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List of career achievements by Lionel Messi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has been awarded throughout his career a total of eight Ballon d'Or awards and three The Best FIFA Men's Player awards, the most for any player. He holds the record for the most goals in La Liga (474), the Supercopa de España (14), the UEFA Super Cup (3) and is the player with the most official recorded assists in football history (389).[1][2] He has scored 875 goals for club and country throughout his professional career and is also the first and only player in history to win five and six European Golden Shoes. During his football career, he won a record 45 collective trophies.[note 1]

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Collective awards

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Lionel Messi raising the World Cup in 2022 after the final match v France
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Friendly competitions

Argentina

Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain

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Individual honours

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Selections for the best player, best playmaker or best forward

World

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Messi, the player with the most Ballons d'Or in football history

Awards ceremonies to crown the best player of the world have been organized annually since 1955, when the inaugural Ballon d'Or awarding took place. The Ballon d'Or was presented to the player who had been voted to have performed the best over the previous year, and was established by French journalist Gabriel Hanot. Originally, votes could only be awarded to European players before a 1995 rule change.

The FIFA World Player of the Year was established in 1991.

FIFA Ballon d'Or
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Ballon d'Or
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FIFA World Player of the Year
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The Best FIFA Men's Player
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
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FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball
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Messi accepting the Golden Ball award alongside future teammate Neymar after the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup final
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Other

Europe

UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award

According to UEFA, the award "recognise[s] the best player, irrespective of his nationality, playing for a football club within the territory of a UEFA member association during the previous season."[109] Players are judged by their performances in all competitions, domestic and international, and at club and national team levels throughout the season.[109]

In the past, the award was solely decided by a panel of 53 leading sports journalists.[110] In 2018, however, UEFA added 80 coaches, from the clubs that participated in the group stages of that year's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, to its jury. The amount of journalists selected by the European Sports Media association was also increased to 55, representing each of UEFA's member associations.[111]

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Champions League Forward of the Season

Champions League positional awards were introduced in 2017 to "recognise the season's best player in each position in Europe's premier club competition".[116]

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Other

Spain

La Liga Awards
Other
Barcelona

France

Ligue 1 Awards

United States

Major League Soccer Awards
Leagues Cup Awards
Inter Miami

Goalscoring

European Golden Shoe

The European Golden Shoe is awarded to the top goalscorer in Europe. It is awarded based on a weighted points system that allows players in tougher leagues to win even if they score fewer goals than a player in a weaker league. Goals scored in the top five leagues according to the UEFA coefficients rankings are multiplied by a factor of two, and goals scored in the leagues ranked six to 21 are multiplied by 1.5.

Since the points system was established in 1996, Messi is the only player to win the award a record six times and also the only one to win it with a record 100 points (season 2011–12). Messi was also the first player to win the award five times.[175][176][177]

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UEFA Champions League top scorer

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Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation,[178] UEFA,[179] WorldFootball.net[180]

All-time

Cristiano Ronaldo is the UEFA Champions league all-time top goalscorer with 140 goals while Messi is second with 129 to his name.[181] The pair had broken each other's record over the course of 2015, after Messi surpassed the previous recordholder, Raúl, in November 2014.[182] Ronaldo opened a gap in the 2015–16 season when he became the first player to score double figures in the group stage of the Champions League, setting the record at 11 goals.[183]

As of 6 May 2025
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Source: WorldFootball.net[181]

La Liga top scorer

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All-time
As of 4 June 2023
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Source: WorldFootball.net[185]

Hat-tricks

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Messi scored his first international hat-trick against Switzerland in February 2012.
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4 Scored 4 goals
5 Scored 5 goals

Other performances

Some of these accolades are shared with other players.

Top goalscorer
Goal of the tournament

Top assist provider

Inclusions for team of the season or tournament

International

Awarded by international football federations
Other

Spain

La Liga Awards

Selections for international sports personality of the year

Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year

The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual award ceremony honouring remarkable individuals from the world of sports along with the greatest sporting achievements throughout the year.[270] Messi is the athlete that received the most nominations overall (8—tied with Tiger Woods). In 2020, Messi became the first footballer to win the award,[271] and in 2023 received it for the second time.

