Most Decorated Players in World Football: From Lionel Messi to Ryan Giggs – find out where your favorites rank

Lifting silverware is the ultimate aim of any footballer and any team. Of course, football is a team sport and a lot depends on the team performing well to win trophies. But few footballers rise a level above the rest to guide their team to trophies. They became the most decorated players in world football and an inspiration for many around the world to take up the sport.

The list has potentially the greatest players of all time Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. A few greats from yesteryear also make their way into this list courtesy of their extreme longevity. Let us take a look at each of the top 10 most decorated players in world football.

Top 10 Most Decorated Football Players in the World

10. Cristiano Ronaldo – 35

The legendary Portuguese forward amassed 35 trophies in his glorious career. Nicknamed Mr Champions League, Ronaldo is a star for the big nights. You can rarely keep him quiet when the lights are shining the brightest. Ronaldo won his first trophy in Portugal in 2002.

After earning a dream move to Manchester United soon, his trophy haul was getting bigger. He won the Premier League twice and lifted a Champions League along with some cups. After the sensational move to Real Madrid, he created history.

Ronaldo guided Madrid to a historic three-peat in the Champions League and played a key role in winning multiple trophies. He followed it up with another trophy-filled spell in Italy with Juventus. At 39, his hunger for trophies is insatiable. He recently won his first trophy in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr and is willing to add more to his tally.

9. Ryan Giggs – 35

Giggs’ transition over the years has been spectacular. He started his career as an electric winger under Sir Alex Fergusson. The Englishman played a pivotal role in the manager finding his feet at the club. Once they started dominating the league, United started having success continentally too.

The legendary United manager had many rebuilds during his tenure at United but Giggs found a place in every single iteration of the team. He has transitioned from a winger to an attacking midfielder and became a creative outlet for the team once he lost his pace.

Giggs spent his entire 24 years at the club and by the time he hung up his boots at 40, he had 13 Premier League titles to his along with a couple of Champions League titles and multiple cups.

Also Read: Top Five Youngest FIFA World Cup Winners

8. Kenny Dalglish – 35

Fondly called “King Kenny” by the Anfield faithful, Dalglish is a legend at two clubs with incredible history. The Scot made a name for himself at Celtic by winning multiple league titles. He got an emotional farewell as he joined Liverpool down south.

At Liverpool, he scaled new heights by winning European titles as well. The forward headed Liverpool’s strike force during their golden era. He quickly became a crowd favourite and lifted 35 titles before retiring as a player.

Dalglish then became a manager and guided Blackburn Rovers to their first-ever Premier League trophy. Serial winners never rest eh?

7. David Alaba – 36

The Austrian was part of an all-conquering Bayern Munich dynasty. Alaba’s versatility allowed him to play in multiple positions in defence along with midfield. Having moved from Austria as a starry-eyed youngster, he became a world-beater under Pep Guardiola.

Alaba won a record 10 Bundesliga titles from the late 2000s to even early 2020s. His prime saw him compete with the best defenders in the world and he racked up Austrian Player of the Year awards. After winning everything there was to be won in Germany, he made the switch to Spain.

He won two more league titles in Spain along with an elusive Champions League title. Alaba has slowed down a bit owing to injuries but once he returns he will still retain a key role in this Madrid side.

6. Sergio Busquets – 37

Regarded as the finest defensive midfielder of all time, Busquets was the mainstay of the Barcelona team that defined a generation. He rewrote the position’s rules too as he was not only good off the ball but had exceptional passing range on the ball too. Busquets was one of the best passers of the ball and helped Barcelona control games easily.

Busquets won 9 league titles with the Catalans and tasted continental glory thrice. He was also a key cog in the Spain team that created history by winning two Euros and a World Cup. Busquets was never the flashy player and didn’t get his praises when he was at his best.

For a late challenge in his career, he joined ex-teammates Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba in the MLS leading them to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield.

