Marquinhos Crowned King of Club Trophies — But Can He Add the Ultimate Prize at World Cup 2026?

When Paris Saint-Germain lifted the Super Cup after defeating Aston Villa, Brazilian defender Marquinhos quietly etched his name into the record books. As highlighted in The Guardian's 'The Knowledge' column, that victory marked his 41st major club trophy — more than any other footballer in the history of the game. The breakdown, compiled by reader Pete Tomlin and shared by The Guardian, makes for remarkable reading. Marquinhos' collection includes one Copa Libertadores from his early days in Brazil, 11 Ligue 1 titles, eight Coupes de France, six Coupes de la Ligue, ten Trophées des Champions, two Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, and one Intercontinental Cup. It is a haul that spans over a decade of near-total dominance in French football, capped by PSG's long-awaited conquest of Europe. Remarkably, the man he overtook at the summit is none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine icon sits just behind on 40 club trophies, a mind-bending collection featuring ten La Liga titles, seven Copas del Rey, seven Supercopas de España, four Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups, three Club World Cups, two Ligue 1 titles, one Trophée des Champions, one MLS Cup, one Supporters' Shield, and one Leagues Cup from his stint in the United States. The timing of this milestone adds an irresistible subplot for fans counting down to the 2026 World Cup. Marquinhos remains a cornerstone of the Brazilian national team, and the Seleção will arrive in North America desperate to end a drought stretching back to 2002. For a player who has won virtually everything the club game can offer, international silverware is the glaring omission on his résumé. Meanwhile, Messi's Argentina head into the tournament as defending champions, chasing back-to-back World Cup titles — a feat that would further cement his claim as the greatest of all time. Should the 2022 winners triumph again on American soil, the debate over football's most decorated careers would take yet another dramatic turn. For now, though, the crown belongs to Marquinhos. His achievement is a testament to longevity, loyalty, and an era of PSG supremacy that few could have predicted when he arrived from Roma as a teenager. As The Guardian's readers demonstrated, sometimes the most extraordinary records are the ones that slip under the radar. With the World Cup 2026 draw looming and national squads taking shape, the question now is whether either of these trophy machines can add the most glittering prize of all next summer.