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Hossam Ashour is No. 3 on the list of the most decorated footballers in world history
The beautiful game has witnessed countless stars, but only a select few have amassed trophy cabinets overflowing with silverware.
Unveiling the top five most decorated footballers of all time, we'll delve into the legendary careers of these champions. From the record-breaking maestro to the versatile defender, prepare to be dazzled by their dedication, talent, and incredible achievements.
5. Maxwell - 37 trophies
One of the surprise entries on this, the Brazilian left-back had hugely successful spells with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
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He won his first title with Cruzeiro, the Copa do Brasil in 2000. His stay at Camp Nou yielded 11 trophies, including his only UEFA Champions League crown.
In the twilight of his career, Maxwell moved to Paris Saint-Germain where he won an incredible 15 trophies in five seasons.
4. Andres Iniesta - 37 trophies
The Spain and Barcelona legend won everything on offer during a hugely successful 16-year stay at Barcelona. He was as successful with the Spanish national team as he was at Barcelona.
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Iniesta's trophy cabinet is adorned with nine La Liga titles, six Copa del Rey, six Spanish Super Cups, and four UEFA Champions League trophies. He is also the only player on this list to own a FIFA World Cup winners medal, scoring the goal that clinched that trophy for Spain in 2010 nonetheless.
After a glittering career with the Spanish side, Iniesta played for Japanese side Vissel Kobe where he added the Emperor's Cup (2019), the Japanese Super Cup (2020) and the J1 League (2023) to his burgeoning trophy cabinet.
3. Hossam Ashour - 39 trophies
The only player on this list without a link to Barcelona. Hossam Ashour is an Egyptian defensive midfielder who played for Egyptian powerhouse Al-Ahly, making over 500 appearances for the club between 2003 and 2020.
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The 35-year-old has an impressive retinue of trophies including 13 Egyptian Premier League titles, 10 Egyptian Super Cups, 6 CAF Champions League trophies, and 5 CAF Super Cups amongst others.
Despite his longevity, Ashour has not been a feature with the Egyptian national team, having no hand in any of their seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophies. He also played for Al Ittihad in the Egyptian league but did not win any trophy there.
2. Dani Alves - 44 trophies
Dani Alves is the second most-decorated player in world football, as he enjoyed a trophy-laden career in 22 seasons as a senior team player.
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Alves' first trophy was the Copa do Nordeste with Brazilian club Bahia in 2002. Since then, he has gone on to win five trophies with Sevilla, 23 trophies with Barcelona, five trophies with PSG, two trophies with Juventus, and six trophies with various Brazilian national teams.
1. Lionel Messi - 44 trophies
Arguably the greatest player of all time, Messi sitting atop this list does not come as a surprise. He has won trophies for both club and country, wining the U-20 World Cup, the 2008 Olympic Gold medal, and the 2021 Copa America title with Argentina.
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The 36-year-old Argentine maestro won 10 La Liga titles, eight Spanish Super Cups, seven Copa del Rey, and four UEFA Champions League titles during a glittering career at Barcelona.
After which, he moved to PSG, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and one Trophée des Champions. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner then moved to MLS side Inter Miami, where he has won the Leagues Cup and expected to win more to be the clear number one on this list.
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