Football has been generous to some players in terms of accolades won. You’ll be surprised to realize many famous players haven’t won as many trophies with teams compared to individual achievements. We shall look at the most decorated players that are still active.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (33 Trophies)
Zlatan has been a successful journeyman in his club career, playing in some of the biggest teams in Europe.
He has won 13 league titles in his career around Europe in 15 seasons. It is no surprise, having played for Inter and Ac Milan at one point.
The biggest surprise is not winning the champions league despite being the 11th-highest scorer in the tournament’s history. He has, however, managed to win the UEFA Europa title with Manchester United.
At 40, he is still going strong back in Ac Milan, where he inspired them to win the Scudetto after 11 years last season. Here is a list of his achievements in different teams:
- Ajax – 4 major cups
- Inter & Ac Milan – 9 titles
- Barcelona – 5 cups
- PSG – 12 trophies
- Manchester United – 3 titles
Cristiano Ronaldo (34 Titles)
CR7 deserves no introduction. At the club level, his success began as a Manchester United player, where he was a youngster playing for the legendary coach, Alex Ferguson. His trophy resume in EPL grew when he transferred to Spanish side Real Madrid.
Becoming the top scorer in UEFA competitions, he made Real Madrid invincible in the UCL. He continued his fantastic record in domestic leagues after going to Juventus and helping them lift the Serie A title in his first season.
The Portuguese have also been prolific in his country. The most recognizable achievement was the dramatic UEFA Nations League cup won against France in 2015.
Gerard Pique (37 Trophies)
The Spaniard and Barcelona star is the only center back on our list. He has had a long career in La Liga.
As one of the best defenders in the world, he was called up to the Spanish squad severally. In 2010, he helped his country lift the World Cup.
Early in his career, he played for Manchester United before transferring to the Spanish league, where he still plays for Barcelona. Some of his significant achievements with teams include:
- 4 UEFA titles
- 1 World Cup
- 1 Euro Cup
Andres Iniesta (39 Titles)
Andres Iniesta is a popular name in the football universe. Like Pique, he spent the better part of his career in Barcelona.
Together with Xavi Hernandez (current team coach), they bossed the midfield for a while, helping many sport betting fans win huge profits in the process. You can still wage on him through the various Betway football betting formats.
Perhaps his major contribution to his teams is his prolific performance in the 2010 World Cup final. He has additionally won the Champions League 4x and the Euros 2x.
Andres Iniesta, 38, is still in excellent shape and has added two more championships with Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
Lionel Messi (41 Trophies)
The list wouldn’t be complete without arguably one of the best footballers of our generation. He has recently added international accolades, an aspect many used to discredit his GOAT status.
The 2010s were legendary for Messi and Barcelona. Like his former teammates, Pique, Alves, and Iniesta, he won most trophies with the club. Now playing for French side Paris-Saint Germain, he is getting closer to the top before retiring.
As the football world crosses its fingers in his favor, here are some of the exceptional trophies he has won so far:
- U-20 World Cup
- 2008 Olympic Gold medal
- 2021 Copa America
Conclusion
The list is bound to change, especially with the upcoming World Cup and the ongoing competitive leagues. However, all the mentioned players still look strong, and we might see a change in the upcoming rankings.
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