It's fair to assume Xherdan Shaqiri owns a pretty big trophy cabinet.
The Switzerland international, 31, has won 18 trophies during his career - including seven league titles and two Champions Leagues - and has picked up more than 100 senior caps for his country. Yet one critic believes he doesn't deserve some of those medals.
Speaking after Liverpool won the Premier League title in the summer of 2020, veteran Swiss coach Arno Rossini suggested Shaqiri is not a genuine champion because he wasn't a key player for Jurgen Klopp's side or ex-club Bayern Munich, where he won nine honours.
"Xherdan is not a champion," said Rossini. "We certainly cannot say that he left his mark with the teams with which he won. Not with the big guys at least. He was the protagonist in Basel, certainly not at Bayern or Liverpool."
Shaqiri featured in just seven Premier League games for Liverpool during their title-winning campaign and often played a supporting role during his three seasons at Bayern. Yet the winger was a regular during his spells at Basel, Inter Milan and Stoke.
Rossini added: "Let’s say that over the years he has often followed the games of his teams as a spectator, sitting in the best places. And millions have also been paid for it.
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"This, taking everything into account, makes me think that the Swiss is not one who always gives his best. If not as owner, at least one important reserve role, from first choice on the bench, [he] would otherwise have managed to carve it [a place] out. Instead nothing.
"Only the crumbs, for a disheartening situation. Of course, Xherdan is filling the bulletin board and seeing his bank account grow dramatically; I don’t know how many, in ten years, will remember him thinking about the great teams in which he has played."
Where is Xherdan Shaqiri now?
Shaqiri stayed at Liverpool for the 2020/21 campaign but again found his minutes limited. The Swiss star failed to score in 14 Premier League appearances that term before deciding to quit Merseyside in the summer of 2021 when French side Lyon came calling.
Shaqiri failed to make much of an impact in Ligue 1, as he was shipped out to MLS side Chicago Fire just six months later. Yet Lyon did make a profit on the player. They reportedly received €6.5million from Chicago after paying Liverpool just €6m for his services.
The former Reds star recently finished his debut season stateside and it's been a decent one. He scored seven goals and provided six assists in 29 MLS games. Chicago, however, didn't have a great campaign - finishing 24th out of 28 clubs in the overall table.
Shaqiri is likely to stay in the MLS for another couple of seasons, at least. His existing deal doesn't expire until the end of the 2024 campaign and his recent form suggests he's made for that level. Will he pick up yet another winners' medal? Only time will tell.
