Messi won more individual awards (8 Ballon d'Or vs Maradona's 2) and played in a more competitive modern era, while Maradona achieved greater single-tournament dominance by nearly single-handedly winning the 1986 World Cup.
Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Argentine forward with record 8 Ballon d'Or awards and 840+ career goals
Argentine forward who nearly single-handedly won 1986 World Cup and 2-time Ballon d'Or winner
Ballon d'Or Awards. International Goals. Club Career Goals. World Cup Performance (Single Tournament). Peak Playing Era Competitiveness. Career Longevity at Elite Level. Copa América Championships
Messi holds superior statistical records across nearly every metric and played in a significantly more competitive modern era, making him the more dominant player across his career. However, Maradona's 1986 World Cup remains the greatest single-tournament performance in football history, and his ability to elevate weaker teams showcases a different type of dominance. Choose Messi if evaluating overall career achievement and consistency; choose Maradona if judging transformative impact and single-tournament brilliance.
Lionel Andrés Messi: 840+ goals in 1,004 matches | Diego Armando Maradona: 346 goals in 754 matches
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 (2022) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 300+ | Diego Armando Maradona: 89 assists
Lionel Andrés Messi: 32.5 | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 900+ | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 0.82 per game | Diego Armando Maradona: 0.68 per game
Lionel Andrés Messi: 37 | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 awards | Diego Armando Maradona: 2 awards
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 World Cup (2022) | Diego Armando Maradona: 1 World Cup (1986)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 23 seasons (2003-2026) | Diego Armando Maradona: 14 seasons (1976-1991)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 10 La Liga titles | Diego Armando Maradona: 2 Serie A titles
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8.5 (group stage underperformance) | Diego Armando Maradona: 10 (near-perfect; 6 goals, 2 assists, 5 created goals)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 0.164 assists/match (195+ career assists) | Diego Armando Maradona: 0.227 assists/match (estimated 20+ assists per season peak)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2,600 million (social media followers) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A (person) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 21 years professional career (2004-2025) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 15-20 years (2005-2020 prime years) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: Career total $600,000,000 | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 Ballon d'Or awards | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 awards | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 106 goals in 180 appearances | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 title (2022) | Diego Armando Maradona: 1
Lionel Andrés Messi: 42 assists in 180 games | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 807 goals | Diego Armando Maradona: 345 goals
Lionel Andrés Messi: 97 goals in 180 appearances | Diego Armando Maradona: 34 goals in 91 appearances
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 goal, 3 assists (2022, age 35) | Diego Armando Maradona: 5 goals, 5 assists (1986, age 26)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 35 major trophies | Diego Armando Maradona: 15 major trophies
Lionel Andrés Messi: 21 years (2004-2025) | Diego Armando Maradona: 15 years (1976-1991)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 consecutive (2008-2015) | Diego Armando Maradona: 4 consecutive (1986-1989)
Lionel Andrés Messi: Playmaker-forward hybrid; creator of goals for teammates (336+ assists) | Diego Armando Maradona: Solo dribbler; direct impact on weaker squad elevation
Lionel Andrés Messi: 0.73 goals/game | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 titles (2021, 2024) | Diego Armando Maradona: 0
Successful Dribbles Per Game (Peak Era 2010-2012)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 71% success rate | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 180 appearances | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 820+ goals | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 16 La Liga titles | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 73 goals (2011-12 season) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 Copa América (2021, 2024) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 807 goals | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 192 assists | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 13 years (2008-2021 peak) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 10 titles | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 823 | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 21 (2004-2025) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 | Diego Armando Maradona: 0 titles
Lionel Andrés Messi: 805 goals | Diego Armando Maradona: 259 goals
Lionel Andrés Messi: 180 appearances | Diego Armando Maradona: 91 appearances
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 championship (2022) | Diego Armando Maradona: 1 championship (1986)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 titles (2021, 2024) | Diego Armando Maradona: 2 titles (1987, 1989)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 92 goals (2012) | Diego Armando Maradona: Data unavailable
Lionel Andrés Messi: 4 titles | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 58% (2011-2015) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 88% | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 23 years (2003-2026) | Diego Armando Maradona: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 1
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 34 goals in 91 caps
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 8 goals, 5 assists (tournament-winning performance)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 2 (Napoli 1990, 1991)
Copa Libertadores/South American Club Titles
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 0
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 1980-1990 (ages 20-30)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 91 caps
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 18 years (1976-1994)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 9 major titles
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 0.37 goals/match
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 91 matches
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 10 years (1978-1988)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 5 goals + 5 assists
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 34 international goals
1986/1970 World Cup Performance (Peak Tournament)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 6 goals, 5 assists in 1986
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 1976-1997
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Diego Armando Maradona: 0.37
How to choose between Lionel Andrés Messi and Diego Armando Maradona
Compare Lionel Andrés Messi vs Diego Armando Maradona
Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona. Contains 74 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Lionel Messi vs Diego Maradona.
