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Maradona vs Messi
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Candidates
Locked to FootballShareable URL · /compare/maradona-vs-messi
Time range
Showing full careers. Pick a window to re-score dominance, peak, longevity and honours for that period only.
Category radar
Verdict
Weighted GOAT score
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
0.0
Messi leads on 5 of 5 weighted categories. Eight Ballons d'Or and a World Cup to close the argument.
1. Lionel Messi
2. Diego Maradona
Category breakdown
Season form · Goals per season
Career stage · GOAT pace
Through season 5 · Goals per season1. 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi5 seasons played126 goals
Setting the pace at this stage
2. 🇦🇷 Diego Maradona5 seasons played114 goals
-9.5% vs Messi at the same stage
Careers are aligned at debut, so a rookie's first 5 seasons are measured against the same window in a legend's career — Yamal against Messi at the same age-stage, a tour rookie against Tiger Woods in 1996.