Lionel Messi: What records does he hold?

Tuesday 19 October 2021

We all know he is a great player, but just how great? UEFA.com runs through his unique achievements.

Lionel Messi celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the 2011 final AFP via Getty Images

One of only two players to score over 100 goals in UEFA club competitions, Lionel Messi has broken new ground since making his senior debut aged 16.

He left Barcelona after record-breaking achievements in his two decades at the club, and he is still adding to some of them now he's at Paris Saint-Germain. UEFA.com lists some of his biggest achievements to date.

Club

Watch great Messi free-kicks

Most UEFA Champions League group stage goals: 74 (71 for Barcelona)
Most UEFA Champions League round of 16 goals: 28
Most UEFA Champions League goals for single club: 120 (Barcelona)
Most UEFA club competition goals for single club: 123 (Barcelona)
Most Ballon d'Or awards: 6
Most Liga goals: 474
Most Liga goals in a single season: 50 (2011/12)
Most goals in a calendar year: 79 (2012 – or 91 including goals for Argentina)
Most Liga hat-tricks: 36
Most Liga titles won by a foreign player: 10
Most ESM Golden Shoes: 6
Most club honours: 35

Messi is second behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the overall list of both top UEFA club competition scorers (he has 126, Ronaldo 139) and top UEFA Champions League/European Cup scorers (123 compared with Ronaldo's 136).

Messi vs Ronaldo goal for goal