Others

Selections for national sports personality of the decade

Argentine Athlete of the Decade
Argentine Footballer of the Decade

Selections for national sports personality of the year

Argentine Sportsperson of the Year
Argentine Footballer of the Year
  • Olimpia de Plata: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023[294]

Man of the match awards

UEFA Champions League final
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UEFA Super Cup
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FIFA Club World Cup Final
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2010 FIFA World Cup
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2011 Copa América
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2014 FIFA World Cup

Source: FIFA[302]

2015 Copa América
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Copa América Centenario
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2018 FIFA World Cup
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2019 Copa América
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2021 Copa América
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2022 Finalissima
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2022 FIFA World Cup
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2024 Copa América
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Other


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Records

As of 17 August 2025[313]

World records

  • Most FIFA World Player of the Year/FIFA Ballon d'Or/Best FIFA Men's Player Awards: 8 (2009–2012, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023)[314][315]
  • Most Ballons d'Or: 8 (2009–2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)[316]
  • Most The Best FIFA Men's Player awards: 3 (2019, 2022, 2023)[317]
  • Most consecutive Ballons d'Or: 4 (2009–2012)[318]
  • Youngest two-time, three-time, four-time, five-time, six-time, seven-time and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner: aged 23, 24, 25, 28, 32, 34 and 36 years old[318]
  • Largest gap between first and last Ballon d'Or awards: 14 years (2009–2023)
  • First player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year/FIFA Ballon d'Or/Best FIFA Men's Player Award in three different decades: 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
  • First player to win the Ballon d'Or in three different decades: 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
  • Guinness World Record for top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year (official goals): 91 goals in 2012[319]
  • Most official goals for a single club: 672, for Barcelona[320]
  • Most recorded assists for a single club: 269, for Barcelona
  • Most goals in a calendar year (including club friendlies): 96 in 2012
  • Most goals in all club competitions in a calendar year: 79 in 2012[321]
  • Most goals in a club season: 73 in 2011–12[322]
  • Most assists provided in a domestic league: 192, in La Liga
  • Most assists provided in a domestic league in a single season: 21 in 2019–20[x]
  • Most goals contributions in finals: 50 (35 goals and 15 assists)
  • Longest goalscoring run in a domestic league: 21 matches, 33 goals in 2012–13[323]
  • Only player to have won more than one FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014 and 2022[324]
  • Oldest player to win FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: aged 35 years and 178 days, in 2022[325]
  • Only player to have won more than one FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009 and 2011[326]
  • First player to have won more than one FIFA Club World Cup Final Most Valuable Player award: 2009 and 2011[326]
  • Only player to score 40+ goals in 12 consecutive seasons[327]
  • Only player to score 30+ goals in 13 consecutive seasons[328]
  • Only player to score and assist in six different club competitions in a calendar year: 2011
  • Only player to score 60+ goals in all competitions in 2 consecutive seasons: 2011–12 and 2012–13[329]
  • First player to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league: 2012–13[330]
  • Most appearances in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 17 (2007–2023)[211][212]
  • Most (official) assists provided in football history: 389[331]
  • Most (official) goal contributions in football history: 1,264[332]
  • Most hat-tricks for national team: 10[y][333][334]
  • Most assists provided in all international competitions, including friendlies: 58[z][335][336]
  • Most appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals: 26 (3 in 2006, 5 in 2010, 7 in 2014, 4 in 2018, 7 in 2022)[337]
  • Most appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals as captain: 19 (1 in 2010, 7 in 2014, 4 in 2018, 7 in 2022)[337]
  • Most minutes played at the FIFA World Cup finals: 2,314[325]
  • Most FIFA World Cup matches scored in: 11[aa][325]
  • First player to score in all five rounds of a FIFA World Cup (group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, final): 2022[325]
  • Most Man of the Match awards won in a single FIFA World Cup: 5 in 2022
  • Only player to score in his teens, his twenties and his thirties in the history of the World Cup[338]
  • Most assists provided at the FIFA World Cup: 8 (1 in 2006, 1 in 2010, 1 in 2014, 2 in 2018, 3 in 2022)[339][ab]
  • Most assists provided in the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup: 6 (1 in 2010, 1 in 2014, 2 in 2018, 2 in 2022)[340][ac]
  • Only player to provide at least one assist in four and five different World Cup tournaments and most consecutive World Cup tournaments with at least one assist: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022[341]
  • Most Player of the Match awards won at the World Cup finals: 11 (1 in 2010, 4 in 2014, 1 in 2018, 5 in 2022)
  • Most total dribbles completed at the World Cup finals: 125[342]
  • Most goal contributions at the World Cup: 21[343]
  • Most goals at major international tournaments: 27 (13 goals at FIFA World Cup, 14 goals at Copa América)[344]
  • Most goal contributions at major international tournaments: 53 (13 goals and 8 assists at FIFA World Cup, 14 goals and 18 assists at Copa América)[345]
  • Most goal contributions at international tournaments' knockout matches: 29[346]
  • Only player to win a 'Best Player/Golden Ball' award at all official tournaments participated in (FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup and Copa América)[347][348]

