Lionel Messi holds several seemingly unbreakable records, most notably 91 goals in a calendar year (2012), a feat far beyond any other player, and an unprecedented 8 Ballon d'Or wins, including four consecutively. Other standout records include 672 goals for a single club (Barcelona), 474 La Liga goals, and scoring in 21 consecutive La Liga games, showcasing unmatched consistency and dominance across different eras and competitions.
He has scored 896 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 to date, he has won a record 46 collective trophies.
The "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) in football is a subjective debate, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are overwhelmingly considered the top contenders, with Messi often edging out due with recent major wins like the 2022 World Cup, though Ronaldo's longevity and dominance in multiple leagues also make a strong case, with many legends and publications naming Messi as #1. Other historical greats like Pelé and Maradona are also part of the conversation.
🐐 — 91 goals: Leo Messi alone in 2012 ✅ — 92 goals: Mbappe + Haaland in 2025 Despite their incredible form, Erling Haaland & Kylian Mbappé have combined for only one more goal in 2025 than Lionel Messi scored alone in 2012! 🥶 A reminder of how historic Messi's record breaking year truly was!
Lionel Messi's soccer career: Stats, trophies, honors
Messi will score 900th goal in 2026. Can he reach 1,000? Can he pass Ronaldo? Lionel Messi is never far from breaking his next record or hitting his next landmark, and he enters 2026 on the verge of yet another massive milestone in his incredible career: his 900th goal.
Ten years ago today, Lionel Messi helped himself to four goals against Espanyol, taking his league tally past 50. He would finish the domestic and European season with a combined 73. We relive the season he broke all records.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 800th club career goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing what no soccer player -- despite Pelé and Romário claiming otherwise when adding in friendly matches -- has ever officially achieved in competitive games: The ultimate milestone of 1,000 career goals.
127127. Pele extraordinarily scored 127 goals for Santos in one calendar year: 1959.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles as compared to Messi's four. However, his five Ballon d'Or wins pale in comparison to Messi's eight. Beyond their club laurels, both have also led their countries to glory on the world stage.
15 Best Dribblers in World Soccer—Ranked
As long as he stays healthy and the team does well, he can get there. So let's say he reaches 900 goals by the end of this year. If the sources are true, Messi can play for another 3 more years. For him to reach 1,000 career goals, he'll have to average 33.3333 goals per year to reach that milestone.
🗣️ "In fact, we contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris." "We presented him with an offer of 💲1.5 million euros, but the player rejected it because his family wanted to live in Miami." 🗣️ "It's surprising that a player could decline an offer for the sake of his family." He managed to convince his family, ...
In football (soccer), the 🐐 emoji stands for the "Greatest Of All Time," a term used to praise legendary players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, among others, for their unparalleled skill and impact on the sport, sparking ongoing debates about who truly deserves the title.
Ronaldo needs 47 to reach 1,000 career goals. With a recent average of around 45 goals a year and a role built for finishing, he is statistically well-placed to cross the mark if he stays on the pitch until 2027.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the first billionaire footballer. The valuation takes into account his career earnings, investments and endorsements - BBC.
A rumor suggested that Ronaldo performed 3,000 sit-ups daily to maintain his abs, but he dismissed this as exaggerated. As he prepared for CR7 Crunch Fitness, he clarified that he does sit-ups 4-5 times a week, with a minimum of 200-300 each session.
Cristiano Ronaldo is overcome with emotion after scoring his 900th career goal. The 39-year-old was also the first men's player in history to score 800 goals for club and country, according to the Olympics.
Cristiano Ronaldo after becoming the first player in history to score 800 club goals 🐐🥶
Winning four Stanley Cup titles (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988), Gretzky set records in both regular season and post-season play, including regular season goals (894), assists (1,963), points (2,857), and hat-tricks (50).
Cristiano Ronaldo is 𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑳𝑳 the 𝑶𝑵𝑳𝒀 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝒀𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑶 𝑺𝑪𝑶𝑹𝑬 𝟔𝟎+ 𝑮𝑶𝑨𝑳𝑺 𝑰𝑵 𝟒 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑺𝑬𝑪𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑽𝑬 𝒀𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑺 in the football history☝🏽🔝
Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has been considered one of the best players to have ever played the sport. He's earned the nickname, 'The GOAT,' the greatest of all time.
Lionel Messi's 50 La Liga Goals Season by Harry Cooney
Visualisation and analysis of the 50 league goals scored in a single season by the football GOAT, Lionel Messi.