Lionel Messi Vs Marco Van Basten: Goals, Assists, Titles, And Individual Awards, Who is the Best?

Lionel Messi Vs Marco Van Basten: Messi and van Basten are both amazing players, and it’s hard to say who is better. Messi has a longer and more successful career, but van Basten was exceptionally dominant in his prime.

Looking at the numbers, Messi has better stats – more goals, more trophies, and more individual awards. However, van Basten’s stats are affected by his early retirement due to injury.

In terms of playing style, Messi is more creative, often dribbling past defenders and creating chances. Van Basten was a sharp finisher, scoring goals mainly from inside the box.

Deciding who’s better is a matter of personal opinion. Messi is more successful overall, but van Basten was a force during his prime. Both are football legends and among the greatest of all time.

Lionel Messi Vs Marco Van Basten

In this article, we compare Messi and van Basten in terms of goals, assists, titles, and awards.

Messi vs Basten All-Time Stats

StatMessiBasten
Total Appearances1069431
Total Goals827301
Average0.770.69
Total Assists400107
Champions League Goals12919
International Goals10324
Total Hat-tricks578
Ballon d’Or Awards83
Golden Shoe Awards61
Champions League Titles43
International Titles51

Messi vs Basten Stats At Club Level

StatMessiBasten
Appearances881373
Goals719277
Assists34083
Penalty Goals84
Minutes Per Goal101′113′
Minutes Played72.402′31.369′

Messi vs Basten Stats At the National Level

StatMessiBasten
Appearances17858
Goals10624
Assists569
Penalty Goals231
Minutes Per Goal141′ 201′
Minutes Played14.554′4.814′

Messi vs Basten Titles

CompetitionMessiBasten
La Liga10
Copa del Rey7
Supercopa de España8
UEFA Champions League43
UEFA Super Cup3
FIFA Club World Cup3
Ligue 12
Trophée des Champions1
FIFA World Youth Championship1
Summer Olympics1
FIFA World Cup1
Copa América1
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions1
Eredivisie3
KNVB Cup3
Serie A4
Supercoppa Italiana2
European Super Cup2
Intercontinental Cup2
UEFA European Championship1
TOTAL4320

Messi vs Basten Individual Awards

AwardsMessiBasten
The Best FIFA Men’s Player81
Ballon d’Or83
European Golden Shoe61
UEFA Best Player in Europe3
Top Goalscorer239
TM-Player of the season4
Olympic Medalist1
Footballer of the Year101
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball2
Pichichi Trophy8
TOTAL7315

Messi vs Basten Penalty Goals

Penalty Goals (2003–24)MessiBasten
Penalty Goals10951
TOTAL10951

Messi vs Basten Free Kick Goals

Free Kick Goals (2005-24)MessiBasten
Free Kick Goals643
TOTAL643

Messi vs Basten Hat Tricks

Hat Tricks (2005-24)MessiBasten
Hat Tricks578
TOTAL578

(FAQS)


Who’s The Best At Dribbling? Messi or Basten

Messi has played against some of the best defenders in the world. Van Basten faced strong opponents too, but not as tough as Messi’s. So, Messi is the winner here.
WINNER: Messi


Who’s The Best At Heading? Messi or Basten

Marco van Basten is better than Lionel Messi in some aspects. Messi is an amazing player overall, but he’s not great at heading the ball. His height is 5’7″, and he prefers dribbling and finesse over aerial play.
In contrast, Van Basten was a versatile forward who excelled with both his feet and head. Despite being 6’1″, he had a fantastic jump, perfect timing, and great technique, making him tough for defenders in aerial duels.
WINNER: Basten


Who’s The Best At Passing? Messi or Basten

Messi can see and pass the ball really well, finding teammates even when the defense is tough. Van Basten was not only skillful in passing but also clever, understanding the game and predicting where his teammates would be for effective passes.
WINNER: Messi


Who Is Better? Messi or Basten

If you like players who shine on their own, and are great at dribbling and scoring goals for a long time, Messi could be your choice. If you prefer someone with precise finishing, smart positioning, dominance in the air, and a significant impact on history, then van Basten might be more appealing to you.
I believe that Messi is the better player. He has a longer and more successful career, and he has shown that he can be dominant at the highest level for a sustained period of time. Van Basten was a great player in his prime, but he was not able to maintain his form for as long as Messi.
WINNER: Messi


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