Winning the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami helped Lionel Messi surpass Dani Alves to become the player with the most collective titles in football history.
Messi has won 44 titles, after winning with Inter Miami against host Nashville in the 2023 Leagues Cup final on the morning of August 20, Hanoi time. This is his first title with Miami, and also the first championship in this team’s history. Messi surpassed former teammate Dani Alves – who once held the record of winning 43 titles in history.
Messi celebrates a goal in the Leagues Cup final in Nashville, Tennessee, USA on August 20, 2023, Hanoi time. Photo: IMCF
Alves claims he has won 43 titles in history, not counting achievements in lower leagues. The three players with rich achievements right behind him are Andres Iniesta with 39, Gerard Pique and Maxwell with 37 titles respectively. All five of the most successful players in football history have in common that they played for Barca under Pep Guardiola.
Messi has won the most titles at Barca, with 35 championships including 10 La Liga, 7 King’s Cups, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 European Super Cups and 3 FIFA Club World Cups. He won three more titles at PSG, including two Ligue 1 and one French Super Cup. Messi won five titles with Argentina, including the World Cup, Copa America, Intercontinental Cup, U20 World Cup and Olympic gold medal. The 2023 Leagues Cup championship helps him complete the above record. The only tournament Messi has ever participated in without winning is the French Cup.
Messi has played 48 cup matches in his career, scoring 35 goals and assisting 15 times. On average, in a cup match, he will score or assist. In the match against Nashville, the 36-year-old superstar shot from long range to the top corner close to the post to open the score, although Miami later equalized. In the penalty shootout, Miami beat Nashville 10-9, down to the goalkeeper’s shootout, to take the crown.
Main developments in the 2023 Leagues Cup final.
The Leagues Cup is a tournament for strong clubs from North America and Mexico, competing from the regional group stage to the knockout round. Messi played 7 matches in the tournament, scored 10 goals, assisted once, and won the Best Player of the tournament. He scored in every match, winning the top scorer award.
Messi is only two matches away from his 45th title, as Miami has reached the US Open semi-finals. They will meet Cincinnati in the semi-finals on the morning of August 24, Hanoi time, and the final will take place four days later. Miami reached the semi-finals of this tournament without Messi, even though they are still at the bottom of the MLS East table.
