Lionel Messi Vs Rivaldo: Comparing Lionel Messi and Rivaldo is interesting because they were both amazing players but played at different times and positions and had different skills.
Lionel Messi:
- Many people think Messi is the greatest soccer player ever.
- He’s famous for dribbling past opponents easily and scoring lots of goals.
- Messi has broken many records for scoring goals in La Liga, for Barcelona, and for Argentina.
- He’s also really good at setting up goals with his passing.
Rivaldo:
- Rivaldo was a fantastic attacking midfielder who could do it all: he was great with the ball, could shoot hard, create chances, and score goals.
- He was especially feared for his ability to score from free kicks.
- Rivaldo showed his leadership by leading Brazil to win the 2002 World Cup and was named the tournament’s best player.
But we have to remember:
- They played at different times. Rivaldo played in the 90s and early 2000s, while Messi dominated in the 2010s.
- They also played in different positions. Rivaldo was mostly in the middle of the field, while Messi played more on the wings but often moved around.
Let’s compare their goals, assists, titles, and individual awards to decide who’s the best.
Messi vs Rivaldo All-Time Stats
| Stat | Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Total Appearances | 1069 | 887 |
| Total Goals | 827 | 412 |
| Average | 0.77 | 0.46 |
| Total Assists | 400 | 108 |
| Champions League Goals | 129 | 27 |
| International Goals | 103 | 35 |
| Total Hat-tricks | 57 | – |
| Ballon d’Or Awards | 8 | 1 |
| Golden Shoe Awards | 6 | – |
| Champions League Titles | 4 | 1 |
| International Titles | 5 | 4 |
Messi vs Rivaldo Stats At Club Level
| Stat | Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 881 | 813 |
| Goals | 719 | 377 |
| Assists | 340 | 93 |
| Penalty Goals | 84 | 38 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 101′ | 180′ |
| Minutes Played | 72.402′ | 42.363′ |
Messi vs Rivaldo Stats At the National Level
| Stat | Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 178 | 76 |
| Goals | 106 | 35 |
| Assists | 56 | 15 |
| Penalty Goals | 23 | 4 |
| Minutes Per Goal | 141′ | 180′ |
| Minutes Played | 14.554′ | 6.309′ |
Messi vs Rivaldo Titles
| Competition | Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 10 | 2 |
| Copa del Rey | 7 | 1 |
| Supercopa de España | 8 | – |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 1 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 3 | 2 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 3 | – |
| Ligue 1 | 2 | – |
| Trophée des Champions | 1 | – |
| FIFA World Youth Championship | 1 | – |
| Summer Olympics | 1 | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup | 1 | 1 |
| Copa América | 1 | 1 |
| CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions | 1 | – |
| Brazilian Série A | – | 1 |
| Campeonato Paulista | – | 1 |
| Coppa Italia | – | 1 |
| Campeonato Mineiro | – | 1 |
| Alpha Ethniki/Super League Greece | – | 3 |
| Greek Cup | – | 2 |
| Uzbek League | – | 3 |
| Uzbekistan Cup | – | 2 |
| Confederations Cup | – | 1 |
| Umbro Cup | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 43 | 25 |
Messi vs Rivaldo Individual Awards
| Awards | Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|---|
| The Best FIFA Men’s Player | 8 | 1 |
| Ballon d’Or | 8 | 1 |
| European Golden Shoe | 6 | – |
| UEFA Best Player in Europe | 3 | – |
| Top Goalscorer | 23 | 3 |
| TM-Player of the season | 4 | – |
| Olympic Medalist | 1 | – |
| Footballer of the Year | 10 | 2 |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball | 2 | – |
| Pichichi Trophy | 8 | – |
| TOTAL | 73 | 7 |
Messi vs Rivaldo Penalty Goals
| Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|
| 109 | 42 |
Messi vs Rivaldo Free Kick Goals
| Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|
| 64 | 32 |
Messi vs Rivaldo Hat Tricks
| Messi | Rivaldo |
|---|---|
| 57 | – |
(FAQS)
Who’s The Best At Dribbling? Messi or Rivaldo
Lionel Messi is thought to be the best soccer player ever by lots of people who know a lot about soccer.
Rivaldo was a really good attacking midfielder. He was great at scoring goals, making passes, and using his skills to help his team.
WINNER: Messi
Who’s The Best At Heading? Messi or Rivaldo
Both Lionel Messi and Rivaldo are amazing football players. People usually think Rivaldo is better at heading the ball than Messi.
WINNER: Rivaldo
Who’s The Best At Passing? Messi or Rivaldo
Most people think Lionel Messi is better at passing the ball than Rivaldo.
WINNER: Messi
Who Is Better? Messi or Rivaldo
Both players have made important contributions to the game and are very valuable. While many people see Messi as the best ever (the “GOAT”), Rivaldo is still greatly respected as a legend in the world of football.
WINNER: Messi