Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, and by many as the greatest footballer in history, 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 of any player. He is also the only player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball and FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball twice. Messi holds the records for the most goals in European club competitions (704), Europe’s Top Five Leagues (496), La Liga (474), Supercopa de España (14), UEFA Super Cup (3) and is also the first and only player in history to win five and six European Golden Shoes. He has scored 932 goals for club and country, including 126 international goals, 21 goals at the FIFA World Cup, 129 goals in the UEFA Champions League, and 6 goals in the FIFA Club World Cup throughout his professional career, making him the second-highest all-time goalscorer in mentioned career and competitions. Messi is also the player with the most official recorded assists in football history (426), international football (67), FIFA World Cup (12), Copa América (18), La Liga (192), Copa del Rey (33) and Supercopa de España (5). Collectively, Messi has won 45 senior trophies (including FIFA World Cup, Finalissima, Copa América, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Champions League) and 47 official trophies including youth-level honours (FIFA U-20 World Cup and Summer Olympics Gold Medal) in his career.
Collective awards Competitive trophies Main trophies
Season / yearCompetitionClub / national team2004–05La LigaBarcelona2005South American U-20 Championship Third placeArgentina U202005FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 , FIFA.com2005–06La LigaBarcelona2005–06UEFA Champions League2006Supercopa de España2006UEFA Super Cup Runner-up2007Copa América Runner-upArgentina2008Summer Olympics Gold MedalArgentina Olympic2008–09La LigaBarcelona2008–09Copa del Rey2008–09UEFA Champions League2009Supercopa de España2009UEFA Super Cup2009FIFA Club World Cup2009–10La Liga2010Supercopa de España2010–11La Liga2010–11Copa del Rey Runner-up2010–11UEFA Champions League2011Supercopa de España2011UEFA Super Cup2011FIFA Club World Cup2011–12Copa del Rey2012Supercopa de España Runner-up2012–13La Liga2013Supercopa de España2013–14Copa del Rey Runner-up2014FIFA World Cup Runner-upArgentina2014–15La LigaBarcelona2014–15Copa del Rey2014–15UEFA Champions League2015Supercopa de España Runner-up2015Copa América Runner-upArgentina2015UEFA Super CupBarcelona2015FIFA Club World Cup2015–16La Liga2015–16Copa del Rey2016Supercopa de España2016Copa América Runner-upArgentina2016–17Copa del ReyBarcelona2017Supercopa de España Runner-up2017–18La Liga2017–18Copa del Rey2018Supercopa de España2018–19La Liga2018–19Copa del Rey Runner-up2019Copa América Third placeArgentina2021Supercopa de España Runner-upBarcelona2020–21Copa del Rey2021Copa AméricaArgentina2021–22Ligue 1Paris Saint-Germain2022FinalissimaArgentina2022Trophée des ChampionsParis Saint-Germain2022FIFA World CupArgentina2022–23Ligue 1Paris Saint-Germain2023Leagues CupInter Miami2023U.S. Open Cup Runner-up2024Copa AméricaArgentina2024Supporters' ShieldInter Miami2025Leagues Cup Runner-up2025Eastern Conference (MLS)2025MLS Cup2026FIFA World Cup Runner-upArgentina2026Campeones CupInter Miami
Friendly trophies International friendly Argentina Copa Times of India: 2011 Superclásico de las Américas: 2017, 2019 Copa San Juan: 2019
Club friendly Barcelona Joan Gamper Trophy: 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Ramón de Carranza Trophy: 2005 Franz Beckenbauer Cup: 2007 Nelson Mandela Trophy: 2018 Memorial Artemio Franchi: 2008 Summer of Champions' Cup: 2012 International Champions Cup: 2017 United States Tournoi de Paris: 2012 Qatar Airways Cup: 2016 Chang Champions Cup: 2013
Paris Saint-Germain Riyadh Season Cup: 2023
Individual honours Selections for the best football player
World
Award 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 rule change in 1995.
The FIFA World Player of the Year was established in 1991.
