# List of career achievements by Lionel Messi

* This article is part of a series about Lionel Messi
Argentine professional footballer
Career
International goals
Achievements
Rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo
New Maradona
Eponyms and public art
Cougar
Dog
Liolaemus messii
Sistine Chapel of Football
Media
Messi (2014)
Messi (2017)
Messi and Maud (2017)
Take the Ball Pass the Ball (2018)
Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend (2024)
Family
Antonela Roccuzzo
Maxi Biancucchi
Emanuel Biancucchi
Related
Hong Kong v Inter Miami
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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 (381). He has scored 854 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.

## Collective awards

| Season / year | Competition | Club / national team |
| 2004–05 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2005 | South American U-20 Championship Third place | Argentina U20 |
| 2005 | FIFA U-20 World Cup | Argentina U20 |
| 2005–06 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2005–06 | UEFA Champions League | Barcelona |
| 2006 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2006 | UEFA Super Cup Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2007 | Copa América Runner-up | Argentina |
| 2008 | Summer Olympics Gold Medal | Argentina Olympic |
| 2008–09 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2008–09 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2008–09 | UEFA Champions League | Barcelona |
| 2009 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2009 | UEFA Super Cup | Barcelona |
| 2009 | FIFA Club World Cup | Barcelona |
| 2009–10 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2010 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2010–11 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2010–11 | Copa del Rey Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2010–11 | UEFA Champions League | Barcelona |
| 2011 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2011 | UEFA Super Cup | Barcelona |
| 2011 | FIFA Club World Cup | Barcelona |
| 2011–12 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2012 | Supercopa de España Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2012–13 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2013 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2013–14 | Copa del Rey Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2014 | FIFA World Cup Runner-up | Argentina |
| 2014–15 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2014–15 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2014–15 | UEFA Champions League | Barcelona |
| 2015 | Supercopa de España Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2015 | Copa América Runner-up | Argentina |
| 2015 | UEFA Super Cup | Barcelona |
| 2015 | FIFA Club World Cup | Barcelona |
| 2015–16 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2015–16 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2016 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2016 | Copa América Runner-up | Argentina |
| 2016–17 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2017 | Supercopa de España Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2017–18 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2017–18 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2018 | Supercopa de España | Barcelona |
| 2018–19 | La Liga | Barcelona |
| 2018–19 | Copa del Rey Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2019 | Copa América Third place | Argentina |
| 2021 | Supercopa de España Runner-up | Barcelona |
| 2020–21 | Copa del Rey | Barcelona |
| 2021 | Copa América | Argentina |
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2022 | Finalissima | Argentina |
| 2022 | Trophée des Champions | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2022 | FIFA World Cup | Argentina |
| 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2023 | Leagues Cup | Inter Miami |
| 2023 | U.S. Open Cup Runner-up | Inter Miami |
| 2024 | Copa América | Argentina |
| 2024 | Supporters' Shield | Inter Miami |

### Friendly competitions
#### Argentina

* Copa Times of India: 2011
* Superclásico de las Américas: 2017, 2019
* Copa San Juan: 2019

#### 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
* Tournoi de Paris: 2012
* Summer of Champions' Cup: 2012
* International Champions Cup: 2017 United States
* Nelson Mandela Trophy: 2018

#### Paris Saint-Germain

* Riyadh Season Cup: 2023

## Individual honours
### Selections for the best player, best playmaker or best forward
#### World

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

| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 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

| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 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 |

##### FIFA World Player of the Year

| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 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

| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 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 |

##### FIFA World Cup Golden Ball

| Year | Golden Ball | Silver Ball | Bronze Ball | Ref(s) |
| 2014 | Lionel Messi | Thomas Müller | Arjen Robben | |
| 2022 | Lionel Messi | Kylian Mbappé | Luka Modrić | |

##### FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball

| Year | Golden Ball | Silver Ball | Bronze Ball |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi | Juan Sebastián Verón | Xavi |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi | Xavi | Neymar |
| 2015 | Luis Suárez | Lionel Messi | Andrés Iniesta |

