Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are gods on football in their own right, Diego's heroic performances at the 1986 World Cup are legendary. His individual displays as Argentina lifted the trophy are remembered as some of the most breathtaking in football history.
Lionel Messi played a pivotal role in delivering the Copa America for La Albiceleste in 2021 – ending the national team's long 28-year wait for silverware – but he's been unable to emulate Maradona and lead Argentina to the most prestigious trophy of them all.
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Qatar 2022 almost certainly presents the 35-year-old's last chance to win the World Cup. Argentina suffered a shock defeat in their opener against Saudi Arabia but have battled through to the semi-finals with Messi in imperious form.
But how does Messi's record for Argentina compare with Maradona's overall? We've taken a look at how the two legendary football compare on the biggest stages of all.
Using data from transfermarkt, we've compared Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona records at major international tournaments:
Lionel Messi:
World Cup:
Games: 24
Starts: 22
Sub appearances: 2
Who else but Lionel Messi?#ARG 1-0 #MEX#FIFAWorldCup | #ARGMEX
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 26, 2022
🎥 @itvfootballpic.twitter.com/KCTRheU0Bq
Goals: 10
Assists: 7
Penalties scored: 2
Minutes per goal: 210.5
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 263.1
Minutes per goal or assist: 123.8
Copa America:
Games: 34
Starts: 31
Sub appearances: 3
Goals: 13
Assists: 17
Penalties scored: 3
Minutes per goal: 223.6
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 290.7
Minutes per goal or assist: 96.9
Total:
Games: 58
Starts: 53
Sub appearances: 5
Goals: 23
Assists: 24
Penalties scored: 5
Minutes per goal: 217.9
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 278.4
Minutes per goal or assist: 106.4
Trophies won 1 (2021 Copa America)
Diego Maradona:
World Cup:
#OnThisDay in 1986 .. Diego Maradona led #Argentina to win the FIFA #WorldCup final over West #Germany 3-2. 🇦🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/pUTvtMlTqI
— Classic Football (@classic_1863) June 29, 2019
Games: 21
Starts: 21
Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 8
Assists: 8
Penalties scored: 0
Minutes per goal: 238.5
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 238.5
Minutes per goal or assist: 119.2
Copa America
Games: 12
Starts: 12
Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 4
Assists: 0
Penalties scored: 1
Minutes per goal: 270
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 360
Minutes per goal or assist: 270
Total
Games: 33
Starts: 33
Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 12
Assists: 8
Penalties scored: 1
Minutes per goal: 249
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 271.6
Minutes per goal or assist: 149.4
Trophies won: 1 (1986 World Cup)
For more Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona stats, follow Sportz Point.