FIFA Ballon d'Or
Year1st2nd3rd 2010 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) Xavi (Barcelona)Percentage 22.65% 17.36% 16.48% 2011 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Xavi (Barcelona)Percentage 47.88% 21.61% 9.23% 2012 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona)Percentage 41.17% 23.68% 10.91% 2013 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)Percentage 27.99% 24.72% 23.36% 2014 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)Percentage 37.66% 15.76% 15.73% 2015 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Neymar (Barcelona)Percentage 41.33% 27.76% 7.86%
Ballon d'Or
Year1st2nd3rd 2007 Kaká (Milan) Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)Points 444 277 255 2008 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Fernando Torres (Liverpool)Points 446 281 179 2009 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Real Madrid) Xavi (Barcelona)Points 473 233 170 2016 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)Points 745 316 198 2017 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Neymar (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)Points 946 670 361 2019 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)Points 686 679 476 2021 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain) Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Jorginho (Chelsea)Points 613 580 460 2023 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/Inter Miami) Erling Haaland (Manchester City) Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)Points 462 357 270
Nominated for Ballon d'Or: 2006, 2018, 2026
FIFA World Player of the Year
Year1st2nd3rd 2007 Kaká (Milan) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)Points 1047 504 426 2008 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Fernando Torres (Liverpool)Points 935 678 203 2009 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Real Madrid) Xavi (Barcelona)Points 1073 352 196
The Best FIFA Men's Player
Year1st2nd3rd 2016 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)Percentage 34.54% 26.42% 7.53% 2017 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Neymar (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)Percentage 43.16% 19.25% 6.97% 2019 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)Points 46 38 36 2020 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)Points 52 38 35 2021 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)Points 48 44 39 2022 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)Points 52 44 34 2023 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/Inter Miami) Erling Haaland (Manchester City) Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)Points 48 48 35
Nominated for The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2018, 2024
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Messi is the only player to date to have won the Golden Ball more than once. YearGolden BallSilver BallBronze Ball2014 Lionel Messi Thomas Müller Arjen Robben2022 Kylian Mbappé Luka Modrić2026 Rodri Lionel Messi Kylian Mbappé
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball
YearGolden BallSilver BallBronze Ball2009 Lionel Messi Juan Sebastián Verón Xavi2011 Xavi Neymar2015 Luis Suárez Lionel Messi Andrés Iniesta
FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball
YearGolden BallSilver BallBronze Ball2005 Lionel Messi John Obi Mikel Taye Taiwo
Other MARCA America Award (Most decorated player in football history) by Marca: 2024 The Ring Award (Best footballer of the year) by 433: 2021 FIFPro Young Player of the Year Award: 2006, 2007, 2008 Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year Award: 2015 Goal Best Player of the Year Award: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 Marca Best Player of the Year Award: 2017, 2018, 2019 The Guardian Best Footballer of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 FourFourTwo (FFT) Best Footballer of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 ESPN Best Forward of the Year: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 World Soccer Men's World Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022 World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008 Kicker World Player of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 ESPY Best Soccer Player of the Year: 2023, 2026 ESPY Best International Men's Soccer Player of the Year: 2019 Sofascore Best Player of the Year (The Absolute Statsman Award): 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Sofascore Veteran Award: 2023 ΕΘΝΟΣΠΟΡ Best Footballer of the Year: 2009 Dongqiudi (All Football) Player of the Year: 2019, 2021, 2022 Nubia Magazine World's Best Player of the Year: 2021 Best Player of the Decade (2010–2019) by Sporting News: 2019 Best Club Player of the Decade (2010–2019) by Sports Illustrated: 2019 Best Player of the Decade (2011–2021) by 90min: 2021 Best Player of the 21st Century by The Independent: 2019 Best Player of the 21st Century by FourFourTwo: 2022 Best Player of the 21st Century by O Globo: 2023 Best Player of the 21st Century by ESPN: 2024 Best Player of the 21st Century by Talksport: 2024 Best Player of the 21st Century by Goal: 2024 Best Player of the 21st Century by Canal+: 2026 Best Player of the last 25 years by FourFourTwo: 2020 Best Player of the last 25 years by OneFootball: 2025 Best Player of All Time by Voetbal International: 2017 Best Player of All Time by SPORTbible: 2022 Best Player of All Time by 90min: 2023 Best Player of All Time by Radio Times: 2023 Best Player of All Time by FourFourTwo: 2023 Best Player of All Time by The Mirror: 2023 Best Player of All Time by Marca: 2024 Best Player of All Time by Sports Illustrated: 2024 Best Player of All Time by BeSoccer: 2024 Best Player of All Time by Daily Mail: 2024 Best Player of All Time by The Athletic: 2025 Best Player of All Time by Sports Mole: 2025 Best Player of All Time by Sportsnaut: 2025 Best Player of All Time by GiveMeSport: 2026 Best Player of All Time by Bleacher Report: 2026 Best Player of All Time by Daily Sabah: 2026 AIPS Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 2026 IFFHS Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 2026 IFFHS World's Best Player: 2022 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 IFFHS World's Best Man Left Winger: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 IFFHS World's Best Man Central Left Midfielder: 2021, 2022, 2023 IFFHS World's Best Man Player of the Decade (2011–2020): 2021 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker of the Decade (2011–2020): 2021 IFFHS World's Best Man Player of All Time: 2025 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker of All Time (2006–2022): 2023
Listed in Goal 50 Best Players of the Year: 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 Listed in Marca 100 Best Players of the Year: 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Listed in The Guardian 100 Best Footballers of the Year: 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 Listed in FFT 100 Best Footballers of the Year: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Listed in ESPN FC 100 Best Forwards of the Year: 2023, 2024 Listed in ESPN FC 100 Best Wingers of the Year: 2025, 2026 Listed in AFS 50 Top Players of All Time: 2017 Shortlisted for FIFA World Cup Young Player Award: 2006