##### Other

* Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
* Copa América Best Young Player: 2007
* FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
* Onze d'Or: 2009, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2017–18
** Onze d'Argent: 2008, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21
* MARCA America Award – The most decorated player in football history.
* ESPN Best Forward: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
* ΕΘΝΟΣΠΟΡ Best Footballer of the Year: 2009
* World Soccer Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022
* FourFourTwo Best Footballer of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
* The Guardian Best Footballer in the World: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022
* Goal 50: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
* Globe Soccer Awards Best Player of the Year: 2015
* FIFPro Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
* IFFHS World's Best Player: 2022
* IFFHS World's Best Man Player of the Decade: 2011–2020
* IFFHS Best Player of CONMEBOL: 2020, 2021, 2022
* IFFHS The Best Man CONMEBOL Player of the Decade: 2011–2020
* IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022
* IFFHS World's Best Playmaker of the Decade: 2011–2020
* IFFHS World's Best Playmaker of All Time: 2006–2022
* World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
* Dongqiudi Player of the Year: 2019, 2021, 2022
* Best Player of All Time by Voetbal International: 2017
* 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 Sports Illustrated: 2024
* 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 ESPN: 2024
* Best Player of the 21st Century by Talksport: 2024
* Best Player of the 21st Century by Goal.com: 2024
* Best Player of the last 25 years by FourFourTwo: 2020
* Best Player of the last 25 years by OneFootball: 2025
* 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 Year by 433 (The Ring award): 2021
* Shortlisted for Golden Foot: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024

#### 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." Players are judged by their performances in all competitions, domestic and international, and at club and national team levels throughout the season.
In the past, the award was solely decided by a panel of 53 leading sports journalists. 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.
| Season | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2010–11 | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Xavi (Barcelona) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) |
| Points | 39 | 11 | 3 |
| 2011–12 | Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) | Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively) | Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively) |
| Points | 19 | 17 | 17 |
| 2012–13 | Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich) | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) |
| Points | 36 | 14 | 3 |
| 2014–15 | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Luis Suárez (Barcelona) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) |
| Points | 49 | 3 | 2 |
| 2016–17 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) |
| Points | 482 | 141 | 109 |
| 2018–19 | Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) |
| Points | 305 | 207 | 74 |
| 2022–23 | Erling Haaland (Manchester City) | Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) | Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) |
| Points | 352 | 227 | 225 |

##### 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".
| Season | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2016–17 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Paulo Dybala (Juventus) |
| Points | 359 | 147 | 64 |
| 2017–18 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) | Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) |
| Points | 287 | 218 | 43 |
| 2018–19 | Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | Sadio Mané (Liverpool) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) |
| Points | 285 | 109 | 91 |

##### Other

* UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2008–09
* UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2008–09, 2018–19
* Champions League Player of the Week: MD5/2015–16, MD1/2016–17, MD3/2016–17, MD5/2016–17, R16/2017–18 (2nd leg), MD1/2018–19, MD2/2018–19, MD5/2018–19, MD10/2018–19, MD11/2018–19
** Nominated for the UEFA Player of the Week: 8/2016
* El País King of European Soccer: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
* Golden Boy Award: 2005
* Bravo Award: 2007
* JOE's Champions League Man of the Week: 45/2014, 48/2014 19/2015

#### Spain
##### La Liga Awards

* La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
* La Liga Best Forward: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
* La Liga Player of the Month: January 2016, April 2017, April 2018, May 2018, September 2018, March 2019, May 2019, November 2019, February 2020, February 2021

##### Other

* Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
* Don Balón Award: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10
* Trofeo EFE: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
* Mundo Deportivo Trofeo MVP La Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20

##### Barcelona

* Trofeo Aldo Rovira: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18
* Joan Gamper MVP Award: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018
* Barça Players Award: 2015–16

#### France
##### Ligue 1 Awards

* Ligue 1 Foreign Player of the Season: 2022–23
* Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2022–23
* Ligue 1 Player of the Month: September 2022

#### United States
##### Major League Soccer Awards

* MLS Most Valuable Player: 2024
* MLS Newcomer of the Year runner-up: 2023
* MLS Player of the Month: April 2024, October 2024
* MLS Best XI: 2024

##### Leagues Cup Awards

* Leagues Cup Best Player: 2023
* Leagues Cup Top Scorer: 2023

##### Inter Miami

* Most Valuable Player of the Season: 2023, 2024

### 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.
| Season | Goals | Points |
| 2009–10 | 34 | 68 |
| 2011–12 | 50 | 100 |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 92 |
| 2016–17 | 37 | 74 |
| 2017–18 | 34 | 68 |
| 2018–19 | 36 | 72 |

#### UEFA Champions League top scorer

| Season | Player(s) | Club(s) | Goals |
| 2008–09 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 9 |
| 2009–10 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 8 |
| 2010–11 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 12 |
| 2011–12 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 14 |
| 2014–15 | Neymar | Barcelona | 10 |
| 2014–15 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 10 |
| 2014–15 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 10 |
| 2018–19 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 12 |
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation, UEFA, WorldFootball.net

