Lionel Messi reached an extraordinary milestone by securing victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. This triumph completed his already astounding collection of trophies, which now includes every conceivable accolade in his career. Counting the Qatar World Cup, Messi's tally stands at 43 trophies for both his club and his national team, leaving him just one trophy short of his former Barcelona teammate Dani Alves, who holds the record for the most trophies won by a footballer in their career.
During Argentina's historic campaign in Qatar, Messi made a significant impact by scoring seven goals and providing three assists. Notably, he became the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stages, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final of a single edition. He also received the prestigious Golden Ball award at Qatar 2022, making him the first player to win this coveted individual honor twice (in 2014 and 2022).
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar marked Messi's third major international trophy with Argentina, following his victories in the Copa America (2021) and the Cup of Champions (2022). Additionally, he had previously won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Lionel Messi’s Historic Wins
Messi's trophy collection includes numerous milestones throughout his career. In his debut season with FC Barcelona's senior team in the 2004-05 season, at just 17 years old, he secured La Liga and the Supercopa de España. The following season, he continued to shine, winning the league once more and clinching his first Champions League title, defeating Arsenal in the final.
However, his breakout season occurred in 2008-09. During that season, he scored over 30 goals across all competitions for the first time (38 goals in 51 matches). He played a pivotal role in Barcelona's historic treble win, which included La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, with Messi scoring in the final against Manchester United. He repeated this feat under Luis Enrique in 2014-15, contributing significantly with a remarkable 58 goals in 57 matches across all competitions.
Messi's association with Barcelona yielded an astounding 35 trophies, a tally second only to Ryan Giggs for the most trophies won with a single club (Giggs having won 36 trophies with Manchester United). Messi departed Barcelona in the summer of 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, where he won the league and the Trophee des Champions in his inaugural season.
Messi's early accomplishments on the international stage include triumphs at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005 and an Olympic gold medal in 2008. He later led the senior team to victory in the Copa America in 2021, followed by winning the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions and the FIFA World Cup in 2022.