Lionel Messi vs Pelé
Two of the three greatest footballers ever — Lionel Messi vs Pelé. World Cups, Ballon d'Or awards and career statistics compared.
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Lionel Messi
Argentine · Born 1987
Lionel Andrés Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina in 1987 and diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10.
View Full Profile →Pelé
Brazilian · Born 1940
Three-time World Cup winner widely considered the greatest footballer of all time. Scored 757 career goals for Santos and Brazil.
View Full Profile →Career Statistics
| Statistic | Lionel Messi | Pelé |
|---|---|---|
| Career Goals | 838 | 757 |
| Appearances | 1063 | 812 |
| International Caps | 191 | 92 |
| International Goals | 112 | 77 |
| Career Assists | 380 | — |
| Hat Tricks | 57 | 92 |
| Ballon d'Or Awards | 8 | — |
| Top Speed | 32.5 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Distance Per Game | 9.7 km | 10 km |
| Major Trophies | 45 | 28 |
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina in 1987 and diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at ten. Barcelona agreed to fund his treatment in exchange for his signing — one of the most consequential decisions in football history. He made his La Liga debut aged 16 and spent 17 years at the club (2004–2021), scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances — a world record for a single club. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before moving to Inter Miami in 2023. His career statistics are unmatched: 838 goals and 380 assists in 1,063 appearances across all competitions, 191 international ca…
Full Lionel Messi biography →Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento — universally known as Pelé — grew up in poverty in Três Corações, Brazil, before becoming the most celebrated footballer in history. He joined Santos aged 15 and made his Brazil debut at 16, becoming the youngest player to appear in a World Cup final when Brazil won the 1958 tournament in Sweden at just 17 years old. His six goals in the knockout rounds included a hat-trick in the semi-final against France. He spent 18 years at Santos FC (1956–1974), scoring 643 goals in 659 appearances for the club, before a celebrated spell with New York Cosmos (1975–1977) that h…
Full Pelé biography →The Verdict
Messi won 8 Ballon d'Or awards and the 2022 World Cup. Pelé won 3 World Cups and scored over 1,000 career goals. Pelé played in an era before reliable statistics; Messi in the most statistically documented era ever. Most modern polls of professionals favour Messi; most historical polls favour Pelé or Maradona.