Mesut Özil vs Lionel Messi
Mesut Özil vs Lionel Messi: head-to-head — careers, honours, key numbers and why the rivalry matters.
Why compare Mesut Özil and Lionel Messi?
Özil's career coincided with Messi's rise, leading to comparisons in playmaking ability and creativity.
Mesut Özil
Key numbers
- Total club appearances427
- Total club goals73
- International caps92
- International goals23
- Major tournaments played5
Top honours
- FIFA World Cup2014 with Germany
- La Liga2011–2012 with Real Madrid
- FA Cup2014, 2015, 2017, 2020 with Arsenal
- DFB-Pokal2009 with Werder Bremen
- German National Team Player of the Year5 times
VS
Lionel Messi
Key numbers
- Total senior career goalsOver 910
- Total assistsOver 410
- Total goal contributionsOver 1,320
- Total club appearancesOver 650
- Total international caps198
Top honours
- Ballon d'Or8 times
- European Golden Shoe6 times
- FIFA World Cup2022
- Copa América2021, 2024
- Most goals in a calendar year91 goals