a Trophée des Champions with Paris Saint-Germain. His move to Inter Miami has also proved fruitful. He has won the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, MLS Cup and Campeones Cup with the American club. Internationally, Messi’s honours include two Copa América titles, the 2022 World Cup and the 2022 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, as well as Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008. His trophy haul places him 12 clear of Ronaldo on this particular list. *2. Dani Alves – 42 trophies* Before Messi moved ahead, former Barcelona teammate Dani Alves was widely regarded as football’s most decorated player. The Brazilian right-back collected 42 trophies during an extraordinary career that took him from Bahia and Sevilla to Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and São Paulo. Barcelona was the centrepiece of his career. Alves won 23 trophies with the Catalan giants, including six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns. He also won major honours with Brazil, including two Copa América titles, two FIFA Confederations Cups and Olympic gold. *3. Hossam Hassan – 40 trophies* Egyptian legend Hossam Hassan occupies third place with 40 trophies. A prolific winner at both club and international level, Hassan enjoyed particularly successful spells with Al Ahly and Zamalek. He won 24 trophies with Al Ahly and another 10 with Zamalek, while also collecting silverware with Al Ain. With Egypt, Hassan won three Africa Cup of Nations titles, as well as the Arab Nations Cup and All-Africa Games. *4. Hossam Ashour – 38 trophies* Another Egyptian legend, Hossam Ashour, has 38 trophies to his name. All of them came with Al Ahly, where the midfielder spent the overwhelming majority of his career. Ashour won 13 Egyptian Premier League titles, six CAF Champions League crowns, and nine Egyptian Super Cups. His remarkable consistency at Al Ahly made him one of the most successful players in the history of African club football. *5. Sergio Busquets – 37 trophies* Sergio Busquets is another member of Barcelona’s legendary golden generation to feature in the top 10. The former midfielder won 32 trophies with Barcelona, including nine La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies and seven Copa del Rey titles. After moving to Inter Miami, Busquets added the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup to his collection. He also won the World Cup and European Championship with Spain. *6. Gerard Piqué – 36 trophies* Gerard Piqué follows Busquets with 36 trophies. The Spanish defender began his senior career at Manchester United before returning to Barcelona, where he became a key member of one of the greatest teams in football history. Piqué won 30 trophies with Barcelona, including nine La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies. He also collected major international honours with Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. *7. Andrés Iniesta – 35 trophies* Another Barcelona icon, Andrés Iniesta, finished his career with 35 trophies. The midfield maestro won 29 trophies with Barcelona, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. His success continued in Japan with Vissel Kobe, where he won the J1 League, Emperor’s Cup and Japanese Super Cup. Iniesta also completed his remarkable collection with Spain, winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. *8. Ryan Giggs – 35 trophies* Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is level with Iniesta on 35 trophies. Unlike most of the players around him on the list, Giggs won all 35 of his trophies with a single club. The Welshman won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League trophies during his extraordinary Manchester United career. He also lifted nine Community Shields, the UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. *9. Cristiano Ronaldo – 34 trophies* Cristiano Ronaldo is level with Robert Lewandowski on 34 trophies. The Portuguese superstar began his senior trophy collection with Sporting CP before enjoying hugely successful spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid. He won nine trophies during his first spell at Manchester United, including three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. At Real Madrid, Ronaldo collected 15 trophies, among them two La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He added five trophies at Juventus and two with Al Nassr, while also winning the European Championship and UEFA Nations League with Portugal. Ronaldo’s four Champions League titles with Real Madrid were among the defining achievements of his career. *10. Robert Lewandowski – 34 trophies* Robert Lewandowski completes the top 10 with 34 trophies. The Polish striker has won silverware in Poland, Germany and Spain, enjoying his greatest period of success at Bayern Munich. He won 19 trophies with Bayern, including eight Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokals and the 2019–20 Champions League. Lewandowski subsequently added La Liga titles and other domestic honours with Barcelona. Messi and Ronaldo: separated by 12 trophies The numbers underline the extraordinary longevity and consistency of both Messi and Ronaldo. According to this particular counting method, Messi leads Ronaldo 46–34, a difference of 12 trophies. Both players have also enjoyed exceptional international careers, with Messi winning the World Cup and Copa América with Argentina, while Ronaldo has won the European Championship and Nations League with Portugal. Their rivalry has therefore extended far beyond goals and individual awards. Between them, they have accumulated decades of domestic, continental and international success. The list also highlights the extraordinary dominance of Barcelona’s golden generation. Messi, Alves, Busquets, Piqué and Iniesta all feature in the top 10, reflecting the remarkable trophy haul of the Barcelona teams they helped establish among the most successful sides in football history. The top 10 at a glance Lionel Messi – 46 Dani Alves – 42 Hossam Hassan – 40 Hossam Ashour – 38 Sergio Busquets – 37 Gerard Piqué – 36 Andrés Iniesta – 35 Ryan Giggs – 35 Cristiano Ronaldo – 34 Robert Lewandowski – 34 Gilbert Ekugbe Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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