Has Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo won more trophies? All-time team and individual prizes

Has Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo won more trophies? All-time team and individual prizes originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have battled as rivals throughout much of their careers, jockeying for position in the eyes of fans by every conceivable measurable.

The two players, who are just two years apart in age, have been compared to one another for decades, ever since both arrived on the global stage as teenagers. They then played for Clasico rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid before departing La Liga and testing themselves in other avenues.

Both considered two of the greatest to ever play the game, these football giants have accumulated countless trophies.

Well… not quite countless, because we’re going to count them. The Sporting News brings you an overview of which player has won more trophies in which category.

MORE:How many trophies has Cristiano Ronaldo won? | Messi’s career trophies

Has Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo won more trophies?

Throughout the course of their careers, Messi has generally won more trophies than his counterpart Ronaldo.

Most notably, Messi has won more major international silverware, carrying Argentina to six titles including a World Cup (if you count the Olympics and youth level). Ronaldo, meanwhile, has won three senior international trophies and has not triumphed at the World Cup.

On the club level, Messi has won 40 major club trophies with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, including four Champions League titles. That is nine more than Cristiano Ronaldo, who has accumulated 31 throughout the course of his career (or 32 if you include the Arab Club Champions Cup with Al Nassr, which is not considered a major trophy).

Finally, on an individual level, Messi has won more Ballon d’Or awards than not only Ronaldo, but any other player in history.

MORE:Most Ballon d’Or wins throughout football history

Lionel Messi trophies, awards

Considered one of the greatest players of all time, if not THE greatest, Messi has racked up numerous trophies and medals throughout his illustrious career.

From a numerical standpoint, he has accumulated 40 major trophies throughout his club career, plus another six major international trophies with Argentina and a plethora of individual awards that include eight Ballon d’Or trophies, the most of any player in history.

Lionel Messi club trophies

Lionel Messi Argentina trophies

*Youth tournaments or not full international competitions

Lionel Messi individual awards

All of those team trophies wouldn’t have flowed so freely if it wasn’t for Messi himself. 

His magic in the final third has captivated the world for the past 20 years and as a result he’s picked up numerous individual honours. 

His eight Ballon d’Or wins is a record that will take some beating with arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo stuck on five. 

Cristiano Ronaldo trophies, awards

Considered one of the most dedicated professional athletes of all time, Ronaldo’s commitment to being the best in the world has been lauded throughout his legendary football career.

It has led him to a generational trophy haul. Ronaldo has accumulated 31 major trophies throughout his club career, plus another two major international titles with the Portugal senior team, as well as various individual awards that include five Ballons d’Or, the second-most of any player in history.

Cristiano Ronaldo club trophies

Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League five different times in his club career, four times with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United. While those trophies remain the pinnacle of any footballer’s career, he has secured many many other titles from his various stops.

He has won seven league titles in his career, including at least twice at every single European club he’s been with aside from his first stop at Sporting CP.

Ronaldo waited a long time to win a league title or any other major trophy with Al Nassr, only able to lean on the Arab Club Champions Cup, a preseason competition, until they secured the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League title.

* Not considered a major club trophy

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal trophies

International trophies are much tougher to accomplish than club awards, especially in Europe, but Ronaldo has won three major international trophies in addition to his numerous club accolades, plus another at a younger level.

As a youth player, Portugal won the Toulon Tournament, which is now known as the Maurice Revello Tournament, held in France for youth international sides.

As a senior international, Ronaldo first triumphed on the international stage at Euro 2016, when Portugal beat hosts France in the final. Ronaldo scored in the semifinal win over Wales but had to rely on an extra-time goal by Eder in the final to secure the title, having been forced off injured earlier in the game.

They then managed to return to the top of Europe in 2018/19 with the UEFA Nations League title. Ronaldo also did not score in that final, with Goncalo Guedes netting the winner over the Netherlands. He did, however, score a hat-trick in the semifinal win over Switzerland.

In the final of 2025, Ronaldo was on target in a 2-2 draw with Spain after scoring the winner in the semifinal against Germany. He did not take a penalty as Portugal won the trophy via a shootout.

Ronaldo has never won a FIFA World Cup, the one top trophy that has evaded him during his career.

* Youth tournament

Cristiano Ronaldo individual awards

Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or trophies, putting him second on the all-time list behind Messi.

He also won the 2009 Puskas Award for the best goal in world football that year. He won FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008, and FIFA The Best Men’s Player in 2016 and 2017.

CR7 has been the league’s top scorer on seven different occasions.

Below are the notable individual accomplishments by Ronaldo.