Continental records

Europe

  • Most European Golden Shoe awards: 6 (2010, 2012–2013, 2017–2019)
  • Most consecutive European Golden Shoe awards: 3 (2017–2019)
  • Most goals scored in Europe: 704, in Spain (672) and France (32)
  • Most goals scored in Europe's top 5 leagues: 496, in La Liga (474) and Ligue 1 (22)
  • Fastest player ever to reach 300 goals in Europe's top 5 leagues: in 334 matches
  • Fastest player ever to reach 400 goals in Europe's top 5 leagues: in 435 matches
  • Most goals scored for a single club in the UEFA Champions League: 120 for Barcelona
  • Fastest player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League goals: in 123 matches
  • Most goals scored in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League match: 5, against Bayer Leverkusen on 7 March 2012[349][350][ad]
  • Most goals scored in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League quarter-final match: 4, against Arsenal on 6 April 2010[351][ae]
  • Most hat-tricks scored in the UEFA Champions League: 8[352][af]
  • Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League group stage: 80
  • Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League round of 16: 29[353]
  • Most goals scored in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie: 6, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2011–12[353]
  • Most different opponents scored against in UEFA Champions League history: 40[354]
  • Most goals in the UEFA Super Cup: 3[355][ag]
  • Most appearances in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 7 (2015–2021)
  • Most appearances in the ESM Team of the Season: 15 (2006, 2008–2013, 2015–2021, 2023)
  • Most UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season awards: 3 (2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19)
  • First player to win the UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season award for two consecutive seasons: in 2014–15 and 2015–16[202]
  • First player to score in 15 and 16 consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League[356]
  • Youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League: aged 28 years, 84 days[357]
  • Youngest player to score 50 goals in the UEFA Champions League: aged 24 years, 285 days[358]
  • Youngest player ever to score 400+ goals for a single European club: aged 27 years and 300 days, for Barcelona
  • Most dribbles completed in a UEFA Champions League match: 16, against Manchester United on 29 April 2008[359][360][ah]

Americas

  • Most international goals scored by a male CONMEBOL player: 112[361]
  • Most appearances in the Copa América: 39[362]
  • Most Copa América tournaments scored in: 6 (2007, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024)[ai][363]
  • Most assists in the Copa América: 18 (1 in 2007, 3 in 2011, 3 in 2015, 4 in 2016, 1 in 2019, 5 in 2021, 1 in 2024)[364]
  • Only player to provide at least one assist in five, six and seven different Copa América tournaments: 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024
  • Most Copa América matches won by a player: 24[365]
  • Most goals in CONMEBOL qualification matches for the World Cup: 34[366]
  • Most assists in CONMEBOL qualification matches for the World Cup: 13[367]
  • Most goals scored by a substitute in a Copa América match: 3, against Panama on 10 June 2016
  • Most Man of the Match awards won in Copa América matches: 15 (2 in 2011, 4 in 2015, 3 in 2016, 1 in 2019, 4 in 2021, 1 in 2024)
  • Most Copa América Best Player awards: 2 (2015 and 2021)
  • Most Copa América finals played in: 5 (2007, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024)[368]
  • Most appearances in the Copa América Team of the Tournament: 6 (2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024)

