Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane: Lionel Messi is one of the best footballers ever. He played mostly for Barcelona, scoring 672 goals and winning 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions Leagues.
Messi is known for his dribbling, left-footed shots, and creativity. He won 8 Ballon d’Or awards and led Argentina to win the (2021, 2024) Copa América and 2022 World Cup. After Barcelona, he briefly played for PSG and now plays for Inter Miami.
Zinedine Zidane was an elegant midfielder known for his passing and game control. He played for Juventus and Real Madrid, scoring a famous volley in the 2002 Champions League final.
Zidane led France to win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1998 and became a successful coach, winning three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid.
Messi is known for his balance, dribbling, and playmaking, while Zidane was known for his elegance, ball control, and ability to perform in big games.
Messi’s impact on football is huge, often compared to legends Maradona and Pelé. His rivalry with Ronaldo defined an era. Zidane’s legacy includes his playing success and his achievements as a manager. Both are considered football legends.
Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane
In this article, we compare and discuss who is the true GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane All-Time Stats
Messi has scored over 850 goals in his career, while Zidane scored more than 150. Messi is known for his creativity, providing over 400 assists, compared to Zidane’s 172. Both players are also skilled in making assists and are great penalty-takers. Zidane scored over 8 penalties, while Messi has converted more than 110.
| TOTALS | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 1115 | 797 |
| Goals | 861 | 156 |
| Ratio | 0.77 | 0.22 |
| Assists | 417 | 172 |
| Penalty | 110 | 8 |
| Free Kick | 65 | 13 |
| Hat Tricks | 59 | 1 |
| Trophies | 46 | 16 |
| Ballon d’Or | 8 | 1 |
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | – |
Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane Goals, Assists & Trophies at Club Level
In their club careers, both Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi have been outstanding. Messi has played over 922 matches, scored over 748 goals, provided 357 assists, and won 40 trophies. Zidane played 689 matches, scored 125 goals, made 141 assists, and won 13 trophies.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 924 | 689 |
| Goals | 749 | 125 |
| Assists | 357 | 141 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 101′ | 441′ |
| Minutes Played | 74.382” | 55.130′ |
| Trophies | 40 | 13 |
Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane Goals, Assists & Trophies at National Level
In their national team careers, both Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi are impressive, but Messi has a slight edge.
Messi has played over 190 matches, scored 112 goals, provided 58 assists, and won 6 trophies. Messi leads in trophies, while Ronaldo has more goals overall.
Zinedine Zidane played 108 matches, scored 31 goals, made 30 assists, and won 2 trophies with France.
Messi has won the World Cup, 2 Copa Américas, an Olympic medal, and the Finalissima. Zidane won the World Cup, EURO, and the 1987 Mermaid Cup with France U16.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 191 | 108 |
| Goals | 112 | 31 |
| Assists | 60 | 30 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 142′ | 275′ |
| Minutes Played | 15.488′ | 8.537′ |
| Trophies | 6 | 3 |
Who’s More Impressive in the World Cup? Goals, Assists & Trophies
In terms of World Cup performances, Lionel Messi has a better record than Zinedine Zidane.
Messi has scored 13 goals in five World Cups, while Zidane scored 5. Messi also has 8 assists, compared to Zidane’s 3.
Both players won the World Cup: Messi in 2022 and Zidane in 1998. They were also runners-up, with Messi lost to Germany in 2014 and Zidane lost to Italy in 2006.
Messi’s higher goal count and more assists highlight his superior performance on football’s biggest stage.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 26 | 12 |
| Goals | 13 | 5 |
| Assists | 8 | 3 |
| Penalty | 4 | 2 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 178′ | 222′ |
| Minutes Played | 2.315′ | 1.111′ |
| World Cup | 1 | 1 |
Who’s More Impressive in EURO/COPA AMERICA? Goals, Assists & Trophies
When comparing Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi in the UEFA European Championship (EURO) and the Copa América, there are clear differences.
Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals and made 5 assists in six Copa América tournaments, winning the tournament twice, in 2021 and 2024.
Zinedine Zidane scored 5 goals and made 2 assists in EURO tournaments, winning the EURO once in 2000.
Zidane’s achievements highlight his success in European competitions, while Messi’s record showcases his dominance in South American football.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 39 | 14 |
| Goals | 14 | 5 |
| Assists | 18 | 2 |
| Penalty | 3 | 2 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 238′ | 262′ |
| Minutes Played | 3.334” | 1.312′ |
| EURO/COPA AMERICA | 2 | 1 |
Who’s More Impressive in Champions League? Goals, Assists & Trophies?
In the UEFA Champions League, Lionel Messi stands out with the most goals. He has scored 129 goals in 163 matches. He has won the Champions League 4 times with Barcelona, in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015. Zinedine Zidane scored 14 goals in 80 matches and won the trophy once in 2001–02 with Real Madrid.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 163 | 80 |
| Goals | 129 | 14 |
| Assists | 45 | 30 |
| Penalty | 18 | – |
| Minutes Per Goal | 105′ | 476′ |
| Minutes Played | 13.577” | 6.657′ |
| Champions League | 4 | 1 |
Who’s More Impressive in La Liga? Goals, Assists & Trophies
In La Liga, both Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi have impressive records, but they differ in key areas.
Lionel Messi scored 474 goals in 520 matches, averaging about 0.91 goals per match. He also provided 216 assists and won 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Zinedine Zidane scored 37 goals in 155 matches, averaging 0.23 goals per match. He made 51 assists and won 1 La Liga title with Real Madrid.
