The footballers who have won the most trophies
At the end of the day, football is about winning, right?
Players play so they can end up with silverware in their hands, while the supporters retain an interest so they can see those said players with the silverware in their hands. The game is all about glory.
That sentiment hasn't been embodied better than by these ten champions who have claimed the most pieces of silverware during their remarkable careers. But who's won the most, I wonder?
Let's find out!
10. Cristiano Ronaldo - 34 trophies
Cristiano Ronaldo will retire as one of the best to ever do it, with his legacy built off his ability to produce when it matters most.
The Portuguese forward has had a big hand in the vast majority of the 34 trophies he's collected throughout his illustrious career, including five Champions League titles with two different clubs.
9. Vitor Baia - 34 trophies
Legendary Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia built up quiet the trophy haul during his 13 years as a professional.
Much of his success arrived at Porto, where he won the Champions League and ten league titles, but he also lifted five pieces of silverware with Barcelona between 1996 and 1998.
8. Kenny Dalglish - 35 trophies
Kenny Dalglish was the leading man of the team of the 1980s. The Scottish superstar enjoyed plenty of success with Celtic before he made the switch to Liverpool in 1977 after Kevin Keegan opted to join Hamburg.
Dalglish would inspire an already dominant Reds outfit to more success following his move, helping Liverpool to six First Division titles, three European Cup triumphs, as well as the FA Cup in 1986.
In total, Dalglish lifted 21 pieces of silverware as a player on Merseyside over a majestic 13-year period.
7. Ryan Giggs - 36 trophies
The Welsh wizard won everything there was to win during his lengthy Manchester United career.
Giggs was destined for stardom from a young age and Sir Alex Ferguson quickly went about establishing the winger in his first team. The Welshman was a pivotal figure in United's success either side of the new millennium, eventually finishing his career with 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues.
6. Gerard Pique - 37 trophies
Three of Pique's 37 trophies arrived during a brief spell at Manchester United, but the overwhelming majority of his success came with his boyhood club Barcelona.
The defensive stalwart was a mainstay in the Catalan defence for over a decade as La Blaugrana emerged as Europe's supreme force under both Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
Pique was also a part of the all-conquering Spanish squad for their World Cup triumph in 2010 and Euros success two years later.
5. Maxwell - 37 trophies
The unassuming left-back enjoyed a career laden with silverware.
It's easily forgotten Maxwell lifted a pair of league titles with Ajax and three with Inter before he joined Barcelona for their golden era in 2009. The Brazilian won it all at Camp Nou before jumping ship once more, this time to Paris Saint-Germain.
Maxwell claimed 14 pieces of silverware over five years in the French capital before calling it a career in 2017.
4. Andres Iniesta - 37 trophies
The Spanish maestro was the beating heart of so many Barcelona sides that won a mountain of honours.
Iniesta, who made his senior debut in 2002, won nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues before departing in 2018 to Vissel Kobe. Success has followed him to the Far East, with his side winning the Emperor's Cup in 2019 and the Japanese Super Cup in 2020.
Oh, and who can forget his success on the international stage? Iniesta memorably scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final and was a part of Spain's winning squads at the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
3. Hossam Ashour - 39 Trophies
What d'you mean you've never heard of him? Oh, the ignorance. You've never heard of Hossam Ashour? You know, the guy who's won 13 Egyptian Premier League titles, four Egypt Cups, six CAF Champions Leagues, and ten Egyptian Super Cups?
Blasphemy.
2. Lionel Messi - 41 trophies
International success - or lack thereof - was the only stain on Messi's imperious career before he spearheaded Argentina's success at the 2021 Copa America. La Albiceleste then beat Italy in the first-ever Finalissima which added another trophy to Leo's gargantuan haul.
The vast majority of Messi's 41 honours were won with Barcelona, but he's recently added a Ligue 1 title to his resumé.
1. Dani Alves - 44 trophies
Dani Alves: the most successful footballer of all time. The guy just wins.
The Brazilian's still going at the ripe old age of 39 and, who knows, his 45th trophy may well be the most prestigious of the lot with Brazil gunning for their sixth World Cup in Qatar.
Alves has enjoyed some success with the national team, winning a pair of Copa America titles, but much of his success, like so many on this list, arrived in Catalonia.
However, he's also won league titles in Italy and France, claimed regional success with two Brazilian clubs, and lifted two UEFA Cups with Sevilla.
Winning silverware has become habitual for the modern-day great.