Messi extends legacy as football’s most decorated player

Lionel Messi has further cemented his place in football history as the most decorated player ever, boasting 46 official team trophies and more than 60 major individual honours during a glittering career spanning over two decades.

The Argentine captain’s remarkable achievements include a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

He has also been named FIFA’s Best Men’s Player eight times across different editions of the award and claimed six European Golden Shoes as the continent’s leading scorer.

Messi’s international career reached its pinnacle when he guided Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title, having earlier won the tournament’s Golden Ball in both 2014 and 2022. He also ended Argentina’s long wait for major silverware by leading the country to Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024, earning individual honours including the Golden Ball in 2015 and the Golden Boot in 2021.

At club level, Messi enjoyed unprecedented success with Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns. He later added two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain before helping Inter Miami lift the 2023 Leagues Cup, the first major trophy in the club’s history.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi’s trophy cabinet and individual accolades continue to set the benchmark in world football, reinforcing his status as the sport’s most decorated player.