Who is better, Maldini or Messi?
Lionel Messi leads with a GOAT score of 97.0 against 88.8 for Paolo Maldini — a gap of 8.2 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
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Maldini vs Messi
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Quick answer
GOAT Rank currently ranks Lionel Messi above Paolo Maldini: 97.0 vs 88.8. Lionel Messi leads on Statistics, Peak, Dominance. Paolo Maldini leads on Longevity.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →GOAT verdictgoatrank.world
MessiWinner
97.0Messi wins: Dominance, Peak, Honours, Statistics
Maldini
88.8Maldini wins: Longevity
Candidates
Locked to FootballShareable URL · /compare/maldini-vs-messi
Time range
Showing full careers. Pick a window to recalculate the selected period.
Category radar
Verdict
Weighted GOAT score
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
97.0
Messi leads in 4 of 5 weighted categories.
1. Lionel Messi
2. Paolo Maldini
Category breakdown
Season form · Form index per season
Career timeline · Form index per season
Cumulative output season by season — the shape of each career against the other.
GOAT pace tracker
Through age 21 · Form index per season
1. 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi79 goals
4 seasons by age 21 · 19.8 per season
Setting the pace at age 21
No verified birth date for Maldini — shown in the pro-debut view instead.
Every career is cut at the season the athlete turned 21, so a rookie today is measured against exactly what a legend had banked by the same birthday.
| Metric | MaldiniRetired | MessiActive · Inter Miami CF |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 902 | — |
| Champions League titles | 5 | 4 |
| Serie A titles | 7 | — |
| International caps | 126 | — |
| Champions League appearances | 174 | — |
| Career goals | 40 | 879 |
| Career assists | — | 383 |
| Ballon d'Or | — | 8 |
| World Cups | — | 1 |
| League titles | — | 12 |
| Goals per 90 | — | 0.79 |
| Dominance w25% | 87 | 98 |
| Peak w20% | 87 | 99 |
| Longevity w20% | 96 | 92 |
| Honours w20% | 89 | 97 |
| Statistics w15% | 84 | 99 |
Fan vote — data vs the people
GOAT Rank · the data
Messi97.0
Maldini88.8
FAQ
Where does Maldini beat Messi?
Maldini scores higher on longevity. Messi leads on peak, dominance, honours, statistics.
How is the Maldini vs Messi score calculated?
Both are scored on peak, dominance, honours, statistics, longevity within their sport. Maldini: 88.8, Messi: 97.0.
What do you think?
0 commentsMake your case for Maldini vs Messi. The scoring is published in full — if you can point at the pillar or the weight you disagree with, we read it. Read the methodology paper.