Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller Among Players With Most Top 5 League Trophies
- Thomas Muller has equalled Ryan Giggs’ record with 13 league titles, all with Bayern Munich, cementing his legacy
- Lionel Messi, with 12 league titles with Barcelona and PSG, has combined individual brilliance with team success
- Muller added another league honour to his respectable trophy haul after Bayern Munich clinched the 2024/25 Bundesliga
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Thomas Muller etched his name in European football history after Bayern Munich secured the 2024/25 Bundesliga title with games to spare.
The German veteran has now joined Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs with the joint-most titles in the European top five leagues, with 13.
Source: Getty Images
The 2014 World Cup winner's remarkable achievement is a testament to his longevity, consistency, and unshakable presence at Bayern Munich.
Since breaking into the first team in 2008, Muller has been a central figure in the Bavarians' dominance of both Germany and the continent.
He has played alongside legends like Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry and also helped younger stars like Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane.
With 13 Bundesliga medals, Muller’s name is now permanently carved alongside Europe’s greatest winners, with a now undeniable legacy.
Players with most top five league trophies
Ryan Giggs: The Premier League benchmark
Until Muller matched him, Ryan Giggs stood alone at the summit of Europe’s league title winners for his exploits with Manchester United.
The Red Devils icon collected 13 Premier League titles for the Old Trafford outfit during a glittering career that spanned two decades.
Giggs was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering side that dominated English football from the early 1990s up until the early 2010s.
Source: Twitter
Known for his pace, dribbling, and ability to reinvent himself, Giggs adapted his game from a flying winger to a composed central midfielder as the years progressed.
While individual accolades came his way, including PFA Player of the Year, his 13 league titles set him apart as United's standard-bearer in the Premier League.
Lionel Messi: dominance across two leagues
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, sits just behind Muller and Giggs with 12 trophies.
The Argentine's haul includes 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona and two Ligue 1 crowns with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi’s decade-long dominance in Spain transformed the Catalans into one of the most feared teams in football history.
With Messi at the helm, Barça conquered Spain repeatedly under managers like Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Ernesto Valverde.
His partnership with stars like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Neymar, and Luis Suárez brought breathtaking attacking football to Camp Nou.
After an emotional departure from Barcelona in 2021, Messi continued his winning ways at PSG, securing two French titles there.
David Alaba: A champion in two countries
David Alaba’s name often flies under the radar, but his trophy cabinet is packed with silverware thanks to his time in Spain and Germany.
With 10 Bundesliga titles and two La Liga titles, per Wikipedia, he cemented himself as one of the most decorated players of his generation.
His journey began at Bayern, where he emerged as one of the best left-backs in the world before transitioning to a central defensive role.
In 2021, Alaba moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer, where he wasted no time adding the Spanish league title to his vast collection.
Gary Neville: The silent winner of Old Trafford
Gary Neville may not have had the flair of Messi or the versatility of Alaba, but his career at Manchester United was defined by consistency.
He won 12 Premier League titles under the Sir Alex Ferguson, making him one of the most decorated defenders in English football history.
A one-club man, Neville was part of United’s famous 'Class of ’92', rising alongside Giggs, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham.
His leadership extended beyond the pitch, eventually becoming the club's captain and a respected voice in the dressing room.
While spectacular goals and flashy skills were seldom, Neville’s contributions were indispensable to the Red Devils’ successes.
Top 5 league trophies: Muller on top
The accomplishments of Muller, Giggs, Messi, Alaba, and Neville have reflected the incredible standards set by football’s elite.
These players not only amassed individual accolades but also formed the backbone of some of the most dominant clubs in history.
Muller’s milestone underscores Bayern's reign in German football, just as Giggs’ record stands as the symbol of United’s glory years.
Messi’s genius illuminated Spanish and French football, while Alaba and Neville exemplified consistency and adaptability at the highest level.
As football evolves, these names remind us that greatness is not just measured in goals or assists but also in the ability to win across eras and leagues.
Pep Guardiola hails Muller as the greatest
YEN.com.gh also reported on legendary manager Pep Guardiola hailing Muller as one of the greatest in football history.
The Spaniard, now with Manchester City, coached the German veteran as Bayern Munich's coach, securing three titles.
Guardiola's remarks came after Muller became the Bavarians' most capped player of all time, anchoring his iconic status.
Source: YEN.com.gh
