On Wednesday night, Lionel Messi became only the second footballer in history to win his 40th career trophy.
The iconic forward, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, led Argentina to a 3-0 win over Italy in the Finalissima at Wembley Stadium.
Finalissima is an official trophy awarded to the winners of a one-off match between the winners of UEFA's European Championship and CONMEBOL's Copa America. It is Italian for "grand final."
And it was Argentina who came out on top in London on Wednesday evening, winning 3-0 due to goals from Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria, and Paulo Dybala.
But it was Messi, 34, who stole the show, providing two assists and controlling the game.
Argentina's Messi Wembley
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates his team's victory at Wembley Stadium in London, England, during the 2022 Finalissima match between Italy and Argentina on June 01, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Mike Hewitt)
If anything, Italy was cheated by the 3-0 score. Argentina could have – and probably should have – won the game by a larger margin.
Messi, who had a rough first season with Paris Saint-Germain but returned to his brilliant best against the Italians, added a second international trophy to his collection.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: Argentina's Lionel Messi lifts the Finalissima trophy following his team's victory in the 2022 Finalissima match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London, England on June 01, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Shaun Botterill) )
After that, the South American equals Cristiano Ronaldo's record. With Portugal, the Manchester United player has won two international trophies: Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League 2018-19.
But where do Messi and Ronaldo rank among the most decorated players in football history?
Let's look at it more closely...
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (No. 11) (32 trophies)
Zlatan, who turns 41 in October, recently won his 32nd (and possibly final) championship with AC Milan after winning Serie A. What a journey.
During the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on May 22, 2022 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan celebrates after his side finished the season as Serie A champions. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Chris Ricco)
Xavi, number ten (33 trophies)
Xavi, one of the best midfielders of all time, won the majority of his trophies with Barcelona, but he also had success with Al Sadd in Qatar near the conclusion of his career.
Xavi's cup
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 25: Prince Felipe (L) presents the Copa del Rey trophy to Xavi Hernandez (R) of Barcelona after the Catalan club defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the Copa del Rey Final at Vicente Calderon Stadium.
Vitor Baia =8. (34 trophies)
Vitor Baia, a retried Portuguese goalkeeper who won most of his silverware with FC Porto, is another former Barcelona player.
Vitor Baia was awarded the trophy.
VITOR BAIA, PORTO'S GOALKEEPER, HOLDS THE CUP IN GELSENKIRCHEN AFTER HIS TEAM'S 3-0 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL VICTORY OVER MONACO. After Porto's 3-0 victory against Monaco in the Champions League final at the Arena AufSchalke stadium in Gelsenkirchen on May 26, 2004, goalkeeper Vitor Baia (L) lifts the trophy with teammates Bosingwa (2R) and Ricardo Costa. Ina Fassbender/Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo (number 8) (34 trophies)
Cristiano Ronaldo will be upset that he was unable to add to his trophy haul in his first season back at Manchester United. However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is set to remain at Old Trafford.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 10: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates with the Henri Delaunay trophy following Portugal's 1-0 victory over France in the UEFA EURO 2016 Final at Stade de France on July 10, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Matthias Hangst)
=6. Pique, Gerard (35 trophies)
Gerard Pique, another player who went home empty-handed at the end of the 2021-22 season, will be out to add a few more titles to his impressive collection before calling it a day.
Gerard Pique was awarded the trophy.
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 06: Barcelona's Gerard Pique carries the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany.
Ryan Giggs (#5) (36 trophies)
Ryan Giggs spent his entire career with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning a staggering 13 Premier League titles.
Ryan Giggs Award
MOSCOW – MAY 21: Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs lift the trophy after their team's 6-5 penalty shootout victory in the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia on May 21, 2008. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Michael Steele)
=3. Andres Iniesta is a Spanish footballer (37 trophies)
Andres Iniesta, a phenomenally brilliant midfielder and the man who scored the most famous goal in Spanish football history, has won two trophies since joining Vissel Kobe in Japan in 2018.
KIEV, UKRAINE – JULY 01: After the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine, Andres Iniesta of Spain poses in the changing room with the trophy. (Photo courtesy of UEFA/Handout via Getty Images)
3. Maxwell's equation (37 trophies)
Maxwell's position at the top of this list may surprise some, but the Brazilian full-back won a total of 37 trophies during his time with Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and PSG.
Lionel Messi is the second best player in the world (40 trophies)
Messi already has three trophies to Maxwell's one, and he still has enough time to finish first.
finalissima messi
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the Finalissima trophy following Argentina's victory over Italy during the 2022 Finalissima match at Wembley Stadium in London, England on June 01, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Claudio Villa)
Dani Alves is number one (43 trophies)
Despite the fact that Dani Alves turned 39 in May, he still appears to have a couple of years left in him.
If his former teammate surpasses his record to become the most declared footballer in history, the happy-go-lucky Barcelona star will most likely be ecstatic.
Dani Alves was awarded the trophy.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JULY 07: Dani Alves of Brazil poses with the trophy for Best Player of the Tournament after Brazil defeated Peru in the Copa America Brazil 2019 Final at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 07, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Buda Mendes)
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