Who is the Most Decorated Footballer in the World? (Top 10 Ranked)

Who is the Most Decorated Footballer in the World? (Top 10 Ranked)

Ask any group of football fans who the GOAT is and you’ll get a bar fight disguised as a debate. Someone will shout “Messi!” Another will counter “Ronaldo!”

A nostalgic uncle will mutter “Pele never needed Instagram goals.” But if we strip away style points and look at silverware, the question becomes more concrete: who has won the most trophies in football history?

So, let’s count them down. Here are the top 10 most decorated footballers in the world.

10. Ryan Giggs, 36 Trophies

Giggs didn’t just play for Manchester United; he was Manchester United. Giggs stitched himself into the club's red fabric from his debut in 1991 until his retirement in 2014. In that time, he collected 13 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 2 Champions League trophies, and a Club World Cup. He even found himself in a player/manager role at one point.

Ryan Giggs.

• 13 PL titles.
• Most assists in PL’s history.
• Lost just 87 games in 632 games. 🤯

No one can come close to HIM. pic.twitter.com/q77MfYoUhY

— SimplyUtd (@SimplyUtd) August 5, 2025

His only “what if”? International football. Wales in the 1990s and 2000s wasn’t the powerhouse they are today. Still, domestically and continentally, Giggs is the most decorated player in English football history.

9. Kenny Dalglish, 35 Trophies

“King Kenny” wasn’t given that crown by accident. He won nine trophies with Celtic before joining Liverpool. There, he lifted six First Division titles, three European Cups, and four League Cups. That’s not a CV—it’s a coronation.

Yes, the modern era has more competitions, more “domestic cups” to collect. Even in a tougher, more physical football world, Dalglish piled up trophies like a king with crowns.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo, 35 Trophies

Ronaldo’s trophy list is almost as long as his Instagram follower count. 3 Premier Leagues with Man United, 2 La Liga titles with Real Madrid, 2 Serie A titles with Juventus, 5 Champions Leagues, plus a European Championship and Nations League with Portugal.

Each of those isn’t just a number—they’re linked to iconic nights. The bicycle kick against Juventus in 2018, the hat-trick against Spain in the World Cup, the header vs. Chelsea in Moscow, and the many times he led Portugal in tournaments.

The only missing jewel? A World Cup. Still, Ronaldo’s legacy is heavy enough to tilt the Earth’s axis.

7. David Alaba, 36 Trophies

David Alaba is proof that versatility equals medals. At Bayern Munich, he started as a teenager and grew into the club’s Swiss Army knife—left-back, centre-back, even midfield. The result? 10 Bundesliga titles, 6 DFB-Pokals, 2 Champions Leagues, and 2 Club World Cups before moving to Real Madrid.

🎉 Real Madrid star and Bayern Munich legend David Alaba celebrates his 33rd birthday today.

He still has more trophies than years 🤯#FIFACWC | #SLBFCB pic.twitter.com/I0KmDqoKIy

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 24, 2025

In Madrid, he barely broke stride. Within his first two years, he added another La Liga, another Champions League, and a UEFA Super Cup. You know those players who always seem to join winning squads? That’s Alaba.

6. Sergio Busquets, 37 Trophies

Busquets is the quiet genius of football’s most decorated midfield. With Barcelona, he lifted 9 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Reys, and 3 Champions Leagues. With Spain, he won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euros, anchoring a midfield trio that is still spoken of in hushed tones.

His style wasn’t flashy, no stepovers, no bicycle kicks—but football obsessives know he was the heartbeat of possession. Managers trusted him, teammates leaned on him, and opponents hated facing him.

5. Andres Iniesta, 37 Trophies

You already know the moment: Johannesburg, 2010, extra time, Iniesta sliding the ball past the Dutch keeper to win Spain’s first ever World Cup. That single goal could have immortalized him. The fact that he also won 9 La Liga titles, 4 Champions Leagues, and 2 European Championships makes his case bulletproof.

Iniesta didn’t just collect medals; he authored memories. He was the guy who decided which trophy cabinet a trophy would be inducted into: Champions League 2009 vs Chelsea, Euros 2012 vs Italy, and of course, that World Cup final.

4. Gerard Piqué, 37 Trophies

Piqué’s career could be summed up in three words: brains, brawn, and bling. A La Masia product, he left Barça for Manchester United, where he picked up a Premier League and Champions League medal. Then he came back home and turned into the spine of one of the greatest teams in history.

La Liga 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Champions League 🏆🏆🏆
Copa del Rey 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Spanish Super Cup 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
UEFA Super Cup 🏆🏆
FIFA Club World Cup 🏆🏆🏆

Two years ago, Gerard Piqué said goodbye to the Camp Nou 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ROVojV5cUc

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 5, 2024

At Barcelona, he won 8 La Liga titles, 7 Copas del Rey, and 3 Champions Leagues. Add to that Spain’s 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros, and you’ve got a centre-back with more trophies than some countries.

3. Hossam Ashour, 39 Trophies

If you’ve never watched Egyptian football, Ashour is the reason you should. A one-club man with Al Ahly, he racked up 13 Egyptian Premier League titles, 6 Egyptian Cups, and an eye-watering 6 CAF Champions League trophies.

To put that into perspective: Ashour has more African Champions League medals than Messi has Ballons d’Or. And that’s saying something. Yes, the visibility isn’t global. But dominance is dominance. In Africa, Ashour is as decorated as anyone. His career is a reminder: football isn’t just Europe—it’s everywhere the ball rolls.

2. Dani Alves, 43 Trophies

Alves is what you get when chaos and excellence meet in a Brazilian full-back. From Sevilla’s UEFA Cup runs, to Barcelona’s treble-winning dominance, to PSG’s Ligue 1 strolls, and even Brazil’s Copa America and Olympic gold, Alves won everywhere.

We’re talking 6 La Liga titles, 5 Copa del Reys, 3 Champions Leagues, 2 Copa Americas, and that Olympic gold in 2021 at 38 years old. He’s basically football’s Benjamin Button. Alves’ career proves you don’t need to be the top goalscorer or MVP—you just need to show up in winning squads and deliver when it matters. And Alves always delivered.

1. Lionel Messi, 46 Trophies

And here’s the king. Lionel Messi, officially the most decorated footballer in the world. His medals read like a novel: 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Reys, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 Club World Cups, a Copa America, a Finalissima, and—oh yes—the 2022 World Cup.

⚽️ 880 goals 🥈
🎯 390 assists 🥇
🤝 1,270 goal contributions 🥇
🏆 46 trophies 🥇

Lionel Messi’s career, wow! 😮 pic.twitter.com/vutQxwv7ob

— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) September 17, 2025

That World Cup in Qatar was the ultimate coronation. Messi lifting the golden trophy in Lusail Stadium felt like football itself completing a story arc. Add his Olympic gold from 2008 and his move to Inter Miami still producing Leagues Cup silverware, and you’re staring at a career that doesn’t just glisten, it blinds.

Messi’s cabinet doesn’t just hold trophies; it holds history. He didn’t just win; he won beautifully. And when you marry beauty with numbers, you end up with football’s ultimate decoration: greatness carved in gold.

Final Whistle

So there it is. Ten players, hundreds of medals, countless memories. Some are household names, others quieter legends, but all prove that football glory comes in many forms.

Messi may wear the crown today, but the beauty of football is that records are always waiting to be broken. Somewhere out there, a kid is tying his boots for the first time, dreaming of filling a cabinet bigger than Messi’s. Until then? The little magician holds the throne.