Lionel Messi becomes the most decorated footballer in history
Lionel Messi, widely known as the “GOAT”, won his third consecutive international trophy when Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America 2024 final making him the most decorated footballer in history.
The match nearly ended in disappointment for Messi, who had to leave in the second half due to an ankle injury, visibly emotional on the bench. However, his teammates rallied, securing the victory with Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goal in extra time.
This win brings Messi’s career trophies to 45, surpassing Brazil's Dani Alves to become the football player with the most trophies.
The young talent from Rosario, Argentina now boasts an incredible 45 trophies across club and country, adding fuel to the debate over who the real 'GOAT' is between himself and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His impressive career includes four international titles in three years, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa America wins from 2021 to 2024. Messi has also won UEFA Super Cups and FIFA Club World Cups three times each. On the club front, Messi has celebrated 39 titles, predominantly with Barcelona, including league titles, UEFA Champions League trophies, and domestic cups.
Individually, Messi holds an unmatched record with eight Ballon d'Or awards and six European Golden Boots. His career statistics are outstanding, with 838 goals and 374 assists in 1068 games.
With Copa America 2024 likely to be Messi's final appearance in international tournaments, his achievement in surpassing Dani Alves to become the most decorated player in football history is a true measure of his enduring impact on the sport.