##### 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. The pair had broken each other's record over the course of 2015, after Messi surpassed the previous recordholder, Raúl, in November 2014. 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.
    As of 11 March 2025
| Rank | Player | Goals | Apps | Ratio | Years | Club(s) |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 | 183 | 0.77 | 2003–2022 | Manchester United Real Madrid Juventus |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | 129 | 163 | 0.79 | 2005–2023 | Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain |
| 3 | Robert Lewandowski | 103 | 130 | 0.79 | 2011–present | Borussia Dortmund Bayern Munich Barcelona |
| 4 | Karim Benzema | 90 | 152 | 0.59 | 2005–2023 | Lyon Real Madrid |
| 5 | Raúl | 71 | 142 | 0.5 | 1995–2011 | Real Madrid Schalke 04 |
Source: WorldFootball.net

#### La Liga top scorer

| Season | Goals | Matches | Ratio |
| 2009–10 | 34 | 35 | 0.971 |
| 2011–12 | 50 | 37 | 1.351 |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 32 | 1.438 |
| 2016–17 | 37 | 34 | 1.088 |
| 2017–18 | 34 | 36 | 0.944 |
| 2018–19 | 36 | 34 | 1.059 |
| 2019–20 | 25 | 33 | 0.758 |
| 2020–21 | 30 | 35 | 0.857 |

##### All-time

    As of 4 June 2023
| Rank | Player | Goals | Apps | Ratio | Years | Club(s) |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 474 | 520 | 0.912 | 2004–2021 | Barcelona |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 311 | 292 | 1.065 | 2009–2018 | Real Madrid |
| 3 | Telmo Zarra | 251 | 277 | 0.906 | 1940–1955 | Athletic Bilbao |
| 4 | Karim Benzema | 238 | 439 | 0.542 | 2009–2023 | Real Madrid |
| 5 | Hugo Sánchez | 234 | 347 | 0.674 | 1981–1994 | Real Madrid Rayo Vallecano Atlético Madrid |
Source: WorldFootball.net

