Celtic overtake Rangers – which clubs have won the most trophies ever in world football?

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Top 20 ranked 

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Celtic made history not only in Scotland but across the wider sport on Sunday afternoon, when they beat Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final in one of the most dramatic games of football this season. Brendan Rodgers’ side had come from behind to take the lead in the second half, only for two late Rangers goals to take the game to extra time. After a stalemate in the latter stages of the contest, it then came down to penalties, which ultimately fell in Celtic’s favour after Turkish defender Ridvan Yilmaz missed from the penalty spot. 

“I thought Rangers played well in the first half and we had to show heart to come back,” said Rodgers at full time. “I think when you’re really successful it’s within your culture. You’ve got to keep fighting and working everyday. The guys on the penalties were fantastic and we pulled through in the end. We deserved to win the trophy but you have to go and earn it.” The result not only meant Rodgers’ side picked up the first piece of silverware of the season but also took Celtic’s total trophy haul to an incredible 119 since the club was founded in 1888. To the chagrin of their cross-city rivals, it now means the reigning Scottish Premiership champions have won more trophies than Rangers and, as a result, have become the club with the most trophies won in all of world football. 

For the purposes of this list, we’ve excluded all lower league titles and any international tournaments that weren’t considered serious trophies for the respective continents, as to filter out semi-serious competitions such as Super Cups or Community Shields. And it certainly makes for some interesting reading. As we can see in the table above, the Scottish giants lead with an impressive 119 trophies, narrowly surpassing their Glasgow rivals, Rangers, who sit second with 118. This achievement underscores Celtic’s long standing dominance in Scottish football, showcasing their consistency across league titles, domestic cups, and history in international competitions. The updated list highlights a strong British presence at the top, with Northern Ireland’s Linfield holding the third position with 100 trophies. Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly follows closely in fourth place with 96, solidifying their reputation as Africa’s most successful club. Further down, clubs from around the globe, including South China (85 trophies) and iconic names such as Real Madrid (78) and Olympiacos (76), which undoubtedly highlights the notable clubs that have typically dominated in their respective national leagues. 

European football remains well-represented among the top achievers, with Portuguese giants Benfica and Spanish heavyweights Barcelona tied on 73 trophies. German titans Bayern Munich claim tenth spot with 69 trophies, further exemplifying their dominance in domestic and European competitions. Dutch club Ajax, famed for their storied history and ‘Total Football’ philosophy, sit in 11th place with 63 trophies, while Hungary’s Ferencvárosi claim 12th with 62, a reflection of their sustained spot at the top of Hungarian football. Italian powerhouse Juventus feature in 13th place with 57 trophies, sharing the same total as Uruguayan club Peñarol, a legendary force in South American football. Portugal’s Porto follow closely with 55 trophies, while Romanian giants Steaua București and Faroe Island side HB Tórshavn impress with 54 trophies each. The inclusion of Kaizer Chiefs from South Africa, also boasting 54 titles, represents the second side from Africa. Further down the list, Austria Vienna and Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv both hold 53 trophies, rounding out the top 20. Kyiv’s success highlights their success in Eastern Europe, particularly during the Soviet era, while Austria Vienna’s inclusion reflects their rich history in Austrian football. The global diversity on display, from Europe to Africa and Asia, underscores the widespread nature of football’s legacy and the achievements of these historic clubs.