National records

Argentina

  • Most caps for Argentina: 193
  • Argentina all-time top goalscorer: 112 goals[369][370][371][372]
  • Top goalscorer for Argentina in a calendar year: 18 goals in 2022[373]
  • Only Argentina player to score against every CONMEBOL nation[374]
  • Youngest player to play for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: aged 18 years and 357 days in 2006[375]
  • Youngest player to score for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: aged 18 years and 357 days, against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006[375]
  • Youngest player to captain Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: aged 22 years and 363 days in 2010[376]
  • Youngest player to reach 100 caps for Argentina: aged 27 years and 361 days in 2015[377]
  • Most appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals: 26 (3 in 2006, 5 in 2010, 7 in 2014, 4 in 2018, 7 in 2022)
  • Most goals scored overall in FIFA World Cup finals: 13 (1 in 2006, 4 in 2014, 1 in 2018, 7 in 2022)
  • Most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup qualification campaign: 10 in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers
  • Most goals scored overall in FIFA World Cup qualification matches: 34[340]
  • Most goals scored in competitive matches: 61
  • Most goals scored in international friendlies: 51
  • Most direct free kick goals scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 11
  • Most hat-tricks scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 10[378]
  • Most Man of the Match awards won in a single FIFA World Cup: 5, in 2022
  • Most Man of the Match awards won in FIFA World Cup matches: 11 (1 in 2010, 4 in 2014, 1 in 2018, 5 in 2022)
  • Most FIFA World Cup tournaments played in: 5 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
  • Most FIFA World Cup tournaments scored in: 4 (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)[379]
  • Most FIFA World Cup tournaments with an assist: 5 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
  • Most Copa América tournaments played in: 7 (2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024)[380]

Spain

  • Most Best Player in La Liga awards: 6 (2009–2013, 2015)[381]
  • Most Best Forward in La Liga awards: 7 (2009–2013, 2015–2016)[381]
  • Most La Liga Player of the Month awards: 10 (January 2016, April 2017, April 2018 May 2018, September 2018, March 2019 May 2019, November 2019, February 2020, February 2021)
  • Most Pichichi Trophies: 8 (2010, 2012–2013, 2017–2021)[382]
  • Top goalscorer in La Liga: 474 goals[383]
  • Top assist provider in La Liga: 192 assists[384][385][387]
  • Top goalscorer in the Supercopa de España: 14 goals[388][389][390]
  • Most Supercopa de España finals scored in: 7[391]
  • Most goals scored in a La Liga season: 50 in 2011–12[392]
  • Most assists in a La Liga season: 21 in 2019–20[393][aj]
  • Most braces scored in La Liga: 116[394]
  • Most hat-tricks scored in La Liga: 36[395]
  • Most hat-tricks scored in a La Liga season: 8 in 2011–12[389][af]
  • Most teams scored against in a season: 19 in 2012–13[396][ak]
  • Most La Liga appearances by a foreign player: 520 matches
  • Only player to score consecutively against all opposition teams in La Liga: 19 matches, 30 goals in 2012–13[397]
  • Most league home goals in a season (38 matches, 19 home matches): 35 in 2011–12[398]
  • Most league away goals in a season (38 matches, 19 away matches): 24 in 2012–13[399]
  • Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 27 in 2012–13[400]
  • Most league home matches scored in a season (38 games): 16 in 2011–12[398]
  • Most league away matches scored in a season (38 games): 15 in 2012–13[401]
  • Most different opponents scored against in La Liga history: 38[402]
  • Most consecutive away league matches scored in: 13 (20 goals from matchday 8 to matchday 33 in 2012–13)[401]
  • Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: 2017–18, 2018–19 and 2019–20[al]
  • Most stadiums scored at: 38[403]
  • First player to score in 15, 16 and 17 consecutive seasons[404][405]
  • Only player to score 20+ goals in 10, 11, 12 and 13 consecutive seasons[406][407][408]
  • Only player to score 30+ goals in 7 different seasons[409][410]
  • Only player to score 10+ goals in 13, 14 and 15 consecutive seasons (from 2006–07 to 2020–21)[411][412]
  • First player to reach 300 La Liga goals[413]
  • First player to reach 350 La Liga goals[414]
  • First player to reach 400 La Liga goals[415]
  • First player to reach 450 La Liga goals[416]
  • First player to reach 150 La Liga assists[384]
  • Youngest player to score 200 goals in La Liga: aged 25 years and 7 months[417]
  • Most La Liga titles won by a non-Spanish individual: 10 (all with Barcelona)
  • Most La Liga victories: 383[418][419][385]
  • Most appearances in a Copa del Rey final: 10 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
  • Most Copa del Rey finals scored in: 7 (2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)[420]
  • Most assists provided in Copa del Rey finals: 6 (1 in 2009, 2 in 2016, 1 in 2017, 2 in 2018)
  • Most dribbles completed in a La Liga match: 15, against Real Betis on 4 November 2007[421]
  • Most dribbles completed in a Copa Del Rey match: 23, against Villarreal on 31 January 2008[422]
  • Most goals scored from direct free kicks in La Liga: 39[423]
  • Most goals scored in La Liga in a calendar year: 59 goals in 2012[424]