#### Hat-tricks

| No. | For | Against | Result | Competition | Date |
| 1 | Barcelona | Real Madrid | 3–3 (H) | 2006–07 La Liga | 10 March 2007 |
| 2 | Atlético Madrid | 3–1 (A) | 2008–09 Copa del Rey | 6 January 2009 |
| 3 | Tenerife | 5–0 (A) | 2009–10 La Liga | 10 January 2010 |
| 4 | Valencia | 3–0 (H) | 2009–10 La Liga | 14 March 2010 |
| 5 | Zaragoza | 4–2 (A) | 2009–10 La Liga | 21 March 2010 |
| 6 | Arsenal$^4$ | 4–1 (H) | 2009–10 UEFA Champions League | 6 April 2010 |
| 7 | Sevilla | 4–0 (H) | 2010 Supercopa de España | 21 August 2010 |
| 8 | Almería | 8–0 (A) | 2010–11 La Liga | 20 November 2010 |
| 9 | Real Betis | 5–0 (H) | 2010–11 Copa del Rey | 12 January 2011 |
| 10 | Atlético Madrid | 3–0 (H) | 2010–11 La Liga | 5 February 2011 |
| 11 | Osasuna | 8–0 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 17 September 2011 |
| 12 | Atlético Madrid | 5–0 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 24 September 2011 |
| 13 | Mallorca | 5–0 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 29 October 2011 |
| 14 | Viktoria Plzeň | 4–0 (A) | 2011–12 UEFA Champions League | 1 November 2011 |
| 15 | Málaga | 4–1 (A) | 2011–12 La Liga | 22 January 2012 |
| 16 | Valencia$^4$ | 5–1 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 19 February 2012 |
| 17 | Argentina | Switzerland | 3–1 (A) | Friendly | 29 February 2012 |
| 18 | Barcelona | Bayer Leverkusen$^5$ | 7–1 (H) | 2011–12 UEFA Champions League | 7 March 2012 |
| 19 | Espanyol$^4$ | 4–0 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 20 March 2012 |
| 20 | Granada | 5–3 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 2 May 2012 |
| 21 | Málaga | 4–1 (H) | 2011–12 La Liga | 5 May 2012 |
| 22 | Argentina | Brazil | 4–3 (N) | Friendly | 9 June 2012 |
| 23 | Barcelona | Deportivo La Coruña | 5–4 (A) | 2012–13 La Liga | 20 October 2012 |
| 24 | Osasuna$^4$ | 5–1 (H) | 2012–13 La Liga | 27 January 2013 |
| 25 | Argentina | Guatemala | 4–0 (A) | Friendly | 14 June 2013 |
| 26 | Barcelona | Valencia | 3–2 (A) | 2013–14 La Liga | 1 September 2013 |
| 27 | Ajax | 4–0 (H) | 2013–14 UEFA Champions League | 18 September 2013 |
| 28 | Osasuna | 7–0 (H) | 2013–14 La Liga | 16 March 2014 |
| 29 | Real Madrid | 4–3 (A) | 2013–14 La Liga | 23 March 2014 |
| 30 | Sevilla | 5–1 (H) | 2014–15 La Liga | 22 November 2014 |
| 31 | APOEL | 4–0 (A) | 2014–15 UEFA Champions League | 25 November 2014 |
| 32 | Espanyol | 5–1 (H) | 2014–15 La Liga | 7 December 2014 |
| 33 | Deportivo La Coruña | 4–0 (A) | 2014–15 La Liga | 18 January 2015 |
| 34 | Levante | 5–0 (H) | 2014–15 La Liga | 15 February 2015 |
| 35 | Rayo Vallecano | 6–1 (H) | 2014–15 La Liga | 15 March 2015 |
| 36 | Granada | 4–0 (H) | 2015–16 La Liga | 9 January 2016 |
| 37 | Valencia | 7–0 (H) | 2015–16 Copa del Rey | 3 February 2016 |
| 38 | Rayo Vallecano | 5–1 (A) | 2015–16 La Liga | 3 March 2016 |
| 39 | Argentina | Panama | 5–0 (N) | Copa América Centenario | 10 June 2016 |
| 40 | Barcelona | Celtic | 7–0 (H) | 2016–17 UEFA Champions League | 13 September 2016 |
| 41 | Manchester City | 4–0 (H) | 2016–17 UEFA Champions League | 19 October 2016 |
| 42 | Espanyol | 5–0 (H) | 2017–18 La Liga | 9 September 2017 |
| 43 | Eibar$^4$ | 6–1 (H) | 2017–18 La Liga | 19 September 2017 |
| 44 | Argentina | Ecuador | 3–1 (A) | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | 10 October 2017 |
| 45 | Barcelona | Leganés | 3–1 (H) | 2017–18 La Liga | 7 April 2018 |
| 46 | Deportivo La Coruña | 4–2 (A) | 2017–18 La Liga | 29 April 2018 |
| 47 | Argentina | Haiti | 4–0 (H) | Friendly | 29 May 2018 |
| 48 | Barcelona | PSV Eindhoven | 4–0 (H) | 2018–19 UEFA Champions League | 18 September 2018 |
| 49 | Levante | 5–0 (A) | 2018–19 La Liga | 16 December 2018 |
| 50 | Sevilla | 4–2 (A) | 2018–19 La Liga | 23 February 2019 |
| 51 | Real Betis | 4–1 (A) | 2018–19 La Liga | 17 March 2019 |
| 52 | Celta Vigo | 4–1 (H) | 2019–20 La Liga | 9 November 2019 |
| 53 | Mallorca | 5–2 (H) | 2019–20 La Liga | 7 December 2019 |
| 54 | Eibar$^4$ | 5–0 (H) | 2019–20 La Liga | 22 February 2020 |
| 55 | Argentina | Bolivia | 3–0 (H) | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | 9 September 2021 |
| 56 | Argentina | Estonia$^5$ | 5–0 (N) | Friendly | 5 June 2022 |
| 57 | Argentina | Curaçao | 7–0 (H) | Friendly | 28 March 2023 |
| 58 | Argentina | Bolivia | 6–0 (H) | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | 15 October 2024 |
| 59 | Inter Miami | New England | 6–2 (H) | 2024 MLS season | 19 October 2024 |
$^4$ Scored 4 goals $^5$ Scored 5 goals

#### Other performances

Some of these accolades are shared with other players.

