Lionel Messi vs Ousmane Dembélé
Argentina against France. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Lionel Messi
Argentina · 2021–24 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 99
- Rank in Argentina
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 207 · 125 goals
- Clubs
- Newell's Old Boys, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami CF
- Honours
- 2× Ballon d'Or (2009–2010) · FIFA World Player of the Year 2009 · The Best FIFA award 2019
Lusail, 18 December 2022: he scored twice in a final that ended 3-3, then buried the first penalty of a shootout Argentina won 4-2. The trophy cabinet runs from the 2022 World Cup and a second Golden Ball through the Copa América of 2021 and 2024 to eight Ballon d'Or awards, four Champions Leagues, ten La Liga titles and 672 goals for Barcelona. Career record: 207 caps and 125 goals for Argentina; club career at Newell's Old Boys, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami CF; honours include 2× Ballon d'Or (2009–2010), FIFA World Player of the Year 2009, The Best FIFA award 2019.
Ousmane Dembélé
France · 2015–26 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 92
- Rank in France
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 65 · 12 goals
- Clubs
- Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
- Honours
- Ballon d'Or 2025
Twenty-five first-half minutes against Norway on 26 June 2026 brought Dembélé three goals, the fastest World Cup hat-trick in seventy-two years and the first of his France career. A World Cup winner with France in 2018, he took the 2025 Ballon d'Or after carrying Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League, and league titles in both Paris and Barcelona, plus the 2017 German Cup at Dortmund. Career record: 65 caps and 12 goals for France; club career at Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain; honours include Ballon d'Or 2025.
The verdict
The almanac puts Lionel Messi ahead by 7 rating points, 99 against 92.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.