The comparison between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona is one of the most enduring debates in world soccer. Messi’s impressive performances at the 2026 World Cup have once again brought to the forefront Maradona’s historic run in the 1986 tournament.

Messi finished the tournament with eight appearances, eight goals, and four assists, recording an average rating of 8.79. At the same time, he created eight big chances, averaged 3.25 key passes, 3.50 successful dribbles, and 7.50 duels won per match.

Maradona, during Argentina’s legendary run to the 1986 World Cup title, scored five goals and recorded five assists in seven matches, with a rating of 9.00. He also created eight big chances, while significantly outperforming Messi in key passes, successful dribbles, and duels won per game.

The numbers show that Messi was more productive in terms of finishing, but Maradona had an even greater impact in terms of playmaking, individual actions, and one-on-one duels. The different eras, playing styles, and conditions of the two tournaments make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

*photo source: AP