##### Top goalscorer

* IFFHS World's Best Top Goal Scorer: 2012, 2016
* IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer: 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018
* IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer: 2011, 2012, 2022
* Copa del Rey Top Scorer: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17
* FIFA Club World Cup Top Scorer: 2011
* FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Shoe: 2005
* Copa América Top Scorer: 2021
* Leagues Cup Top Scorer: 2023
* Copa América Silver Boot: 2016
* FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
* The World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer of the Decade: 2011–2020
* IFFHS All Time World's Best One Club Goal Scorer: 672 goals for Barcelona
* IFFHS All Time Best Goalscorer in Europe: 703 goals (672 goals for Barcelona, 31 goals for Paris Saint-Germain)

##### Goal of the tournament

* The best goal of the Champions League according to fans: 2018–19
* Best goal in the group stage of Champions League: 2022–23
* Best goal in the quarter-final stage of Champions League: 2018–19
* Best goal in the semi-final stage of Champions League: 2018–19
* Copa América Best Goal: 2007
* Champions League Goal of the Season: 2019–20
* UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19
* Nominated for FIFA Puskás Award: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

##### Top assist provider

* UEFA Champions League: 2011–12, 2014–15
* La Liga: 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
* Copa del Rey: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
* FIFA Club World Cup: 2011
* CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
* Copa América: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021
* FIFA World Cup: 2018, 2022
* Ligue 1: 2022–23

### Inclusions for team of the season or tournament
#### International
##### Awarded by international football federations

* FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
* UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
* UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year
* UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
* UEFA Champions League Player Rater Team of the Season: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
* UEFA Champions League Player Rater Team of the Week: MD1/2010–11, MD8A/2010–11, MD10/2010–11, MD11/2010–11, MD12/2010–11
* FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2014, 2022
* Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024
* AFA Team of All Time
* IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
* IFFHS Men's CONMEBOL Team: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
* IFFHS Team of The CONMEBOL Copa América: 2021, 2024

##### Other

* Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
* 11Leyendas Jornal AS: 2021
* IFFHS All-time World Men's Dream Team
* IFFHS All-time South America Men's Dream Team
* IFFHS Argentina Men's Dream Team
* IFFHS Men's CONMEBOL Team of The Decade: 2011–2020
* ESM Team of the Season: 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
* L'Équipe Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
* World Soccer Greatest XI of all time
* Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade: 2000s, 2010s
* France Football Team of the Decade: 2010s
* FIFA/EA Sports FC Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

#### Spain
##### La Liga Awards

| Season | Category | Category | Category | Category |
| Season | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| 2014–15 | Claudio Bravo (Barcelona) | Dani Alves (Barcelona) Nicolás Otamendi (Valencia) Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) Jordi Alba (Barcelona) | Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla) Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona) James Rodríguez (Real Madrid) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid) |
| 2015–16 | Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid) | Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Diego Godín (Atlético Madrid) Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) Marcelo (Real Madrid) | Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) Luka Modrić (Real Madrid) | Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Luis Suárez (Barcelona) |

### 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. 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, and in 2023 received it for the second time.
| Year | Winner(s) | Nominees | Nominees | Nominees | Nominees | Nominees |
| 2010 | Usain Bolt (Athletics) | Kenenisa Bekele (Athletics) | Alberto Contador (Cycling) | Roger Federer (Tennis) | Lionel Messi (Football) | Valentino Rossi (Motorcycling) |
| 2011 | Rafael Nadal (Tennis) | Kobe Bryant (Basketball) | Andrés Iniesta (Football) | Lionel Messi (Football) | Manny Pacquiao (Boxing) | Sebastian Vettel (Formula One) |
| 2012 | Novak Djokovic (Tennis) | Usain Bolt (Athletics) | Cadel Evans (Cycling) | Lionel Messi (Football) | Dirk Nowitzki (Basketball) | Sebastian Vettel (Formula One) |
| 2013 | Usain Bolt (Athletics) | Mo Farah (Athletics) | Lionel Messi (Football) | Michael Phelps (Swimming) | Sebastian Vettel (Formula One) | Bradley Wiggins (Cycling) |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic (Tennis) | Usain Bolt (Athletics) | Stephen Curry (Basketball) | Lewis Hamilton (Formula One) | Lionel Messi (Football) | Jordan Spieth (Golf) |
| 2020 | Lewis Hamilton (Formula One) Lionel Messi (Football) | Eliud Kipchoge (Athletics) | Marc Márquez (Motorcycling) | Rafael Nadal (Tennis) | Tiger Woods (Golf) | |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi (Football) | Stephen Curry (Basketball) | Armand Duplantis (Athletics) | Kylian Mbappé (Football) | Rafael Nadal (Tennis) | Max Verstappen (Formula One) |
| 2024 | Novak Djokovic (Tennis) | Armand Duplantis (Athletics) | Erling Haaland (Football) | Noah Lyles (Athletics) | Lionel Messi (Football) | Max Verstappen (Formula One) |

