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Cristiano Ronaldo is a bonafide footballing legend having distinguished himself as one of the greatest in history over the course of his career.
As a rule of thumb, great players generally represent the biggest clubs in the world and this concordantly sees them lift a plethora of trophies in their playing career.
With 29 major honors won, Cristiano Ronaldo ranks high up there among the most decorated in football history, but for all of his team accomplishments, the Portuguese icon still trails some players when it comes to trophy hauls and these players are the subject of this piece.
In this piece, we shall be highlighting five players whose trophy count might be impossible for Cristiano Ronaldo to catch up to.
Note: All trophy counts correct as of August 22, 2019
#5 Andres Iniesta - 35 trophies won
In the history of football, there are only a handful of footballers who earned as much universal respect as Andres Iniesta did, with the retired Spanish international earning widespread acclaim for his comportment both on and off the field, and was the embodiment of a quintessential professional footballer.
Indeed, Iniesta is one of only three Barcelona players in history to have been given a standing ovation at the home of heated rivals Real Madrid which serves as a testament to his greatness.
On the field, the Fuentealbilla native was an absolute delight to watch, as he effortlessly glided past opponents in the middle of the park, and made the art of close dribbling and body movement look aesthetic.
Alongside midfield maestro Xavi, Iniesta was a cornerstone of the Barcelona and Spain sides that conquered all and sundry from the middle of the last decade, and helped forge what can be considered the best midfield combination in the annals of football.
The 35-year-old spent 22 years in the Barcelona system, progressing through the ranks and imbibing the Blaugrana DNA wholeheartedly and departed for Vissel Kobe in 2018 having won 32 trophies in the colours of Barcelona (as the club's most decorated player since surpassed by Messi) and a certification as a bonafide Barcelona legend.
On the international scene, Iniesta was also equally successful, winning three consecutive major titles with Spain, with the winning goal at the 2010 World Cup coming off his boot, while he also put in a man-of-the-match display in the final of EURO 2012 against Italy.
#4 Maxwell - 36 trophies won
Though not the most popular player of his generation, for many years, Maxwell was the most decorated player in European football history.
The retired Brazilian represented a number of top clubs, and coincidentally, his spells at each of these clubs came at a time when they were utterly dominant, with Maxwell representing Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona and PSG when near domestic invincibility was achieved.
Incredibly, the 37-year-old once went on an incredible streak when he won the league title each year between 2008 and 2017, with the only exception being in 2012 when Real Madrid pipped Barcelona to the LaLiga title.
Success at international level deserted him, as Maxwell competed with an array of world class left-backs for the starting shirt in Brazil, but he was generally a popular and influential figure in the dressing room and has even drawn praise from Zllatan Ibrahimovic.
Upon retirement, he was appointed as assistant technical director at PSG.
#3 Gerard Pique - 32 trophies won
Gerard Pique is a member of the famed La Masia ‘class of 87’, but unlike his friend Lionel Messi, he first found success at Manchester United before returning to Barcelona.
In England, the 32-year-old won three trophies including the Premier League, before rejoining his friends in Catalaunya in Pep Guardiola’s first season in the summer of 2008.
With Barcelona, Pique has been an ever present in the heart of defense, first partnering Carlos Puyol and then a couple of other center-backs to help the Blaugrana to lift every trophy winnable.
A treble was won in his first season back at the club, while a second was won six years later in addition to numerous other titles.
On the international scene, Pique has also achieved immense success, winning the 2010 World Cup and 2012 EURO with La Furia Roja.
Though he announced his international retirement at the end of the 2018 World Cup, Pique would still play a major role in Barcelona for the next few seasons, guaranteeing that he would add to his impressive haul of 32 trophies.
#2 Lionel Messi - 34 trophies won
Like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi needs no introduction anywhere in the world, as together the pair has utterly raised the bars of what was considered possible in football.
The Argentine maestro’s feats are well documented, and with Barcelona he has established his status as the best player in the club’s history even though his standing with Argentina is less exalted.
All 34 of the major trophies won have come in the colours of Barcelona, and the Blaugrana have undoubtedly been better off for accepting to bear the costs of treating a prodigiously talented youngster from Rosario, Argentina.
For as long as Cristiano Ronaldo remains on the scene, it is highly likely that Messi would also feature and Barcelona’s standing at an elite club all but guarantees that at least a trophy or two would be won every season, while Argentina’s co-hosting of the Copa America with Uruguay in 2020 offers him another opportunity to end his international trophy drought.
#1 Daniel Alves - 41 trophies won
Daniel Alves currently finds himself as the most decorated player in European football history, with 41 trophies won in his professional career at club and international level.
The 37-year-old has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world, putting in impressive stints with clubs like PSG, Barcelona, Sevilla and Juventus, with his first foray into European football at Sevilla helping him to five major trophies.
The best spell of his career came at Barcelona when he became the first signing of Pep Guardiola’s era, and the Brazilian went on to cement his reputation as arguably the best right-back to represent the club, making 391 appearances in all competitions and winning 23 trophies.
Further success was also enjoyed at Juventus, PSG, while he has also won four trophies on the international scene, captaining Brazil to their latest Copa America triumph.
The 17-year European sojourn ended at the end of last season as he returned to his native Brazil, joining traditional heavyweights Sao Paolo, signing a three-year contract with his boyhood club and scored the winner on his debut.
There is every chance that Dani Alves could add to his impressive trophy cabinet at the end of this season, as Sao Paolo currently sit fourth on the Brazilian league table, just two points behind first placed Santos.
