Why they rank here
The most complete statistical résumé the sport has produced, attached to its most aesthetically singular player. Messi holds the records for Ballons d'Or (8), goals for a single club (672 for Barcelona in 778 games), goals in a calendar year (91 in 2012), and assists in La Liga history, alongside 850+ career goals and 380+ assists as of the 2024-25 season — meaning he has been the best passer and the best scorer of his era simultaneously. He won four Champions Leagues and ten La Liga titles with Barcelona, anchoring the 2009 sextuple side and the 2011 team many rate the best in club history. The old asterisk — nothing with Argentina — was demolished by the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup, where his 7 goals and second Golden Ball made him the first player to win the award twice, and the 2024 Copa América. With 45+ senior trophies, he is also the most decorated player ever. Peak, longevity, achievement, influence: he leads on every axis but pure goal volume.
Career profile
Each bar shows how this athlete compares with the strongest in our all-time list for that metric.
Head-to-head
Compare career numbers side by side.