#### Others

* Gazzetta Sports Awards Best Sportsman of the Year: 2011
* Diario AS Ace of Sport Award: 2019
* L'Équipe International Athlete of the Year: 2011, 2022
* Best International Athlete ESPY Award: 2012, 2015, 2019
* Best Soccer Player ESPY Award: 2023
* ESPY Awards International Footballer of the Year: 2019
* ESPY Awards Best Championship Performance: 2023
* Marca Leyenda: 2009
* Prensa Latina Best Athlete in Latin America and the Caribbean: 2011, 2014, 2022
* Champion for Peace and Sport: 2020
* BBC World Sport Star of the Year: 2022
* The Sporting News Athlete of the Year: 2022
* International Sports Press Association (AIPS) – Best Male Athlete of the Year: 2019, 2022
* TIME Athlete of the Year: 2023
* ESPN Top 100 Greatest Athlete of the 21st Century: 2024, Third place

### Selections for national sports personality of the decade
#### Argentine Athlete of the Decade

* Diamond Konex Award: 2011–2020

#### Argentine Footballer of the Decade

* Platinum Konex Award: 2001–2010, 2011–2020

### Selections for national sports personality of the year
#### Argentine Sportsperson of the Year

* Olimpia de Oro: 2011, 2021, 2022, 2023

#### Argentine Footballer of the Year

* Olimpia de Plata: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

### Man of the match awards
#### UEFA Champions League final

| Edition | Player | Team |
| 2009 Rome | Lionel Messi | Barcelona |
| 2009 Rome | Xavi | Barcelona |
| 2011 London | Lionel Messi | Barcelona |
| 2011 London | Lionel Messi | Barcelona |

#### UEFA Super Cup

| Edition | Player | Team | Ref(s) |
| 2009 Monaco | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | |
| 2015 Tbilisi | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | |

#### FIFA Club World Cup Final

| Edition | Name | Team | Ref(s) |
| 2009 UAE | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | |
| 2011 Japan | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | |

#### 2010 FIFA World Cup

| Rank | Player | Match | Awards |
| 14 | Lionel Messi | Greece (GS) | 1 |

#### 2011 Copa América

| Rank | Player | Matches | Awards |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Bolivia (GS), Costa Rica (GS) | 2 |

#### 2014 FIFA World Cup

| Rank | Player | Matches | Awards |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Bosnia and Herzegovina (GS), Iran (GS), Nigeria (GS), Switzerland (R16) | 4 |
| 2 | Keylor Navas | England (GS), Greece (R16), Netherlands (QF) | 3 |
| 2 | Arjen Robben | Australia (GS), Chile (GS), Brazil (TP) | 3 |
| 2 | James Rodríguez | Greece (GS), Ivory Coast (GS), Uruguay (R16) | 3 |
Source: FIFA

#### 2015 Copa América

| Rank | Player | Matches | Awards |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Paraguay (GS), Uruguay (GS), Colombia (QF), Paraguay (SF) | 4 |

#### Copa América Centenario

| Rank | Player | Matches | Awards |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Panama (GS), Venezuela (QF), United States (SF) | 3 |
| 2 | David Ospina | Peru (QF), United States (TP) | 2 |
| 2 | Eduardo Vargas | Panama (GS), Mexico (QF) | 2 |
| 2 | Enner Valencia | Peru (GS), Haiti (GS) | 2 |

#### 2018 FIFA World Cup

| Rank | Player | Match | Awards |
| 9 | Lionel Messi | Nigeria (GS) | 1 |

#### 2019 Copa América

| Rank | Player | Match | Awards |
| 8 | Lionel Messi | Qatar (GS) | 1 |

#### 2021 Copa América

| Rank | Player | Matches | Awards |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Chile (GS), Uruguay (GS), Bolivia (GS), Ecuador (QF) | 4 |

#### 2022 Finalissima

| Rank | Player | Match | Award |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Italy (F) | 1 |

#### 2022 FIFA World Cup

| Rank | Player | Match | Awards |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Mexico (GS), Australia (R16), Netherlands (QF), Croatia (SF), France (F) | 5 |

