Xavi vs Lionel Messi: Xavi Hernández and Lionel Messi are both legends of FC Barcelona but played different roles. Xavi was a key midfielder known for his passing and game-understanding. He helped his teammates shine by making quick, accurate passes and focused on assisting others instead of scoring himself.
Messi is one of the best attackers ever. He played mostly as a forward, known for his dribbling, speed, and goal-scoring ability. He could get past defenders easily and score goals, becoming Barcelona’s all-time top scorer. While Xavi set up plays, Messi finished them.
Xavi played 767 games for Barcelona, scored 85 goals, and won 25 trophies, including 8 La Liga and 4 Champions League titles. Messi played 778 games, scored 672 goals, and won 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga and 4 Champions League titles. He was known for scoring in important moments.
Xavi had a great international career with Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. Messi faced challenges early on but became Argentina’s top scorer. He led Argentina to win the 2021, 2024 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup, where he was named the best player.
Xavi is remembered as a fantastic midfielder who helped shape Barcelona’s style of play. His focus was on teamwork. Messi is seen as the greatest player of all time because of his goal records. While Xavi set things up, Messi often stole the show with his amazing performances.
Xavi vs Lionel Messi
In this article, we discuss Xavi vs Messi: Who is the Best Footballer?
Xavi vs Lionel Messi All-Time Stats
Xavi has scored over 120 goals in his career, while Modrić has scored more than 850. Xavi and Messi are known for being creative, with Xavi giving 251 assists and Messi giving 414.
Both are among the top players with the most assists. They are also good at taking penalties. Xavi has scored more than 3 penalties, and Messi has scored over 110. Xavi has won 33 trophies, while Messi has won 46.
These are their all-time stats.
| TOTALS | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 1064 | 1115 |
| Goals | 124 | 861 |
| Ratio | 0.11 | 0.77 |
| Assists | 251 | 417 |
| Penalty | 3 | 110 |
| Free Kick | 16 | 65 |
| Hat Tricks | N/A | 59 |
| Trophies | 33 | 46 |
| Ballon d’Or | – | 8 |
| European Golden Shoe | – | 6 |
Xavi vs Lionel Messi Goals, Assists & Trophies at Club Level
In their club careers, Xavi played 931 matches, scored 112 goals, made 217 assists, and won 29 trophies. Messi played 922 matches, scored 748 goals, made 356 assists, and won 40 trophies. Messi has more trophies, scored more goals, and provided more assists than Xavi.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 931 | 924 |
| Goals | 112 | 749 |
| Assists | 217 | 356 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 652′ | 101′ |
| Minutes Played | 73.072′ | 74.382′ |
| Trophies | 29 | 40 |
Xavi vs Lionel Messi Goals, Assists & Trophies at National Level
In their national team careers, both Xavi and Messi have been impressive.
Messi has played 189 matches, scored 112 goals, made 60 assists, and won 6 international trophies. He won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the Finalissima in 2022.
Xavi, on the other hand, won the 2010 World Cup, two EURO Championships (2008 and 2012), and the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 with Spain.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 133 | 189 |
| Goals | 12 | 112 |
| Assists | 34 | 60 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 784′ | 142′ |
| Minutes Played | 9.410′ | 15.488′ |
| Trophies | 4 | 6 |
Who’s More Impressive in the World Cup? Goals, Assists & Trophies
When it comes to World Cup performances, both Messi and Xavi have strong records. Messi has scored 13 goals in three World Cups, while Xavi did not score. Xavi has 2 assists, and Messi has 8. Both are World Cup winners.
Messi’s higher number of assists and goals in the World Cup show his stronger performance on football’s biggest stage.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 15 | 26 |
| Goals | – | 13 |
| Assists | 2 | 8 |
| Penalty | – | 4 |
| Minutes Per Goal | – | 178′ |
| Minutes Played | 1.123′ | 2.315′ |
| World Cup | 1 | 1 |
Who’s More Impressive in EURO/COPA AMERICA? Goals, Assists & Trophies
When comparing Xavi and Messi in the UEFA European Championship (EURO) and Copa América, there are clear differences.
Xavi scored 1 goal and made 4 assists in the EURO tournaments, winning the championship twice, in 2008 and 2012.
In comparison, Messi scored 14 goals and made 18 assists in Copa América tournaments, winning it twice, in 2021 and 2024.
Xavi’s achievements show his success in European competitions, while Messi’s record highlights his strong performance in Copa América.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 11 | 39 |
| Goals | 1 | 14 |
| Assists | 4 | 18 |
| Penalty | – | 3 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 904′ | 238′ |
| Minutes Played | 904′ | 3.334” |
| EURO/COPA AMERICA | 2 | 2 |
Who’s More Impressive in Champions League? Goals, Assists & Trophies
In the UEFA Champions League, Messi stands out with 129 goals in 162 matches. He won the trophy 4 times: in 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, and 2014–15.
Xavi, on the other hand, scored 11 goals in 151 matches and provided 31 assists. He also won the Champions League 4 times with Barcelona, in 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, and 2014–15.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 151 | 163 |
| Goals | 11 | 129 |
| Assists | 31 | 45 |
| Penalty | 2 | 18 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 1.031′ | 105′ |
| Minutes Played | 11.338′ | 13.577” |
| Champions League | 4 | 4 |
Who’s More Impressive in La Liga? Goals, Assists & Trophies
In La Liga, both Modrić and Xavi have impressive records, but they differ in key areas.
