Lionel Messi vs Mesut Özil
Two greats, side by side: honours, records, money and the numbers that define them.
| Football | Sport | Football |
| Argentina | Nationality | Germany |
| June 24, 1987 | Born | October 15, 1988 |
| 1.70 m / 5 ft 7 in | Height | 1.80 m / 5 ft 11 in |
| $1.1B | Net worth | $120M |
| 8 | Major honours | 6 |
| 4 | Records | 1 |
Career Numbers
| 930 | Career goals | - |
| 410 | Total career assists | - |
| 205 | Total international caps | - |
| 125 | Total international goals | - |
| 46 | Total club titles | - |
| - | Total appearances | 697 |
| - | Total goals | 121 |
| - | International caps | 92 |
| - | International goals | 23 |
Honours Side by Side
Lionel Messi (8)
- FIFA World Cup
- Copa América
- Ballon d'Or
- European Golden Shoe
- Most goals in La Liga
- Most goals in a calendar year
Mesut Özil (6)
- FIFA World Cup
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- DFB-Pokal
- FA Cup
- La Liga
- German National Team Player of the Year
The Case for Each
Lionel Messi brings the heavier trophy cabinet: 8 documented honours against 6 for Mesut Özil. Silverware is not the whole story, but it is the first line of any football argument.
On records, Lionel Messi holds 4 documented marks. Records show peaks; honours show sustained dominance. The two lists rarely agree on a winner.
Lionel Messi is the senior figure by roughly 1 year, which frames the comparison: one career is closer to its final shape, the other still has chapters to write.
Commercially, Lionel Messi leads with an estimated $1.1B net worth. Earning power tracks fame more than form, but it is part of the legacy question.
Both profiles update daily: Lionel Messi and Mesut Özil each carry full stats, honours and news on AthleteWiki.
Full profiles: Lionel Messi · Mesut Özil