#### 2024 Copa América

| Rank | Player | Matches | Awards |
| 7 | Lionel Messi | Canada (SF) | 1 |

### Other

* Creu de Sant Jordi: 2019
* Hickok Belt Award Professional Athlete of the Month: December 2022
* CONMEBOL Baton of Football: 2023
* Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2025
* Nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year: 2006
* Nominated for the Eurosport Emotional Moment of the Year: 2016

## Records

    As of 16 March 2025

### 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)
* Most Ballons d'Or: 8 (2009–2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
* Most The Best FIFA Men's Player awards: 3 (2019, 2022, 2023)
* Most consecutive Ballons d'Or: 4 (2009–2012)
* 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
* 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
* Most official goals for a single club: 672, for Barcelona
* Most recorded assists for a single club: 268, 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
* Most goals in a club season: 73 in 2011–12
* 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
* 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
* Only player to have won more than one FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014 and 2022
* Oldest player to win FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: aged 35 years and 178 days, in 2022
* Only player to have won more than one FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009 and 2011
* First player to have won more than one FIFA Club World Cup Final Most Valuable Player award: 2009 and 2011
* Only player to score 40+ goals in 12 consecutive seasons
* Only player to score 30+ goals in 13 consecutive seasons
* 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
* First player to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league: 2012–13
* Most appearances in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 17 (2007–2023)
* Most (official) assists provided in football history: 381
* Most (official) goal contributions in football history: 1,235
* Most hat-tricks for national team: 10
* Most assists provided in all international competitions, including friendlies: 58
* 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 appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals as captain: 19 (1 in 2010, 7 in 2014, 4 in 2018, 7 in 2022)
* Most minutes played at the FIFA World Cup finals: 2,314
* Most FIFA World Cup matches scored in: 11
* First player to score in all five rounds of a FIFA World Cup (group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, final): 2022
* 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
* Most assists provided at the FIFA World Cup: 8 (1 in 2006, 1 in 2010, 1 in 2014, 2 in 2018, 3 in 2022)
* 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)
* 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
* 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
* Most goal contributions at the World Cup: 21
* Most goals at major international tournaments: 27 (13 goals at FIFA World Cup, 14 goals at Copa América)
* 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)
* Most goal contributions at international tournaments' knockout matches: 29
* 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)

### 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
* Most goals scored in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League quarter-final match: 4, against Arsenal on 6 April 2010
* Most hat-tricks scored in the UEFA Champions League: 8
* Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League group stage: 80
* Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League round of 16: 29
* Most goals scored in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie: 6, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2011–12
* Most different opponents scored against in UEFA Champions League history: 40
* Most goals in the UEFA Super Cup: 3
* 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
* First player to score in 15 and 16 consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League
* Youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League: aged 28 years, 84 days
* Youngest player to score 50 goals in the UEFA Champions League: aged 24 years, 285 days
* 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

#### Americas

* Most international goals scored by a male CONMEBOL player: 112
* Most appearances in the Copa América: 39
* Most Copa América tournaments scored in: 6 (2007, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024)
* 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)
* 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
* Most goals in CONMEBOL qualification matches for the World Cup: 34
* Most assists in CONMEBOL qualification matches for the World Cup: 13
* 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)
* Most appearances in the Copa América Team of the Tournament: 6 (2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024)

### National records
#### Argentina

* Most caps for Argentina: 191
* Argentina all-time top goalscorer: 112 goals
* Top goalscorer for Argentina in a calendar year: 18 goals in 2022
* Only Argentina player to score against every CONMEBOL nation
* Youngest player to play for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: aged 18 years and 357 days in 2006
* Youngest player to score for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: aged 18 years and 357 days, against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006
* Youngest player to captain Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: aged 22 years and 363 days in 2010
* Youngest player to reach 100 caps for Argentina: aged 27 years and 361 days in 2015
* 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
* 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
* 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)
* 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)

