Sports

Lionel Messi becomes most-decorated footballer of all time after Inter Miami win 2023 Leagues Cup

DeAndre Yedlin delivered a rapid-fire flurry of “no’s” – at least 15 in six seconds – but couldn’t dissuade Lionel Messi from sliding the captain’s armband around his bicep.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United full-back happily ceded the captaincy to Messi upon his arrival at Inter Miami at the end of July. The 36-year-old icon wore the armband while he scored ten goals in seven games but took it off after his new side won their penalty shootout against Nashville SC in the final of the Leagues Cup.

Yedlin’s humility ultimately saw both players shimmy across the stage to hoist the gargantuan cup into the Tennessee sky. For Inter Miami, it was the young franchise’s first title of any kind. For Messi, it was his 44th for club and country – more than any other player in the history of the sport.

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Lionel Messi’s most precious trophy was the 2022 World Cup / JUAN MABROMATA/GettyImages

Competition

Winning team

Titles won

Year(s)

La Liga

Barcelona

10

2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19

Copa del Rey

Barcelona

7

2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2020/21

Supercopa de Espana

Barcelona

8

2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018

Champions League

Barcelona

4

2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15

UEFA Super Cup

Barcelona

3

2009, 2011, 2015

Club World Cup

Barcelona

3

2009, 2011, 2015

Ligue 1

PSG

2

2021/22, 2022/23

Trophee des Champions

PSG

1

2022

Leagues Cup

Inter Miami

1

2023

Under-20 World Cup

Argentina

1

2005

Olympics

Argentina

1

2008

World Cup

Argentina

1

2022

Copa America

Argentina

1

2021

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions

Argentina

1

2022

Messi’s supernatural talent was obvious from the second time a ball rolled towards him as a toddler (on the first occasion, he simply watched it scurry past). Playing for his local seven-a-side team in Rosario, Messi didn’t lose a game for three years.

The first of Messi’s ten La Liga crowns tumbled in 2005 – only Real Madrid’s Paco Gento (12) has claimed more top-flight titles in the history of Spanish football. Messi only made nine appearances for Frank Rijkaard’s side that season but did score his maiden goal for the club which was teed up by his idol Ronaldinho.



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