Xavi scored 58 goals in 505 matches, averaging 0.11 goals per match. He made 130 assists and won 8 La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Messi scored 474 goals in 520 matches, provided 216 assists, and won 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Messi leads in both goals and assists and has more titles. His overall contribution and success in La Liga highlight his outstanding career in Spanish football.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 505 | 520 |
| Goals | 58 | 474 |
| Assists | 130 | 216 |
| Penalty | – | 60 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 676′ | 89′ |
| Minutes Played | 39.182′ | 42.148′ |
| La Liga | 8 | 10 |
Who’s More Impressive in Stars League/Ligue 1? Goals, Assists & Trophies
In the Stars League/Premier League, Messi stands out with 22 goals in 58 matches and 31 assists, winning 2 trophies with PSG. Xavi scored 20 goals in 81 matches and won the trophy once in the 2018–19 season.
| Stat | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 81 | 58 |
| Goals | 20 | 22 |
| Assists | 24 | 31 |
| Penalty | – | |
| Minutes Per Goal | 348′ | 227′ |
| Minutes Played | 6.961′ | 4.994′ |
| Stars League/Ligue 1 | 1 | 2 |
Xavi and Lionel Messi Matches Against Each Other
Xavi and Messi have faced each other 9 times in various competitions, with Xavi generally having the advantage. Xavi won 5 of those matches, while Messi won 3. In these encounters, neither player scored any goals.
| Matches | Xavi W | D | Messi W | Xavi G | Messi G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | – | – |
Xavi – Games Played Together with Lionel Messi
| Stats | Xavi | Lionel Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 53 | 341 |
| Assists | 112 | 144 |
| FC Barcelona | Match | Win | Lost | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaLiga | 257 | 193 | 23 | 41 |
| Copa del Rey | 38 | 22 | 6 | 10 |
| UEFA Champions League | 88 | 50 | 14 | 24 |
| Supercopa | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Club World Cup | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 399 | 276 | 45 | 78 |
Who Has More Trophies?
Messi has won 46 trophies, while Xavi has won a total of 33 trophies in their careers.
Messi’s trophies include 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and 7 Copa del Rey victories. His international honors include winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022, the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the Finalissima in 2022.
Xavi has also won 33 trophies, including 4 UEFA Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, and 6 Spanish Super Cup titles. His international achievements include winning the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012, as well as the World Cup in 2010.
| Competition | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 8 | 10 |
| Copa del Rey | 3 | 7 |
| Spanish Super Cup | 6 | 8 |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 4 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 2 | 3 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 2 | 3 |
| Qatar Stars League | 1 | – |
| Qatar Cup | 1 | – |
| Sheikh Jassim Cup | 1 | – |
| Emir of Qatar Cup | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Youth Championship | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Cup | 1 | – |
| EURO | 2 | – |
| Ligue 1 | – | 2 |
| Champions Trophy | – | 3 |
| League Cup | – | 1 |
| Supporters’ Shield | – | 1 |
| FIFA World Youth Championship | – | 1 |
| Olympic Games | – | 1 |
| Copa America | – | 2 |
| Finalissima | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 33 | 46 |
Who Has More Individual Awards?
Messi has won more individual awards than Xavi. He has claimed the Ballon d’Or 8 times, the FIFA World Player of the Year 4 times, and the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 3 times. He has also won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball twice.
In comparison, Xavi has won the Footballer of the Year once and Player of the Year once.
Messi has a total of 69 awards, while Xavi has 2, showing Messi’s clear advantage in individual honors.
| Awards | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| The Best FIFA Men’s Player | – | 4 |
| Player of the Year | 1 | 9 |
| Ballon d’Or | – | 8 |
| European Golden Shoe | – | 6 |
| UEFA Best Player in Europe | – | 3 |
| Top Goalscorer | 23 | |
| TM-Player of the season | – | 4 |
| Olympic Medalist | – | 1 |
| Footballer of the Year | 1 | – |
| Pichichi Trophy | – | 8 |
| FIFA Puskas Award | – | – |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball | – | 2 |
| FIFA World Cup Silver Ball | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 2 | 69 |
Who Scores More Penalty Goals?
Messi has scored more penalty goals than Xavi. Xavi took 5 penalties, scoring 3 and missing 2, with a success rate of 60%.
In comparison, Messi took 141 penalties, scoring 110 and missing 31, giving him a success rate of 78%. This shows Messi’s higher success rate and overall better performance in penalties compared to Xavi.
| Penalty | Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Total Penalty Taken | 5 | 141 |
| Total Penalty Scored | 3 | 110 |
| Total Penalty Missed | 2 | 31 |
| Success Rate | 60% | 78% |
Who Scores More Free Kick Goals?
Messi is known for his incredible precision in free kicks, having scored around 57 free-kick goals in his career. In comparison, Xavi has scored about 16 free-kick goals. This highlights Messi’s superior skill and effectiveness in taking free kicks compared to Xavi.
| Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|
| 16 | 65 |
Who Has More Hat Tricks?
| Xavi | Messi |
|---|---|
| N/A | 59 |
Who’s the Better Passer?
Both are amazing passers, but Xavi’s strength lies in control, while Messi shines in creating goal-scoring chances.
Who’s the Best Dribbler?
Messi’s dribbling is one of his most iconic skills, giving him the clear edge in this comparison.
Who Has the Best Heading Skills?
Messi has better heading skills than Xavi, though it’s not a key part of either player’s game.
Who Is Faster?
Messi is known for his quick bursts of speed and dribbling, making him hard to defend. His speed with the ball helps him find spaces and create chances.
Xavi wasn’t fast but relied on his intelligence, positioning, and passing to control the game.
Who’s the Ultimate Winner?
In short, Xavi was the mastermind behind Barcelona’s success, while Messi was the one who finished and represented that success. They worked perfectly together, with Xavi’s control and vision helping Messi achieve greatness. Their partnership is one of football’s best, and their legacies will inspire future players. Messi is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time).