Scotland’s most-capped footballer has won more career trophies than Cristiano Ronaldo

The recent announcement that Gareth Bale has called time on his career means that Wales’ all-time most-capped retires with 111 international appearances to his name.

Bale retires having won 22 trophies across his club and international career – but how does that impressive trophy count compare to that of other footballers who have made the most appearances for their respective countries?

While every footballing nation has been graced by world class players at some point in their histories, the most decorated player from each nation is not always the one who has made the most international appearances. 

With this in mind, the team at betting.com has crunched the numbers on the most-capped men’s footballer from each nation around the world to reveal which of them have been the most successful when it comes to winning trophies during their careers.

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 41 career trophies

Argentina’s most-capped player of all time with 172 international appearances, Lionel Messi is unsurprisingly the most decorated footballer to have made the most appearances for his country.

During an incredible career, Messi has won 41 trophies and counting, with 34 of those titles being won with Barcelona including 10 La Ligas and 4 UEFA Champions Leagues. 

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has also won five trophies internationally with Argentina, plus two so far during his time with his current club, PSG.

If all of those trophies were not enough to shout about, Messi also has 47 individual honours to his name, including six La Liga Player of the Year awards and six European Golden Boots.

2. Kenny Dalglish (Scotland) – 35 career trophies 

Before becoming a successful manager, winning trophies with the likes of Liverpool of Blackburn Rovers, Scotland’s most capped player of all time, Kenny Dalglish had already won an astonishing 35 trophies during his playing career.

While playing for Liverpool, ‘King Kenny’ put claims to a remarkable eight English First Division trophies between 1979 and 1990, winning the last three of those eight titles as the player-manager of the Merseyside club.

Before winning an incredible 23 titles with Liverpool, Dalglish – who made 102 international appearances for Scotland – had also won 12 titles with Celtic, including being a Scottish League champion on four occasions.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 34 career trophies

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ronaldo has won an impressive 34 trophies across his glittering career.

The Portuguese striker’s trophy count includes two international titles during his record-breaking 196 appearances for Portugal, including one Euros title won in 2016 and one Nation’s League claimed in 2019.

What’s perhaps most impressive about Ronaldo’s huge trophy collection is that he has won trophies in four countries – Portugal, England, Spain and Italy – plus five UEFA Champions Leagues, four FIFA Club World Cups and three UEFA Super Cups.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid man also boasts a brilliant 27 individual honours, including five Ballon d’Or’s and one FIFA Puskas Award.

4. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) – 29 career trophies

The Italian men’s national team has been graced by plenty of legendary players over the years, but none have made more international appearances than goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon who has played 176 times for his country, including at five different World Cups.

The former Juventus keeper’s career has not been lacking in glory either, with 29 trophies to fill up Buffon’s cabinet, including one World Cup with Italy, plus ten Serie A titles with Juventus between 2002 and 2020.

Remarkably, the legendary Italian is still playing and starting games in 2023 at 44 years old with Parma – the club where he began his career.

5. Sergio Ramos (Spain) – 28 career trophies

Spain have also been blessed with many elite stars over the years, but none have pulled on the famous red shirt more than Sergio Ramos, who has made a mind-blowing 180 appearances for Spain’s men’s national team.

Currently plying his trade with PSG, the defender started out his football career with Sevilla, although he is most famous for representing Real Madrid, having spent 16 years at the Bernabeu.

Ramos has won 28 trophies in his career, with 22 of them being won while wearing the white shirt of Real Madrid. The centre-back is a four-time UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid, and also won 5 La Liga titles; as well as lifting one World Cup, plus the Euros twice with Spain.

Credit to: https://betting.com/gb/football