Messi has won 8 Ballon d'Or awards and 2 World Cups compared to Neymar's 0 and 0, making him the statistically superior player by individual accolades. However, Neymar remains an elite playmaker and dribbler who excels in creating chances and entertaining play.
Lionel Messi vs Neymar — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Argentine forward widely considered the greatest footballer of all time with 8 Ballon d'Or awards and 2 World Cup titles.
Brazilian winger known for elite dribbling, playmaking, and 2 major trophies with PSG and Barcelona.
Ballon d'Or Awards. FIFA World Cup Titles. International Goals. Career Goal Ratio (Goals per Game). Copa América Titles. Peak Dribbling Success Rate (2010-2012). Assists (International Career)
Messi emerges as the superior all-around player with significantly more individual honors, World Cup success, and consistent goal-scoring throughout his career. Choose Messi if you value proven excellence across decades, multiple major tournament wins, and the greatest individual accolades in football history. Choose Neymar if you prioritize entertainment value, elite playmaking ability, and a versatile attacking style that can create from anywhere on the field.
Lionel Andrés Messi: 805+ | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 139 goals
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 awards | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 (2022) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 300+ | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 68 assists
Lionel Andrés Messi: 32.5 | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 900+ | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 0.82 per game | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 37 | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 32 years old (born 1992)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2,600 million (social media followers) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A (person) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 21 years professional career (2004-2025) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 15-20 years (2005-2020 prime years) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: Career total $600,000,000 | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 Ballon d'Or awards | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 awards | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0 awards
Lionel Andrés Messi: 106 goals in 180 appearances | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 79 goals in 124 appearances
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 titles (2022, 1986) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0 titles (finalist 2014)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 42 assists in 180 games | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 33 assists in 124 games
Lionel Andrés Messi: 807 goals | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 420+
Lionel Andrés Messi: 106 goals | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 79 goals in 124 caps
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 goal, 3 assists (2022, age 35) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 35 major trophies | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 21 years (2004-2025) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 8 consecutive (2008-2015) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: Playmaker-forward hybrid; creator of goals for teammates (336+ assists) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 0.73 goals/game | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0.64 goals/game
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 titles (2021, 2024) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0 titles (finalist 2007)
Successful Dribbles Per Game (Peak Era 2010-2012)
Lionel Andrés Messi: 71% success rate | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 68% success rate
Lionel Andrés Messi: 180 appearances | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 124 appearances
Lionel Andrés Messi: 820+ goals | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 4 | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 16 La Liga titles | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 73 goals (2011-12 season) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 Copa América (2021, 2024) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 807 goals | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 192 assists | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 280+
Lionel Andrés Messi: 13 years (2008-2021 peak) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 10 titles | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 823 | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 21 (2004-2025) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 805 goals | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 180 appearances | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 1 championship (2022) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 2 titles (2021, 2024) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: 92 goals (2012) | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: N/A
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 715 games
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0.61 goals/game
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0.36 assists/game
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 175 cm
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 693 combined
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 32 km/h
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 94/100
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 32
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 18.5%
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 85/100 (CAM, Al-Hilal)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 280+ goals
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 85+ assists
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0 titles
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 2 titles
Estimated Career Games Missed (Injuries)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 150+ games
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 32.5 km/h
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 8.2 dribbles
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 0.44
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 2.8
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 31 titles
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 400+ club goals, 79 international (479 total)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 1 title (2015 with Barcelona)
Major Trophy Count (Club & International)
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 15 trophies
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 65+ assists
Lionel Andrés Messi: N/A | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: 6 selections (2011, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022)
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior — Wikipedia
How to choose between Lionel Andrés Messi and Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
Compare Lionel Andrés Messi vs Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
Lionel Messi vs Neymar — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Lionel Messi vs Neymar. Contains 75 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Lionel Messi vs Neymar — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Lionel Messi vs Neymar.
Who is the better footballer, Messi or Neymar?
Messi is statistically superior with 8 Ballon d'Or awards (Neymar has 0), 2 World Cup titles (Neymar has 0), and 106 international goals versus 79. However, 'better' depends on criteria: Messi excels in consistency and individual accolades; Neymar offers superior dribbling entertainment and playmaking from wide positions. Most experts rank Messi higher overall.
Why has Neymar never won a Ballon d'Or despite being elite?
Neymar played simultaneously with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during the peak voting years (2010-2018), when these two dominated the award. Additionally, Neymar's lack of major tournament wins (no World Cup, Copa, or Champions League titles as primary player) and his inconsistent availability due to injuries (46+ major injuries) limited his claim relative to peers who delivered trophies.
Both are elite dribblers, but Neymar edges Messi in pure dribbling entertainment and flair. Neymar averaged 1.1+ dribbles per game in peak years versus Messi's 0.9, with both maintaining 65%+ success rates. Messi's dribbling is more efficient (leading to goals/assists), while Neymar's is more visually spectacular with more attempts per game.
What is Neymar's career achievement compared to Messi?
Neymar has 79 international goals, 33 assists, 124 appearances, 2 Olympic gold medals (2016), and Champions League titles (with Barcelona and PSG), but no World Cup, Ballon d'Or, Copa América, or sustained individual honors. Messi has 106 goals, 42 assists, 180 appearances, 8 Ballon d'Or awards, 2 World Cups, and 2 Copa América titles.
Who has the better international record?
Messi significantly outperforms with 106 goals in 180 games (0.73 per game) and 2 World Cup victories, versus Neymar's 79 goals in 124 games (0.64 per game) with no World Cup titles. Messi's 2022 World Cup MVP performance and 2024 Copa América success solidify his international dominance. Neymar reached the 2014 World Cup final but finished runner-up.
How to Choose Between Lionel Andrés Messi and Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
Ballon d'Or Awards: Lionel Andrés Messi has 8 awards (2009-2015, 2019, 2021), while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 0 awards.
FIFA World Cup Titles: Lionel Andrés Messi has 2 (2022, 1986), while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 0 (runner-up 2014).
International Goals: Lionel Andrés Messi has 106 goals in 180 appearances, while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 79 goals in 124 appearances.
Consider: Career Goal Ratio (Goals per Game)
Career Goal Ratio (Goals per Game): Lionel Andrés Messi has 0.73 goals/game, while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 0.64 goals/game.
Copa América Titles: Lionel Andrés Messi has 2 (2021, 2024), while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 0 (finalist 2007).
Consider: Peak Dribbling Success Rate (2010-2012)
Peak Dribbling Success Rate (2010-2012): Lionel Andrés Messi has 71% successful dribbles per game, while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 68% successful dribbles per game.
Consider: Assists (International Career)
Assists (International Career): Lionel Andrés Messi has 42 assists in 180 games, while Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has 33 assists in 124 games.