United States

Club records

Barcelona

  • Most trophies won as a Barcelona player: 35[427]
  • Top goalscorer in official competitions: 672 goals[428][429][430]
  • Top goalscorer including friendlies: 709 goals[428][429]
  • Top goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League: 120 goals[428][429]
  • Top goalscorer in European competitions: 123 goals[428][429]
  • Top goalscorer in international competitions: 128 goals[428][429]
  • Top goalscorer in El Clásico: 26 goals[431][an]
  • Top goalscorer in the Derbi barceloní: 25 goals[432][433]
  • Top goalscorer in the Athletic–Barcelona clásico: 29 goals[434]
  • Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions: 48[428]
  • Most goals scored from a free kick in official competitions: 50[435][436]
  • Most home goals scored in a single season in all competitions: 46 in 2011–12[390]
  • First player to be top goalscorer in four, five, six, seven and eight La Liga seasons (2009–10, 2011–13, 2016–21)[428]
  • Most assists as a Barcelona player in all competitions: 269
  • Most assists in El Clásico: 14 assists[437]
  • Most matches won with the team: 542[438]
  • Most La Liga matches won by a Barcelona player: 383[439][440][385]
  • Most appearances in official competitions: 778[441]
  • Most appearances in La Liga: 520[442]
  • Most appearances in the Copa del Rey: 80[443]

Inter Miami

  • Top goalscorer in official competitions: 59 goals[444]

Other records

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See also

Footnotes

  1. According to FC Barcelona,[3] FIFA,[4] Major League Soccer,[5] the Royal Spanish Football Federation,[6] and multiple media outlets,[7][8][9] Messi also won the 2005 Supercopa de España, bringing his Barcelona trophy total to 35—and his career total to 46.[10] However, this particular trophy is not credited here since Messi was out of the squad and did not feature in any of the two games against Real Betis.[11][12]
    • As per the Rules of Allocation (art. 12), Lionel Messi (Argentina) won the Award on the basis of the votes cast by the men's national-team captains.
  1. Ronaldo additionally scored one goal[184] in four qualification matches.
  2. Shared with Jonas.
  3. Shared with Luís Fabiano.
  4. Shared with Cristiano Ronaldo.
  5. Shared with four other players.
  6. Shared with Wissam Ben Yedder.
  7. Shared with Adriano.
  8. Shared with Luis Díaz.
  9. Shared with four other players.
  10. Shared with Luis Suárez.
  11. Shared with Pablo Fornals and Luis Suárez.
  12. Shared with Pablo Hernández.
  13. Shared with Chory Castro.
  14. Shared with Luis Suárez.
  15. Shared with Jorge Valdivia.
  16. Shared with fifteen other players.
  17. Shared with four other players.
  18. Includes Best club XI and Best international XI.
  19. As the 12th player.
  20. In 2009 UEFA awarded two man of the match awards. Xavi was named as UEFA's Man of the Match, whereas Messi received Fan's Man of the Match award.
  21. In 2011 UEFA awarded two Man of the Match awards. Messi was named as UEFA's and Fan's Man of the Match.
  22. "Leo Messi misses penalty in Copa America final defeat" received 13 percent (%) of the total votes cast, finishing on a third-place in the voting.[312]
  23. Shared with Thomas Müller.
  24. Shared with Landon Donovan.
  25. Shared with Miroslav Klose.
  26. Shared with Diego Maradona and Pelé; different sources give Pelé between 8 and 10 assists.
  27. Shared with Pelé.
  28. Shared with fourteen other players.
  29. Shared with Cristiano Ronaldo.
  30. Shared with seven other players.
  31. Shared with Neymar and Javier Zanetti.
  32. Shared with Zizinho.
  33. Shared with Míchel in 1987–88.
  34. Along with Luis Suárez.
  35. Shared with Jason Kreis and Carlos Vela.
  36. Does not include a goal scored in the 2017 International Champions Cup.
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References

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