7 Undeniable Facts That Prove Messi Is the Greatest Footballer of All Time

The football GOAT debate has been a long-standing discussion in football circles. However, one name that stands out at the moment is Lionel Messi, a genius who has an unmatched football career with impressive stats.

Lionel Messi dominated every stage of the sport, from youth tournaments to the international stage, showcasing a remarkable prowess that is impossible to rival.

This article highlights seven undeniable facts that prove Messi is truly the greatest footballer of all time.

Messi didn’t emerge from nowhere. His brilliance for both club and country started at a very young age. In 2005, 18-year-old Lionel Messi led Argentina’s U-20 team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup, claiming both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in that tournament.

He scored his first senior goal for FC Barcelona that same year, becoming the youngest player to do so for the club at the time. As a teenager, he was already winning individual and collective accolades like:

• FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner

• U-20 World Cup Golden Ball

• U-20 World Cup Golden Boot

• Golden Boy Award 2005

His greatness didn’t stop at the junior level. He joined the Argentine senior national team and won two Copa America titles and a World Cup, emerging as the best player and top scorer for the team in these tournaments.

Winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the La Albiceleste ensured that there is nothing left for Messi that he hasn’t won. He is literally the only player to have truly won it all.

Talk about any other football legend, and I will tell you at least one award or trophy that has eluded him. For context, La Pulga (as fondly called by close friends) is the only player to have won both the Golden Boy award and the Ballon d’Or. This means that he won the most prestigious individual prize both in the junior and senior categories.

He is also the only player to have won the World Cup, UCL, club league title, Ballon d’Or, Golden Boot, and won the MVP at least once in those competitions he played for.

When it comes to attack in football, it’s either you’re creating the chances or scoring the goals. However, Leo Messi has redefined the role of the modern forward as a complete playmaker-scorer hybrid.

Imagine one player competing with great goal scorers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Suarez, and Harry Kane for the Golden Boot Award and at the same time, competing with Xavi, De Bruyne, and Iniesta for the Playmaker award.

Not only was he competing with these incredible players, but he was also dominating. He has 6 Golden Boots (the most) and 5 Playmarker awards (the most). In fact, he won both the Golden Boot and Playmaker award in the same year, in 2017.

I strongly doubt football fans will ever witness any other player achieve this incredible feat.

Leo’s balance between team success and individual brilliance is peerless in the history of football. He can be regarded as a perfect team and solo player.

Messi has 45 major trophies, which is the most gathered by an individual player. The greatest football player of all time also has the most individual award by a mile.

Among his countless individual accolades, here are some of the awards the ex-PSG superstar has won in his unbelievable career.

• 8 Ballon d'Or (most)

• 2 FIFA World Cup best player (most)

• 3 FIFA the best player (most)

• 1 Bravo award

• 6 Champions top scorer

• 6 Golden boots (most)

• 8 Pichichi (most)

• 9 LaLiga MVP (most)

• 2 World Cup Golden Ball (most)

• 2 Men's Player of the Year

• 2 Copa América MVP (most)

• 4 Golden Eleven awards

• 395 Man of the Match awards

• 2 Laureus World Sports Awards (only football player to win it)

Lionel Messi has set records so extraordinary, they may never be matched. Since his professional debut in Barcelona in 2005, the football icon has never gone without winning at least a trophy in a full season.

When the former PSG superstar completed his move to Inter Miami, a bottom team in the MLS at that time, many would think it was the end of winning trophies for him. However, Messi transformed the team and ensured they won their first trophy in 2023.

He also helped the American side qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for the first time. What the former PSG star does on the pitch speaks for itself, and we can undoubtedly agree that he is the greatest football player ever.

Here are some records Messi has set that may not be broken anytime soon:

• All-time top goalscorer in LaLiga (474)

• All-time top assist in football

• 91 goals in a calendar year

• Most goals in a LaLiga season (50 goals)

• Footballer with the most honors

• Most ballon d’or (8)

• Most golden boots (6)

After 20 years of professional football and at 38 years old in 2025, Messi is still in the conversation of the world's best player. He is proving that greatness for him isn’t just about peak moments but sustained excellence across decades.

He was the football's best player in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. His latest win was in 2023 with Inter Miami, making him the only player to have won the individual prize in a non-European team.

The GOAT won the individual best award with three different clubs (Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami).

Beyond the stats you see on the internet, you need to watch Leo play to understand why he is the most accomplished footballer. He is admired globally for his character, work ethic, and lasting influence on the modern game.

I watched Messi play, and I often wonder how he leaves defenders stunned and fans in awe. His dribbling, balance, creativity, vision, and decision-making are pure genius. This is why coaches who build their systems around him often succeed.

As a very skillful player, he is currently the player who holds the record of:

• Most successful dribbles

• Most chances created

• Best ball passer

Messi’s football career is at the highest level. From teenage prodigy to conquering the world, he has achieved everything and more. The Inter Miami star man has perfected the craft and has proven beyond doubt that he is the greatest football player of all time.

While being either the top goal scorer or the best playmaker in a season is achievable, being both at the same time is almost impossible. Messi did it, and that shows how unique he is and how blessed it is to have witnessed football at its finest.