Lionel Messi has had the most extraordinary footballing career. He has grown from an unkempt, boyish and somewhat innocent starlet to a wise, noble, and refined magician. He has dazzled football fans across the world, making headlines week in, week out for incredible feats of genius and footballing magic. He really is marvellous. To see just how great he is, let’s break down his career in numbers.
1.
Messi’s ranking in the best players of all-time debate. Simple.
7:
Ballon d’Or awards for this little legend. Also the number of Copa del Rey’s he won.
8:
Pichichi trophies, the award for the top scorer in La Liga. After his first top scorer award in 2010, for the seasons he didn’t win, he never finished lower than third in the race for top scorer.
16:
Dribbles completed in a Champions League match against Manchester United in 2008. The most ever in a Champions League game. The 20-year-old Argentine was a lightning rod that game, jinking past world class defenders on the world’s grandest stage as if it was nothing. With his long hair flowing and his green boots flashing, Messi proved why he was going to be the world’s best.
29:
Goals against Real Madrid and he has scored some classics. That mazy solo run in the Champions League at the Bernabeu in 2011 and the last minute dagger against Real in their backyard in 2017 will live forever in the minds of all football fans.
36:
The age that Lionel Messi has turned today. Happy Birthday, Leo! Also the number of hat-tricks that the magician scored in La Liga, a record number.
38:
Goals against Sevilla, his favourite side to play against as he is most prolific against the Andalusian side.
40:
Most different opponents scored against in UEFA Champions League history. Only 32 teams compete in the Champions League each year and at most Messi would have the opportunity to face seven different teams a season. So more or less, he has scored against almost every Champions League opposition he has faced.
50:
La Liga goals in 2011/12. No one has ever scored more in one season in Europe’s top five leagues. Legendary.
57:
Career hat-tricks. Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, the next closest player to Messi’s 57 is Robert Lewandowski with 29, around half his total.
60:
Direct free-kicks scored. Can you bend it like… Messi?
91:
Goals scored in 2012. It seems preposterous to think this will ever be broken. He was scoring goals for fun.
Lionel Messi scoring 91 goals in one year https://t.co/xMb6F47kIA pic.twitter.com/njGXXv04fE
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) June 22, 2023
129:
Champions League goals. He also has four Champions Leagues to his name.
175:
National team appearances. He has cemented himself as a hero in Argentina forever. Copa America won, World Cup won and countless memories created.
357:
Official career assists. Incredible. The second highest goalscorer of all-time is also the most decorated assister in the history of the sport. Is there anything Messi can’t do?
474:
La Liga goals. The most ever. Enough said.
807:
Career goals scored for Barcelona, PSG and Argentina, and by jove he has scored some impressive ones!
Lionel Messi's longevity at the top of world football 🐐 pic.twitter.com/GSNwp3z1x3
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 22, 2023
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
