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The world of football is changing with each passing season, as managers and players across the globe continue to dazzle us with their skills and strive to edge closer to perfection. However, one thing that has remained the same is the eagerness of everyone involved to win trophies, with success on a football pitch measured in terms of silverware won.
The likes of Matt Le Tissier and Antonio di Natale are world-class players who retired without a trophy, while it could also be argued that former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard did not win his fair share of silverware in his career.
The modern era has been dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona, while the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also had their fair share of success over the years.
Finishing a season with silverware and a medal around their shoulders is a dream for any player, as they look to add as many trophies to their cabinets throughout their careers.
On that note, here are ten players who have won the most trophies in the 21st century.
Note: All stats are correct as of 1st Sept 2020 and have been collected from transfermarkt.com
#10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 33 titles
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the greatest strikers of his generation and is sure to go down as a legend of the game when he eventually calls it a day. The towering Swede has aged like fine wine and is still going at the age of 38, having signed a permanent deal with AC Milan recently.
In what has been a glittering career spanning over two decades, Ibrahimovic has represented some of the biggest clubs in world football and won trophies aplenty. The mercurial Swede is his country's all-time top scorer and is also widely regarded as their greatest ever player.
Having plied his trade for Ajax, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United amongst other clubs, Ibrahimovic has racked up 33 trophies till date and could well add to his tally before retiring.
#9 Sergio Busquets | 33 titles
Sergio Busquets is one of many Barcelona players on his list and is tied with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in terms of the number of trophies won at this stage of their respective careers. The Spanish maestro is one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era and set the standard in Europe in his prime, as he enjoyed unrelenting success with Barcelona and the national team.
Busquets was the fulcrum of Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona team, as the Catalans dominated world football in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The lanky defensive midfielder was also a vital cog of Spain's golden generation, having won the Euros and the FIFA World Cup with La Roja.
At the age of 32, Busquets is still a key player for club and country and looks set to play for many years to come due to his tactical intelligence and ability to read the game.
Also Read: 5 best right wingers in world football currently
#8 Cristiano Ronaldo | 33 titles
Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo makes the list and comes in at #8. The Portuguese talisman, much like Busquets and Ibrahimovic, has 33 top-flight trophies to his name and is almost sure to add to his tally in the coming years.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ronaldo has plied his trade with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus at club level and is currently the captain of the Portuguese national team.
The 35-year-old has been lauded for his mentality and completeness over the years, while his knack of popping up in big moments when his team needs him the most is a significant feature of his gameplay.
Having won several league titles in three different countries, Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League a staggering five times and is the all-time top scorer in the competition's history. The former Real Madrid's star crowning moment, however, came with his national team, as he spearheaded them to their first-ever trophy by winning the European Championships in 2016.
Ronaldo is not only one of the best footballers of all time, but also an athlete who continues to set the standard despite being in the twilight years of his career. With five Ballon d'Or awards to his name thus far, the Portuguese talisman could well add to his tally in the coming years if he carries on performing like this.
#7 Arjen Robben | 33 trophies
The fourth player on the list with 33 trophies to his name, Arjen Robben's career in Europe has been nothing short of extraordinary. Having burst onto the scene at Groningen, the Dutchman had a stint with PSV Eindhoven, before being snapped up by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
While he did leave Stamford Bridge a few years later for a rather unceremonious spell at Real Madrid, Robben's move to Bayern Munich in 2009 proved to be a game-changer. Blessed with a wand of a left-foot, the mercurial Dutchman's ability to cut in from the right flank and plant the ball into the top corner is seen as his signature move, while he was also incredibly quick in his prime.
Robben announced his retirement last year but returned this summer to join his boyhood club Groningen, as he looks set to help the team recover from the setbacks they suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.
#6 Hossam Ashour | 34 titles
The only player who plays outside Europe on the list, Hossam Ashour is an Egyptian midfielder who currently plies his trade with Al Ahly in his country. Having spent the entirety of his senior career with the same club since making his debut in 2003, Ashour is the greatest player in the club's history and is still going strong at the age of 34.