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 | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 520 | 155 |
| Goals | 474 | 37 |
| Assists | 216 | 51 |
| Penalty | 60 | 3 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 89′ | 340′ |
| Minutes Played | 42.148′ | 12.562′ |
| La Liga | 10 | 1 |
Who’s More Impressive in Ligue 1? Goals, Assists & Trophies
In Ligue 1, Zinedine Zidane stands out with 34 goals in 200 matches. Lionel Messi has scored 22 goals in 58 matches and won the trophy twice with PSG.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 58 | 200 |
| Goals | 22 | 34 |
| Assists | 31 | 14 |
| Penalty | – | – |
| Minutes Per Goal | 227′ | 467′ |
| Minutes Played | 4.994′ | 15.881′ |
| Serie A/Ligue 1 | 2 | – |
Who’s More Impressive in MLS/Serie A? Goals, Assists & Trophies?
Both Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi have made notable impacts in their respective leagues. Zinedine Zidane scored around 15 goals and provided 12 assists while playing for Juventus. Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in MLS in July 2023, has also scored 15 goals and made 12 assists.
| Stat | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 25 | 151 |
| Goals | 21 | 24 |
| Assists | 12 | 27 |
| Penalty | 1 | 2 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 100′ | 516′ |
| Minutes Played | 1.497′ | 12.389′ |
| MLS/Serie A | 1 | 2 |
Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane Matches Against Each Other
Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi faced each other once, and Messi won that match.
| Matches | Messi W | D | Zidane W | Messi G | Zidane G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Who Has More Trophies?
Lionel Messi has a slight edge over Zinedine Zidane in total trophies won. Messi has 46 trophies in his career, including 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and 7 Copa del Rey victories. His international honors include the Copa América (2021, 2024), the World Cup (2022), and the Finalissima (2022).
Zinedine Zidane has won 16 trophies, including 1 UEFA Champions League title, 2 Serie A titles, and 2 Intercontinental Cups. His international achievements include the UEFA European Championship (2000) and the World Cup (1998).
| Competition | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | – | 1 |
| Intercontinental Cup | – | 2 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | – | 1 |
| Mermaid Cup | – | 1 |
| UEFA European Championship | – | 1 |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 1 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 3 | – |
| La Liga | 10 | 1 |
| Copa del Rey | 7 | 2 |
| Spanish Super Cup | 8 | |
| UEFA Super Cup | 3 | 2 |
| Serie A | – | 2 |
| Italian Super Cup | – | 1 |
| Arab Club Champions Cup | – | – |
| UEFA European Championship | – | – |
| UEFA Nations League | – | – |
| Ligue 1 | 2 | – |
| Champions Trophy | 1 | – |
| Leagues Cup | 1 | – |
| Supporters’ Shield | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Youth Championship | 1 | – |
| Olympic Games | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Cup | 1 | 1 |
| Copa America | 2 | – |
| Finalissima | 1 | – |
| TOTAL | 46 | 16 |
Who Has More Individual Awards?
Lionel Messi has won more individual awards than Zinedine Zidane. Messi 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 Golden Shoe 6 times as Europe’s top scorer.
In comparison, Zinedine Zidane has won the Ballon d’Or once, the FIFA World Player of the Year 3 times, and the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award once. He has also won the Footballer of the Year once.
Messi has a total of 69 awards, while Zidane has 9, highlighting Messi’s significant edge in individual honors.
| Awards | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| The Best FIFA Men’s Player | 4 | 3 |
| Player of the Year | 9 | 1 |
| Ballon d’Or | 8 | 1 |
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | – |
| UEFA Best Player in Europe | 3 | 1 |
| 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 | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup Silver Ball | 1 | – |
| TOTAL | 69 | 8 |
Who Scores More Penalty Goals?
Lionel Messi has scored more penalty goals than Zinedine Zidane. Messi has taken 141 penalties, scoring 110 and missing 31, giving him a success rate of 78%.
On the other hand, Zinedine Zidane has taken 10 penalties, scoring 8 and missing 2, which results in a success rate of 80%. This shows Zidane’s slightly higher success rate, but Messi has taken many more penalties overall.
| Penalty | Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|---|
| Total Penalty Taken | 141 | 10 |
| Total Penalty Scored | 110 | 8 |
| Total Penalty Missed | 31 | 2 |
| Success Rate | 78% | 80% |
Who Scores More Free Kick Goals?
Messi is famous for his precise free kicks, scoring about 65 free-kick goals in his career. In comparison, Zinedine Zidane has scored around 11 free-kick goals.
| Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|
| 65 | 11 |
Who Has More Hat Tricks?
Lionel Messi has more hat tricks than Zinedine Zidane. Messi has around 59 hat tricks, while Zidane has just over 1.
| Messi | Zidane |
|---|---|
| 59 | 1 |
Who’s the Better Passer? Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane
Both players are exceptional passers, Messi’s higher assist count and playmaking ability give him the edge in this area.
Who’s the Best Dribbler? Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane
Both players have impressive dribbling skills, Messi’s unmatched ability to consistently take on defenders and create chances makes him the superior dribbler.
Who Has the Best Heading Skills? Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane
Zidane’s height, timing, and technique in heading the ball give him the edge in this category.
Who Is Faster? Lionel Messi vs Zinedine Zidane
Lionel Messi is generally regarded as the faster player compared to Zinedine Zidane.
Who’s the Ultimate Winner?
Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane are two of football’s greatest stars. Messi is known for his incredible goal-scoring and individual awards, while Zidane is recognized for his grace, vision, and ability to perform in important moments. Both players have made lasting impacts on the game. Messi’s career is still ongoing, while Zidane is already a legend as both a player and a manager.