Mamelodi Sundowns Remain Unmatched as PSL’s Most Successful Club Ahead of 2025/26 Season
Mamelodi Sundowns resumed pre-season training on Monday with their dominant status in South African football firmly intact. The reigning DStv Premiership champions are showing no signs of slowing down as they prepare for yet another demanding campaign, and their place at the top of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) success rankings remains unchallenged.
Having recently competed at the FIFA Club World Cup, Sundowns’ pre-season break was cut short. With just two weeks to prepare before their first fixture, the team went straight into action at Lucas Moripe Stadium, where they’ll host Richards Bay in the MTN8 quarterfinals on August 3.
The upcoming season promises to be intense, with Sundowns targeting a record-extending ninth consecutive league title. Alongside domestic ambitions, they will also compete in the CAF Champions League, Carling KnockOut, and Nedbank Cup. However, no matter the pressure, their unrivalled silverware haul from the PSL era gives them breathing room at the top of the all-time success list.
Since South Africa’s readmission to FIFA and the inception of the PSL in 1996, Sundowns have amassed an impressive 28 major trophies. This includes a record 15 league titles and a prestigious CAF Champions League crown, along with the African Football League and CAF Super Cup. The Brazilians have also claimed every major domestic cup, including the MTN8, Nedbank Cup, and Carling KnockOut.
Their closest challengers, Kaizer Chiefs, trail with 21 trophies. Chiefs’ recent Nedbank Cup triumph ended a decade-long drought, but their return to consistent silverware is still a work in progress. Despite being the early pace-setters in PSL history — with their first major title coming in 1997 (Rothmans Cup) — Amakhosi have only won four league championships in the modern era.
Chiefs can also boast continental honours, having lifted the 2001 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, but they remain seven trophies behind Sundowns. Bridging that gap would require a significant turnaround in fortunes — and a dramatic drop in Sundowns’ winning momentum.
Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, sit in third place with 17 trophies. The Buccaneers have also claimed four league titles and have enjoyed a resurgence under head coach Jose Riveiro, collecting five trophies during his tenure. However, the climb to the top still looks steep for the Soweto giants.
As Sundowns prepare to kick off the 2025/26 season, their dominance in South African football remains undisputed. With an ambitious squad, an experienced technical team, and a winning culture, the question isn’t whether they can be caught — but how long it will take for any rival to come close.
