How Lionel Messi’s major tournament record compares to Diego Maradona’s
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest football of all time, but throughout his entire career he’s struggled to get out of the shadow of Argentinian icon Diego Maradona.
Maradona’s heroic performances at the 1986 World Cup are legendary. His individual displays as Argentina lifted the trophy are remembered as some of the most breathtaking in football history.
Messi played a pivotal role in delivering the Copa America for La Albiceleste in 2021 – ending the national team’s long 28-year wait for silverware – but he’s been unable to emulate Maradona and lead Argentina to the most prestigious trophy of them all.
Qatar 2022 almost certainly presents the 35-year-old’s last chance to win the World Cup. Argentina were talked up as one of the pre-tournament favourites, but they made a shocking start with a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. Messi’s international legacy now hangs in the balance.
But how does Messi’s record for Argentina compare with Maradona’s overall? We’ve taken a look at how the two legendary football compare on the biggest stages of all.
Using data from transfermarkt, we’ve compared his record at major international tournaments with Diego Maradona’s to see who comes out on top.
Lionel Messi
World Cup
Games: 20
Starts: 18
Sub appearances: 2
Goals: 7
Assists: 7
Penalties scored: 1
Minutes per goal: 245
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 285
Minutes per goal or assist: 122
🇦🇷🙏 “Just give it to him and pray.”#OnThisDay in 2014: Lionel Messi stepped up in injury time with this banger to beat Iran…#ARGURU | #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/FtIFf6ohST
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) June 21, 2021
Copa America
Games: 34
Starts: 31
Sub appearances: 3
Goals: 13
Assists: 17
Penalties scored: 3
Minutes per goal: 223.6
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 290.7
Minutes per goal or assist: 96.9
Total
Games: 54
Starts: 49
Sub appearances: 5
Goals: 20
Assists: 24
Penalties scored: 4
Minutes per goal: 231.1
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 288.5
Minutes per goal or assist: 105.0
Trophies won 1 (2021 Copa America)
Diego Maradona
World Cup
Games: 21
Starts: 21
Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 8
Assists: 8
Penalties scored: 0
Minutes per goal: 238.5
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 238.5
Minutes per goal or assist: 119.2
On This Day in 1986 🗓️
Diego Maradona scored arguably the greatest World Cup goal of all-time.pic.twitter.com/nCX4naHG9p
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) June 22, 2021
Copa America
Games: 12
Starts: 12
Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 4
Assists: 0
Penalties scored: 1
Minutes per goal: 270
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 360
Minutes per goal or assist: 270
Total
Games: 33
Starts: 33
Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 12
Assists: 8
Penalties scored: 1
Minutes per goal: 249
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 271.6
Minutes per goal or assist: 149.4
Trophies won: 1 (1986 World Cup)
#OnThisDay in 1986 .. Diego Maradona led #Argentina to win the FIFA #WorldCup final over West #Germany 3-2. 🇦🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/pUTvtMlTqI
— Classic Football (@classic_1863) June 29, 2019
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