Lionel Messi has firmly cemented his legacy as the most awarded footballer ever, leaving rival Cristiano Ronaldo far behind in individual honors. Across decades of club and international success, Messi’s trophy cabinet tells a story of unmatched brilliance.
According to the British site Give Me Sport, Messi, now at Inter Miami, has claimed a staggering 53 individual awards during his career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team. This tally places him well ahead of perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who stands second with 33 individual awards.
The awards considered include the Ballon d’Or, Golden Shoe, European Golden Shoe, top scorer accolades in continental and international tournaments, as well as best player of the year awards at local, continental, and international levels.
Other top players in terms of individual honors include:
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Marco van Basten: 20 awards (Ajax, AC Milan, Netherlands)
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Ronaldo Nazário: 18 awards (Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Corinthians, Brazil)
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Gerd Müller: 18 awards (Nördlingen 1861, Bayern Munich, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Germany)
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Eusébio: 17 awards (Sporting Marquês, Benfica, Boston Minutemen, Monterrey, Toronto Blizzard, Biera Mar, Las Vegas Quicksilvers, União de Tomar, New Jersey Americans, Portugal)
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Zinedine Zidane: 13 awards (Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid, France)
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Michel Platini: 12 awards (Nancy, Saint-Étienne, Juventus, France)
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Alfredo Di Stéfano: 12 awards (River Plate, Huracán, Millonarios, Real Madrid, Espanyol, Argentina & Spain)
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Johan Cruyff: 10 awards (Ajax, Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante, Netherlands)
Messi’s dominance in individual accolades underlines his remarkable influence on modern football, setting a benchmark unlikely to be surpassed soon.
