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Every player has at one point or the other dreamed of lifting the biggest and most prestigious trophies in football, thus cementing their legacy. However, only a handful genuinely get to fulfil their dreams in reality.
Several factors such as talent, ability, and the sheer good luck of being in the right club at the right time have been the difference between having an average career and winning the odd trophy here or there and becoming a certified legend that competes for major titles every season.
Some clubs have been serial winners for most of their history and it stands to reason that their players get to win the most prestigious trophies on a regular basis. Although, there have been a few instances of unheralded teams usurping the established order.
The 21st century has seen several players distinguish themselves on the field of play and here, we shall be having a rundown of the five players with the most trophies in the 21st century.
#5 Gerard Pique: 33 trophies - Manchester United (3), Barcelona (28), Spain (2)
After making a name for himself in the famed La Masia academy, Gerard Pique was snapped up by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2004 but struggled to break the first-choice pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
He, however, did manage to pick up three winners' medals at Old Trafford before returning to Barcelona in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge in the summer of 2008, just in time to play his role in the legendary campaign that was to follow.
Since then, the 33-year-old has become a Blaugrana legend, winning 28 titles along the way in over 500 appearances for the Catalans, while he was also a starting member of the Spanish sides that triumphed in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.
#4 Lionel Messi: 34 trophies, all with Barcelona
Lionel Messi is the joint-best player of his generation and arguably the best in any era, and the diminutive Argentine magician has the trophy cabinet to back his otherworldly talents and ability.
Ever since making his debut for Barcelona in 2004, the club have grown leaps and bounds and despite taking a gamble on a young child with certain growth hormone issues, it cannot be denied that they have reaped the dividends hundredfold.
The 21st century has been an immensely successful one for the Blaugrana (evidenced by their high representation on this list) and Messi has played a key role in establishing their pedigree at the summit of the game.
Also read: 10 greatest Barcelona players of the 21st century
With the exception of maybe Johan Cruyff, no other player has had a telling impact on the fortunes of the club like the Rosario native and he has always led the way with goals, assists and physics-defying moves as Barcelona won title after title.
The one drawback to Messi's career is his lack of international success but with some years left in the tank, the 32-year-old could still rectify this anomaly.
#3 Maxwell: 36 trophies - Cruzeiro (1), Ajax (5), Inter Milan (5), Barcelona (10), PSG (15)
Maxwell might not be the first name that comes to mind when a list of legendary left-backs is drawn up and it would come as a genuine surprise to many that he retired as the most decorated footballer in history when he hung his boots in 2017.
The Brazilian was a consummate professional who discharged his duties with minimum fuss and despite not being first-choice for most of his career, the former Empoli man could always be counted upon when required.
Maxwell owed his highly decorated career to playing for some of the biggest sides at the time when they enjoyed their most productive spell, including Inter Milan in the mid-noughties, Barcelona towards the end of the last decade and PSG under their new ownership.
He went on an incredible run of winning nine league titles in 10 seasons (bar 2012) in three different countries for three different clubs from 2007 until 2016; Inter Milan (2007-2009), Barcelona (2009-2011), PSG (2012-2016).
There was also Eredivisie success with Ajax in The Netherlands, while the Champions League and several other domestic honours were also won in a glittering career.
#2 Andres Iniesta: 37 trophies - Barcelona (32), Vissel Kobe (2), Spain (3)
Andes Iniesta made a name for himself as one of the most talented midfielders of his or any generation before him, with his brilliant technique, ball control, vision, and dribbling enabling him to effectively dictate the tempo of matches from the middle.
His almost telepathic midfield combination with Xavi at the height of their powers for both club and country is considered as the greatest of all time and it came as no surprise that both Spain and Barcelona enjoyed their most productive eras in this period.
Having honed his developmental abilities at La Masia, Iniesta was handed his first-team debut in 2002 and after initially drifting in and out of the side, he eventually became a mainstay.
A total of 33 trophies were won in the colours of Barcelona which was the club record until he was surpassed by Messi last year, while he was also part of the Spanish sides that made history by winning the World Cup in between consecutive Euros and has also won two titles with Vissel Kobe in Japan.
#1 Dani Alves: 40 trophies - Bahia (1), Sevilla (5), Barcelona (23), Juventus (2), PSG (6), Brazil (4)
Like Maxwell, Dani Alves also starred for some of the biggest sides in their glory days but unlike his compatriot, the marauding full-back was much more than a squad member and played key roles in every single one of those triumphs.
He has unarguably been the standout right-back of the last 15 years and his bursting runs forward, excellent delivery, a keen eye for goal, and resolute defending made him a fan-favourite wherever he went.
Having starred in his native Brazil with Bahia, Alves made the leap to Europe when he signed for Spanish side Sevilla in 2002 and after six seasons in Andalusia, he made the step-up as the first signing of the Pep Guardiola era at Camp Nou.
It was at Barcelona that the Brazilian international shot to superstardom and his on-field connection with Lionel Messi was particularly impressive.
He ended his Barcelona career with 391 appearances in eight seasons while also playing his way into Blaugrana folklore. Further successive spells were also enjoyed at Juventus and PSG before Alves brought his 17-year European sojourn to an end with his return to Sao Paulo in 2019.
The 35-year-old was still on hand to captain Brazil to a Copa America triumph on home soil and for his efforts, he was recognized as the best player in the tournament.
