13 Most Successful Nations in Football History by Major Trophies Won

The 2025 African Cup of Nations has now concluded and is the latest major tournament following Euro 2024 and the 2024 Copa America, which saw Spain and Argentina add more silverware to their trophy cabinets. Spain defeated England in the final of the former, while Argentina triumphed over Colombia in the latter.

Considering how rare international tournaments are, it’s difficult for nations to catch up with those at the top of the leaderboard in terms of major accolades. Sustained success over a long period of time is also rare, as groups of players come and go in the space of three or four competitions on the international stage.

That said, below is a list of the most successful countries in football based on major trophies won. From the World Cup to the Africa Cup of Nations, there’s a vast array of silverware on offer depending on geographical location. There are some surprises along the way as the team with the most World Cup wins in history, Brazil, miss out on the top spot.

13

Australia

5 Major Trophies

Australia has given elite international nations a problem or two whenever the Socceroos have competed on the world stage. Back in their homeland, they have claimed five OFC Nations Cups, the last in 2004.

But a nation that gave birth to Tim Cahill and Harry Kedwell has won the Asian Cup only once, in 2015. The Australians will be hoping the current generation can take them to further success, starting with this summer’s World Cup.

12

Cameroon

5 Major Trophies

It’s been eight years since Cameroon last won the African Cup of Nations, and they were unable to add a sixth in January 2026. The Indomitable Lions have roared on World Cup duty, albeit without winning the tournament.

You have to go back to 1985 for the Cameroonians’ first trophy, which was the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations, a competition no longer in existence. Samuel Eto’o will always be remembered for his exploits in European club football but he remains AFCON’s all-time top scorer.

11

New Zealand

6 Major Trophies

It might surprise a few to learn that New Zealand are the most successful nation from Oceania, with six OFC Nations Cups in their trophy cabinet. The All Whites’ latest triumph came in 2024 when they defeated Vanuatu in the final.

This saw them move ahead of Australia on the trophy leadeboard and they will be competing in their third FIFA World Cup this summer. Chris Wood will lead the line in North America and look to replicate Wynton Rufer who is among the most successful players in New Zealand’s history.

10

Spain

7 Major Trophies

Spain wouldn’t have made it onto this list if it wasn’t for the dominance they had over international football under Vicente del Bosque in the early 2010s. After a Fernando Torres chip saw off Germany in the Euro 2008 final, La Roja then retained that title in 2012 after also adding the small achievement of their first World Cup win in between.

That team, containing the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa, were impossible to touch and will be remembered as one of the greatest sides the game has ever seen. Death by a thousand passes doesn’t even do the style of play justice. Spain won Olympic Gold in 1992 and Euro 1964. The past decade wasn’t the most glorified era in the country’s history until Nations League success in 2023 was followed by another European Championship title one year later. The European side could now be poised for another era of dominance.

9

Egypt

7 major trophies

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Egypt were once one of the most feared African teams around, as shown by their past successes in the continent’s showpiece event, the Africa Cup of Nations. All seven of their major trophies have come in this competition, although the latest was in 2010.

Mohamed Salah was unable to add to that in recent times, coming ever so close in 2022 but losing out to Senegal in the final. Egypt is the only African nation to make it onto this list after sustaining a steady level of success since winning the first-ever AFCON in 1957.

8

Italy

7 major trophies

Heading into Euro 2024, it’s only right that the defending champions feature on this list. Italy claimed the prestigious trophy after a penalty shootout victory over Gareth Southgate’s England in the Three Lions’ own backyard. That triumph at Wembley Stadium was the seventh major honour in the country’s history.

It also put a 14-year trophy drought to an end after another penalty shootout success, in the World Cup final against France in 2006. This added to the three other times Gli Azzurri lofted the biggest prize in football in the air, with two back-to-back triumphs in the 1930s. In between those two World Cup wins, Italy won Olympic Gold in 1936, making this the most successful era of their football legacy.

7

France

9 major trophies

France were so close to successfully defending the World Cup in 2022 as they were beaten by Argentina on penalties in the final. Kylian Mbappe was incredible for the nation just four years after bursting onto the international scene in Russia.

He is the latest world superstar to come from the conveyor belt of talent coming out of France. Zinedine Zidane was the star of the show for the first success in the World Cup 20 years before they repeated the achievement. A collection of European Championships, Olympic Games triumphs and a Nations League victory in 2021 just add to the bigger prizes in the French trophy cabinet.

6

Germany

9 major trophies

Germany are heading into Euro 2024 on home turf with the hopes of breaking into double figures for major honours won. Joachim Low guided the men in white and black to a fourth World Cup one decade ago as a late Mario Gotze winner saw off Argentina. All of their triumphs in the tournament have been separated by around 20 years, proving the decades of quality churned out by Die Mannschaft.

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Julian Nagelsmann will look to add to the most recent piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet, the 2017 Confederations Cup. They now find themselves in a race with France to become the outright most successful European side. Germany have the joint-most European Championships along with Spain.

5

United States

10 major trophies

For being one of the most populated nations in the world, the United States of America have struggled to produce too many world-class stars. This hasn’t stopped them from becoming one of the more decorated nations on the planet.

Back-to-back CONCACAF Nations League successes have helped USMT’s cause significantly in these rankings. They haven’t fared well in World Cup tournaments, with their best finish in the competition coming in the first iteration all the way back in 1930, as USA finished in third place. The next team on this list is one of the biggest reasons behind the United States’ failure to amass a large collection of gold over the years because of an intense rivalry between the two.

4

Mexico

15 major trophies

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Mexico have a long and storied history in the beautiful game. From their very first trophy in 1965, they have amassed 13 CONCACAF Championships with the most recent coming in 2025.

Mexico are winners of the Confederations Cup, which they lifted in 1999. Miguel Zepeda was the star of the show as he netted a brace for his country in a thrilling 4-3 final success against Brazil. They also won their first CONCACAF Nations League in 2025. El Tricolor are always a joy to watch at the World Cup but rarely threaten the favourites in the competition.