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
| Stat | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| Total Appearances | 1069 | 431 |
| Total Goals | 827 | 301 |
| Average | 0.77 | 0.69 |
| Total Assists | 400 | 107 |
| Champions League Goals | 129 | 19 |
| International Goals | 103 | 24 |
| Total Hat-tricks | 57 | 8 |
| Ballon d’Or Awards | 8 | 3 |
| Golden Shoe Awards | 6 | 1 |
| Champions League Titles | 4 | 3 |
| International Titles | 5 | 1 |
Messi vs Basten Stats At Club Level
| Stat | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 881 | 373 |
| Goals | 719 | 277 |
| Assists | 340 | 83 |
| Penalty Goals | 84 | |
| Minutes Per Goal | 101′ | 113′ |
| Minutes Played | 72.402′ | 31.369′ |
Messi vs Basten Stats At the National Level
| Stat | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 178 | 58 |
| Goals | 106 | 24 |
| Assists | 56 | 9 |
| Penalty Goals | 23 | 1 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 141′ | 201′ |
| Minutes Played | 14.554′ | 4.814′ |
Messi vs Basten Titles
| Competition | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 10 | – |
| Copa del Rey | 7 | – |
| Supercopa de España | 8 | – |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 3 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 3 | – |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 3 | – |
| Ligue 1 | 2 | – |
| Trophée des Champions | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Youth Championship | 1 | – |
| Summer Olympics | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Cup | 1 | – |
| Copa América | 1 | – |
| CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions | 1 | – |
| Eredivisie | – | 3 |
| KNVB Cup | – | 3 |
| Serie A | – | 4 |
| Supercoppa Italiana | 2 | |
| European Super Cup | – | 2 |
| Intercontinental Cup | – | 2 |
| UEFA European Championship | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 43 | 20 |
Messi vs Basten Individual Awards
| Awards | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| The Best FIFA Men’s Player | 8 | 1 |
| Ballon d’Or | 8 | 3 |
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | 1 |
| UEFA Best Player in Europe | 3 | |
| Top Goalscorer | 23 | 9 |
| TM-Player of the season | 4 | |
| Olympic Medalist | 1 | |
| Footballer of the Year | 10 | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball | 2 | |
| Pichichi Trophy | 8 | |
| TOTAL | 73 | 15 |
Messi vs Basten Penalty Goals
| Penalty Goals (2003–24) | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty Goals | 109 | 51 |
| TOTAL | 109 | 51 |
Messi vs Basten Free Kick Goals
| Free Kick Goals (2005-24) | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| Free Kick Goals | 64 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 64 | 3 |
Messi vs Basten Hat Tricks
| Hat Tricks (2005-24) | Messi | Basten |
|---|---|---|
| Hat Tricks | 57 | 8 |
| TOTAL | 57 | 8 |
(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
