Lionel Messi vs Dani Alves: Who is football’s most successful player ever?

Lionel Messi continued to etch his name ever further into the history books of world football on Saturday night.

This came as the Argentine added yet another trophy to his burgeoning silverware cabinet.

Owing a 1-1 stalemate with Strasbourg, which saw Messi open the scoring courtesy of a trademark left-footed strike, Paris Saint-Germain sewed up a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 crown.

Mbappe and Messi combine once again 🤝

A massive goal for the Argentine which could settle the title for PSG ✨ pic.twitter.com/TkWyXENknR

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 27, 2023

For Messi, meanwhile, this marked the 43rd title of what has long been shaping up to be one of, if not the greatest ever football career.

Just where, though, does the veteran attacker's silverware haul now rank on the all-time list?

Well, late on Saturday, an insight into precisely that has been provided.

For some time now, ex-Brazilian international Dani Alves - a one-time teammate of Messi's at Barcelona - has held the distinguished title of football's most successful-ever player.

The 40-year-old's trophy tally, across club and international football, comes in at 43.

This means that Messi has now joined Alves as the game's most decorated star, requiring just one more title to take sole ownership of the record.

Lionel Messi has tied Dani Alves' record for trophies won for club and country 👏

Incredible 🐐 pic.twitter.com/9WKO0akqYY

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 27, 2023