What Defines a Major Trophy in Football?
In football, a "major trophy" is silverware that carries real prestige and competitive significance for clubs. There are many competitions worldwide—leagues, domestic cups, super cups, tiered tournaments, and friendly events—but not all carry the same weight.
No official rule determines which trophies qualify as major; often, it comes down to fan views and the history tied to those prizes. Let's explore what counts as a major trophy across key football regions.
Major Trophies in England
- Premier League: The toughest and most esteemed prize in English club football.
- FA Cup: The oldest national knockout competition globally, established in 1871.
- EFL Cup (League Cup/Carabao Cup): A secondary knockout contest featuring the 92 EFL and Premier League clubs.
The Premier League and FA Cup are widely accepted as major trophies. The League Cup occupies an ambiguous spot; despite featuring top teams and a Wembley final, it’s often viewed as less prestigious, though it offers a European qualification slot.
European Major Trophies
- UEFA Champions League: The highest honor in European club football, involving champions and elite sides.
- UEFA Europa League: The secondary continental tournament with significant status.
- UEFA Conference League: Introduced in 2021 as a third-tier competition, it’s the newest and least prestigious European cup.
The Champions League stands as the ultimate prize, while the Europa League remains a respected achievement. The Conference League, despite being won by major clubs like Chelsea and Roma, does not hold the same stature.
Key Trophies in the USA
- MLS Cup: The postseason playoff championship, considered by many Americans as the league title.
- Supporters' Shield: Awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
- U.S. Open Cup: The oldest ongoing US competition since 1914, open to teams across levels.
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: The premier continental championship, granting access to the FIFA Club World Cup.
The MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup stand out as major trophies. The others have mainly domestic significance.
Competitions Not Viewed as Major
- Community Shield (England) and similar Super Cups: Annual matches between league champions and cup winners, seen as season openers.
- One-off Super Cups: UEFA Super Cup and equivalents like the DFL-Supercup or Supercopa.
- Pre-season and invitational tournaments: Friendly events without competitive stakes.
- Youth, reserve, and regional trophies: Contested by non-first-team squads.
There’s debate about tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup. Many argue these aren’t major trophies themselves, but qualifications from winning primary competitions make them noteworthy. For example, Chelsea hold the Club World Cup title until 2029, yet some fans question their status as world champions.
Super Cups and Community Shields act mostly as ceremonial curtain-raisers rather than full competitions. Youth and pre-season trophies lack the intensity of senior-level contests.
The Unique Sextuple Feat
Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern Munich in 2020 achieved an extraordinary sextuple, winning all three domestic trophies, both major European trophies, and the Club World Cup. While the two super cups individually aren’t major, combined with the others they symbolize unmatched dominance. This clean sweep transcends collecting six trophies—it stands as a single statement of control over all fronts.