Messi is statistically the better overall player with 8 Ballon d'Or awards, 840+ career goals, and 23-season elite peak. However, Maradona's 1986 World Cup (6 goals, 2 assists, 5 created goals in one tournament) remains the greatest individual tournament performance. Most experts rank them 1-2 interchangeably, with Messi ahead for sustained dominance and Maradona ahead for transformative single-tournament impact.
Did Maradona play against better defenders?
No. Maradona played in the 1980s-early 1990s when Serie A had elite defenders but fewer high-scoring seasons overall (average 24.2 goals/season top scorer). Messi played in a more offensively dominant era (2008-2020 La Liga averaged 73.4 goals/season) but faced more specialized defensive tactics designed specifically to stop him. Both faced world-class defenders appropriate to their era.
Both won 1 World Cup each (Maradona in 1986, Messi in 2022). However, Maradona's 1986 performance is widely considered superior—he scored 6 goals with 2 assists and created 5 critical goals, nearly single-handedly carrying Argentina. Messi's 2022 win was more team-dependent, though he scored 7 tournament goals and achieved his lifetime dream at age 35.
Messi is significantly better at club level with 840+ goals in 1,004 matches (83.6% goal-per-game rate) across Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami, versus Maradona's 346 goals in 754 matches (45.9% goal-per-game rate). Messi won 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League trophies. Maradona's Napoli success (1990 Serie A) is viewed as a greater team achievement despite fewer trophies.
Maradona elevated weaker teams more dramatically—transforming mid-table Napoli into Serie A champions in 1990 and nearly carrying Argentina past West Germany in 1986 with far inferior squad depth. Messi required world-class midfielders (Xavi, Iniesta) and strong supporting casts to achieve peak success, though he did lead Argentina to 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup victory with less elite teammates in his 30s.
How to Choose Between Lionel Andrés Messi and Diego Armando Maradona
Ballon d'Or Awards: Lionel Andrés Messi has 8 awards (2009-2015, 2019, 2021, 2023), while Diego Armando Maradona has 2 awards (1986, 1990).
International Goals: Lionel Andrés Messi has 97 goals in 180 appearances, while Diego Armando Maradona has 34 goals in 91 appearances.
Club Career Goals: Lionel Andrés Messi has 840+ goals across 1,004 appearances, while Diego Armando Maradona has 346 goals in 754 appearances.
Consider: World Cup Performance (Single Tournament)
World Cup Performance (Single Tournament): Lionel Andrés Messi has Won 2022 World Cup; 7 goals in tournament, while Diego Armando Maradona has Won 1986 World Cup; 6 goals in tournament; 2 assists.
Consider: Peak Playing Era Competitiveness
Peak Playing Era Competitiveness: Lionel Andrés Messi has 2008-2020 (La Liga had avg 73.4 goals/season top scorer), while Diego Armando Maradona has 1984-1994 (Serie A had avg 24.2 goals/season top scorer).
Consider: Career Longevity at Elite Level
Career Longevity at Elite Level: Lionel Andrés Messi has 23 seasons (2003-2026) at peak level, while Diego Armando Maradona has 14 seasons (1976-1991) at peak level.
Copa América Championships: Lionel Andrés Messi has 2 titles (2021, 2024), while Diego Armando Maradona has 2 titles (1987, 1989).