5. Gerard Pique – 37

Arguably one of the best centre-backs of all time, Pique was a perfect blend of technique and aggression. The Spaniard first tasted silverware at Manchester United. Having won the Premier League in 2008, he moved to Barcelona to join the dream that was being assembled.

Pique looked up to Carles Puyol as he turned into a fine centre-back. The duo won league titles and continental crowns. As he matured, Pique went on to become the leader of defence and had multiple partners like Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu. His importance to those successful Barcelona and Spain teams can never be overstated.

Pique hung up his boots in 2022 and has become the founder of a football league in Spain and looking to revolutionize the sport.

4. Andres Iniesta – 37

The list of Barcelona players keeps growing as they had one of the most successful eras ever under Pep Guardiola. With 37 trophies to his name, Iniesta is 4^th in the list of the most decorated players in world football.

Iniesta was a futsal player during his youth but he transitioned to football soon. He joined the famed La Masia as he impressed their scouts. Iniesta soon became one of the best midfielders in the world. His guile on the ball, technique and creativity made him stand out amongst his star-studded peers.

Iniesta amassed multiple league and continental crowns but his best moment was in the 2010 World Cup. Iniesta scored the winner in the World Cup final in the 116^th minute against the Netherlands. He was also the Player of the Tournament at the 2012 Euros to cap off another legendary season. Iniesta moved to Japan and added some more trophies before calling it a day in UAE in 2024.

3. Hossam Ashour – 39

Perhaps not the famous player on the lift but the Egyptian is one of the greats from the Arab world. The defensive midfielder almost plied his entire career for one club. He was a part of the Al Ahly club’s academy before making his debut as a 17-year-old.

Ashour in his nearly 20-year career has only 3 goals to his name. Such is his presence in the heart of the midfield. Ashour screens the defence incredibly well and rarely ventures forward. Ahly dominated the Egyptian Premier League like no other team. They lifted 13 Premier Titles with Ashour in the team.

They were also the top dogs in the CAF Champions League as Ashour won it six times. However, Ashour fell short on the international stage as Egypt lost multiple Afcon finals.

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2. Dani Alves – 43

The enigmatic Brazilian full-back was the most decorated player in world football for quite some time before his ex-teammate dislodged him. He was the first player ever to win 40 titles. Alves’ trophy haul is quite impressive as he won titles with multiple teams in multiple countries.

His first silverware came in 2002 when he won the Brazilian regional league. His exploits were well noted in Europe and he made the move to Sevilla. At Sevilla, he won multiple cups along with some European titles. A move to Barcelona opened the floodgates for titles as Alves established himself as one of the finest full-backs of all time.

He was solid in defending wingers and bombed forward to add assists and goals to his tally. His exploits helped the Catalans win multiple league titles and continental trophies. He then moved to Juventus and PSG to rack up more titles. Alves also won Copa America titles with Brazil to become an all-timer.

1. Lionel Messi – 46

Hailed as the Greatest Player of All Time, Lionel Messi completed the set in 2022 when he lifted the World Cup. The Argentinian moved to Barcelona during his youth and was touted as the next big thing in world football. He made all the predictions true when he broke onto the scene.

Messi has a wand of a left foot and his creativity, dribbling and goal-scoring made him the best player in the world. He mastered the role of False 9 under Pep Guardiola and defined an era. Messi won a total of 34 titles with Barcelona including multiple league titles and Champions Leagues. He bid an emotional farewell to Barcelona before joining PSG.

He won two league titles with the Paris side before joining the MLS side Inter Miami. It only took a few games for him to help Inter Miami to their first-ever title. Messi reunited with Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets as they set up a new league points record and lifted their first-ever MLS Supporters’ Shield.

Despite all the laurels, Messi’s career felt incomplete without an international trophy. After multiple losses in finals, it felt like Messi wasn’t destined to win one. But the Argentine defied destiny to win Copa America in 2021. His crowning came when he won the World Cup in 2022 while being the best player. Another Copa America trophy in 2024 boosted his legacy into the galaxy making him the most decorated player in world football.