Lionel Messi finally lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022, completing a collection of international honours that had eluded him for much of his career. The Argentine forward’s haul now includes the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima trophy, a UEFA-CONMEBOL intercontinental competition. These wins came after years of near misses, with Messi regarded as one of the greatest players never to have secured a major senior international trophy until that point.
Messi’s breakthrough on the international stage came relatively late. By his 30th birthday, he had been criticised for failing to win a major tournament with Argentina despite his individual brilliance. The Copa America victory in 2021 ended that drought, marking his first senior international title after three previous final defeats. He then helped Argentina defend the Copa America crown in the United States in 2024, with his World Cup triumph sandwiched between those victories. Earlier in his career, Messi won the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005, though these are considered youth honours rather than senior international trophies.
At club level, Messi’s trophy cabinet is dominated by his time at Barcelona, where he spent 16 years and won 34 team trophies. His honours with the Catalan club include 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, and seven Supercopa de España wins. He also collected four UEFA Champions League titles, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups during his tenure. These successes made him one of the most decorated players in club football history by the time he departed Camp Nou in 2021.
Messi’s two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain brought three more trophies, although the club’s ambition to win the Champions League during his spell was unfulfilled. He won Ligue 1 titles in 2021/22 and 2022/23 and the 2022 Trophee des Champions, the French Super Cup. Despite these wins, Messi later described his time in Paris as difficult, citing a strained relationship with some fans and a lack of happiness for himself and his family.
Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has made an immediate impact in Major League Soccer. He led the club to its first-ever trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup. In 2024, Inter Miami won the Supporters' Shield for the best regular-season record but were eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs by Atlanta United. The following year, Messi helped the team reach the MLS Cup final, where they defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1. Messi contributed two assists in the final, setting up goals for Rodrigo de Paul and Tadeo Allende.
His individual accolades in MLS include the Most Valuable Player award in 2024 and again in 2025, the latter season also seeing him secure the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals in 28 games. This scoring tally was five goals clear of the next closest player.
Messi’s international career has now concluded, and while his club career is winding down, his trophy haul reflects a rare blend of team success across multiple continents. The 2022 World Cup victory remains the defining moment that completed his collection of senior international trophies, a chapter that had once seemed out of reach despite his status as one of football’s greatest talents.
According to Yahoo Sports.