The Egyptian international has made over 500 appearances for the club and won 34 trophies to date, while he is also the most decorated player in Al Ahly's history with a staggering 12 league titles to his name.
Ashour made his debut for the national team in 2008 and has racked up 14 caps to date. He is currently the captain of Al Ahly and has shown no sign of hanging up his boots despite being at the club for nearly two decades now.
#5 Gerard Pique | 36 trophies
Gerard Pique is yet another current Barcelona player on the list, with the Spaniard hailed as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Having rejoined Barcelona from Manchester United in 2008, Pique quickly became a key player for Pep Guardiola and formed an excellent partnership at the back with Carles Puyol.
For the Spanish national team, Pique won the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship before retiring as one of La Roya's greatest ever players in 2018. At the age of 33, the towering defender is approaching the twilight years of his career, but he is still an important asset for Barcelona on and off the pitch.
With 36 trophies to his name, Pique is one of the most decorated players of his generation and will look set to add to his trophy haul in the coming years.
Also Read: 5 players Andrea Pirlo should bring to Juventus
#4 Maxwell | 37 titles
Maxwell was never a star player for any of the clubs he represented, but the fact that the biggest sides in the world wanted a player like him is a testament to his outstanding work ethic and versatility.
The Brazilian defender played for the likes of Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain amongst others and forged a friendship with Zlatan Ibrahimovic that is well documented.
Renowned for his reliability, versatility and tactical intelligence, Maxwell was primarily a left-back but played all across the backline for club and country. The Brazilian racked up just ten caps for Brazil but had an outstanding club career, as he retired from all forms of the game in 2017 with 37 trophies to his name.
#3 Lionel Messi | 37 titles
Hailed as the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi's name has dominated the headlines in recent weeks. After close to two decades with Barcelona, the Argentine has decided that he wants to leave the club this summer, with the Catalans in complete disarray on the off the pitch.
Nevertheless, Messi's playing ability needs no introduction, with the 33-year-old set to be remembered for centuries due to his exploits on the football pitch. The diminutive attacker has broken several long-standing goalscoring records over the years and is the only player in history to win the Ballon d'Or six times in his career.
With 37 top-flight titles for Barcelona, Messi's trophy cabinet is outstanding at club level. However, the fact that he does not have a trophy with Argentina is seen as a blemish in his glittering CV, as he continues to strive towards making a mark on the international stage.
#2 Andres Iniesta | 39 trophies
Andres Iniesta is one of the gifted footballers to have graced the beautiful game in the modern era. The Spanish midfielder graduated from the famed La Masia academy and became a key player for Barcelona over the years, as he dazzled fans across the world with his outstanding ball control and dribbling ability.
Having made his Barcelona debut in 2002, the little magician represented the Catalan giants for 16 years, as he left the club at the end of the 2017-18 season to secure a move to Vissel Kobe in Japan. Iniesta was an indispensable player for club and country during his prime and also won three trophies with Spain, as La Roja won two European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012.
The 36-year-old is still playing for Vissel Kobe in Japan, where he won two more trophies since joining in 2018 to take his tally up to 39.
#1 Dani Alves | 41 trophies
Widely regarded as the greatest right-back of his generation, Dani Alves is the most decorated player of the 21st century. The Brazilian icon has racked 41 trophies to date and is still playing club football in his homeland, having joined Sao Paulo from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.
A technically gifted athlete with a keen eye for goal, Alves was also blessed with electric pace in his prime and was capable of beating defenders with ease in 1v1 situations. Additionally, his crossing ability was also a key feature of his gameplay, while his deft flicks and overlapping runs made him a vital cog in the final third.
Alves burst onto the scene at Sevilla and moved to Barcelona in 2008, where he spent eight years before leaving for Juventus on a free transfer. The Brazilian's trophy haul means he is one of the most decorated footballers of all time and he is set to go down as a modern-day great of the game.
Also Read: 5 most valuable players in the Serie A currently