#### Spain

* Most Best Player in La Liga awards: 6 (2009–2013, 2015)
* Most Best Forward in La Liga awards: 7 (2009–2013, 2015–2016)
* 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)
* Top goalscorer in La Liga: 474 goals
* Top assist provider in La Liga: 192 assists
* Top goalscorer in the Supercopa de España: 14 goals
* Most Supercopa de España finals scored in: 7
* Most goals scored in a La Liga season: 50 in 2011–12
* Most assists in a La Liga season: 21 in 2019–20
* Most braces scored in La Liga: 116
* Most hat-tricks scored in La Liga: 36
* Most hat-tricks scored in a La Liga season: 8 in 2011–12
* Most teams scored against in a season: 19 in 2012–13
* 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
* Most league home goals in a season (38 matches, 19 home matches): 35 in 2011–12
* Most league away goals in a season (38 matches, 19 away matches): 24 in 2012–13
* Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 27 in 2012–13
* Most league home matches scored in a season (38 games): 16 in 2011–12
* Most league away matches scored in a season (38 games): 15 in 2012–13
* Most different opponents scored against in La Liga history: 38
* Most consecutive away league matches scored in: 13 (20 goals from matchday 8 to matchday 33 in 2012–13)
* Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: 2018–19 and 2019–20
* Most stadiums scored at: 38
* First player to score in 15, 16 and 17 consecutive seasons
* Only player to score 20+ goals in 10, 11, 12 and 13 consecutive seasons
* Only player to score 30+ goals in 7 different seasons
* Only player to score 10+ goals in 13, 14 and 15 consecutive seasons (from 2006–07 to 2020–21)
* First player to reach 300 La Liga goals
* First player to reach 350 La Liga goals
* First player to reach 400 La Liga goals
* First player to reach 450 La Liga goals
* First player to reach 150 La Liga assists
* Youngest player to score 200 goals in La Liga: aged 25 years and 7 months
* Most La Liga titles won by a non-Spanish individual: 10 (all with Barcelona)
* Most La Liga victories: 383
* 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)
* 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
* Most dribbles completed in a Copa Del Rey match: 23, against Villarreal on 31 January 2008
* Most goals scored from direct free kicks in La Liga: 39
* Most goals scored in La Liga in a calendar year: 59 goals in 2012

#### United States

* Most assists in a single MLS game: 5
* Most goal contributions in a single MLS game: 6
* Most Player of the Matchday awards in a MLS season: 6 in 2024

### Club records
#### Barcelona

* Most trophies won as a Barcelona player: 35
* Top goalscorer in official competitions: 672 goals
* Top goalscorer including friendlies: 709 goals
* Top goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League: 120 goals
* Top goalscorer in European competitions: 123 goals
* Top goalscorer in international competitions: 128 goals
* Top goalscorer in El Clásico: 26 goals
* Top goalscorer in the Derbi barceloní: 25 goals
* Top goalscorer in the Athletic–Barcelona clásico: 29 goals
* Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions: 48
* Most goals scored from a free kick in official competitions: 50
* Most home goals scored in a single season in all competitions: 46 in 2011–12
* First player to be top goalscorer in four, five, six, seven and eight La Liga seasons (2009–10, 2011–13, 2016–21)
* Most assists as a Barcelona player in all competitions: 268
* Most assists in El Clásico: 14 assists
* Most matches won with the team: 542
* Most La Liga matches won by a Barcelona player: 383
* Most appearances in official competitions: 778
* Most appearances in La Liga: 520
* Most appearances in the Copa del Rey: 80

#### Inter Miami

* Top goalscorer in official competitions: 38 goals

### Other records

* Most World Soccer Player of the Year awards: 6 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022)
* Most World Soccer Young Player of the Year awards: 3 (2006–2008)
* Most The Guardian Best Footballer in the World wins: 6 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022)
* Most FourFourTwo Best Footballer of the Year awards: 8 (2009–2012, 2015, 2017–2019)
* Most Goal 50 (Goal.com) Player of the Season awards: 7 (2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23)
* Most Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano wins: 7 (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19)
* Most Trofeo Aldo Rovira wins: 6 (2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18)
* Most Trofeo EFE awards: 5 (2007, 2009–2012)
* Most Onze d'Or awards: 4 (2009, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2017–18)
* Most goals scored in Joan Gamper Trophy: 9 (2 in 2011, 1 in 2013, 1 in 2014, 1 in 2015, 2 in 2016, 1 in 2017, 1 in 2018)
* Most Man of the Match awards in Joan Gamper Trophy: 4 (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018)
* Most IFFHS World's Best Playmaker awards: 5 (2015–2017, 2019, 2022)
* Most IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer awards: 4 (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018)
* Most appearances in the IFFHS Men's World Team: 7 (2017–2023)
* Most ESPN Best Forward awards: 8 (2014–2021)
* Only footballer to have won at the Laureus World Sports Awards: 2020, 2023
* The first ever athlete to win the Laureus Sportsman of the Year and Laureus Team of the Year in the same year: 2023
* Most nominations for the FIFA Puskás Award: 7 (2010–2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
* Most appearances in the FIFA/EA Sports FC Team of the Year: 16 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)