Top trophies-winning players in football history

One thing is certain in the world of football: the number of trophies won.

So, after the ranking of the most successful coaches, here is one of the most successful players in the history of football. Note: The ranking only takes into consideration players who play in European leagues, which leads to the exclusion of some of the most successful players ever, such as the Egyptians Hossam Hassan (41 trophies), Ibrahim Hassan (37 trophies), Wael Gomaa (36 trophies), and Essam El-Hadary (35 trophies).

The ranking of the most successful players in football history

  1. Dani Alves: 43 trophies
  2. Lionel Messi: 42 trophies
  3. Andrés Iniesta: 37 trophies
  4. Maxwell: 37 trophies
  5. Oleksandr Shovkovskiy: 36 trophies
  6. Gerard Piqué: 35 trophies
  7. Ryan Giggs: 35 trophies
  8. Vitor Baía: 35 trophies
  9. Xavi: 34 trophies
  10. Julio Cesar: 33 trophies
  11. Dani Alves: 44 trophies

Dani Alves, who raised 44, is in first place. The Brazilian began winning at home, then continued on all of the big teams he moved to. Overflowing personality for one of the strongest right-backs ever, who is undoubtedly the most successful footballer of all time. In the “Champions League,” for example, he has 3 trophies. In essence, the only trophy he has never won (aside from the Europa League, which he consoled himself with in another way) is the World Cup with Brazil: “only” two editions of the America’s Cup in green and gold jerseys. The last trophy came in 2021 with the victory at the Olympics.

  1. Lionel Messi: 42 trophies

In this case, we can also venture a prediction: Messi could even reach the top of this ranking in a few years. The Argentine has won everything with Barcelona; he is one of the strongest players in the world and will be for at least a few more years. To his credit, he also has 7 Golden Balls, a record for a footballer. The last, and most important, is the World Cup won with Argentina during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Attention now, because thanks to this success, La Pulce has won everything it could win. Only the Super Ballon d’Or would be missing, which perhaps France Football could award him at the end of 2023.

  1. Andrés Iniesta: 37 trophies

Don Andrés, another Barcelona player (certainly the most represented team in the standings), has won a lot with both the Blaugrana club and the Spanish national team: he won two European Championships and a World Cup in the space of four years, and in the meantime he had won the title of protagonist in Spain. A midfield genius who has now flown to Japan and plays for Vissel Kobe. And even there, he has already won two trophies, the Emperor’s Cup and the Japan Super Cup. A timeless champion.

  1. Maxwell: 37 trophies

The former Inter player, who also moved to Barcelona, has won the same number of trophies as Ibrahimovic, with whom he has played in four different teams (Ajax, Inter, Barcelona, and PSG). With all these, the Brazilian won a lot, and in Paris, after retiring (in 2017), he entered management, and today he is the assistant sporting director of the French club.

  1. Oleksandr Shovkovskiy: 36 trophies

For once we leave Barcelona and fly to Kiev: Oleksandr Shovkovskiy defended the Dinamo posts from 1993 to 2016, a very long period that made him the player with the most appearances in the club’s history. With the Ukraine team, the former goalkeeper won 36 trophies: 14 championships, 10 national cups, and 6 super cups. A true legend both for Dinamo Kiev and for the national team, he is the third-most capped player in Ukraine.

  1. Gerard Piqué: 35 trophies

Let us return to Spain, specifically to Barcelona. Gerard Piqué has led the Blaugrana defense for many years, during which he has lifted many trophies. The Spanish defender has also achieved success with the national team, not forgetting his time in Manchester, during which he won the Premier League, the Charity Shield, the League Cup, and… the Champions League.

  1. Ryan Giggs: 35 trophies

Speaking of Manchester United, Ryan Giggs, the Welsh phenomenon of the midfield, is also present in the ranking of the most successful players of all time. His time with the Red Devils was unforgettable; he helped build one of the best teams in the last 20 years alongside various Scholes, Rooney, and Rio Ferdinand.A brilliant, intelligent, and effective midfielder, today he has embarked on a coaching career and leads his Wales team.

  1. Vitor Baia: 35 trophies

Another goalkeeper in the ranking, Vitor Baía spent most of his career at Porto; apart from the 1996–1999 parenthesis in which he played for Barça, the Portuguese has always played for the Dragons. In total, he lifted 35 trophies, including the historic 2004 Champions League with that team led by José Mourinho. He now works as a manager, obviously in Porto.

  1. Xavi: 34 trophies

Barcelona again: Xavi and the blaugrana raised the beauty of four Champions Leagues, among other things, and he was part of Spain’s glorious years. The Spanish midfielder was one of the most decisive and eye-catching players of the new millennium. He finished his career at Al-Sadd, a club he now coaches.

  1. Julio Cesar: 33 trophies

Julio Cesar closes the ranking of the top ten most successful players in history: the hero of the Nerazzurri treble, he won a lot not only with Inter but also with Flamengo and Benfica. After a long and successful career in which he won 33 trophies, the goalkeeper from Brazil quit football in 2008.