Lionel Messi

• Most career goals at a single club

  672 goals for Barcelona between 2004 and 2021 — more than any player at any single club in history.

• Most goals in a single calendar year

  91 goals across club and country in 2012, breaking Gerd Müller's 1972 record.

• Most goals against a single opponent

  32 career goals against Sevilla — the most by any player against a single opponent in football history.

• Most direct free-kick goals in modern football

  71 direct free-kick goals — most of any active player and one of the highest career totals on record.

• Most goals scored in five consecutive seasons

  Scored 50+ in five separate seasons for Barcelona — no other player has scored 50+ in even two.

• Most goals in a single Champions League match

  Five goals against Bayer Leverkusen on 7 March 2012 — the only player ever to do it.

• Most Champions League hat-tricks

  Tied with Ronaldo on eight — the joint-most in the competition's history. Listed under Messi alphabetically.

• Most goals in La Liga history

  474 La Liga goals — the all-time competition record.

• Most assists in La Liga history

  More than 190 La Liga assists — also the all-time competition record.

• Most El Clásico goals

  26 goals in El Clásico — the most by any player in the fixture's history.

• Most Ballon d'Or wins

  Eight wins (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023) — more than any other player.

• Most European Golden Shoes

  Six European Golden Shoes — the most of any player in the award's history.

• Most FIFA Best / World Player of the Year awards (combined)

  Three FIFA Best awards plus three FIFA World Player wins — six in total, more than any other player.

• Most Ballon d'Or top-three finishes

  17 top-three finishes between 2007 and 2023 — Ronaldo has 13.

• Most goal contributions in a single World Cup knockout run

  11 goal involvements (7 goals + 4 assists) on the way to winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

• Only player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice

  Adidas Golden Ball in 2014 and again in 2022 — a unique feat in tournament history.

• Most goals in a single Copa America

  Joint-record holder for goal involvements in a single Copa America (Copa 2021 — 4 goals, 5 assists).

• Most goals in a single La Liga season

  50 La Liga goals in 2011–12 — still the single-season top-flight record.

• Most goals in a single European top-five season

  73 goals for Barcelona in 2011–12 (all competitions) — the single-season club-football record.

• Oldest Ballon d'Or winner of the 21st century

  Won his eighth Ballon d'Or aged 36 in 2023.

• Most years on the Ballon d'Or shortlist

  On the Ballon d'Or shortlist every year from 2006 to 2024 — the longest active streak.

See every record on both sides →