Comparing the stats from Lionel Messi’s 8 Ballon d’Or-winning years

Nestor Watach • 30 Oct 2023

Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award a record-stretching eight times throughout his peerless career – which led us to compare his stats from each of his award-winning years.

Messi, who first won the award in 2009, has been remarkably consistent over the last 13 years and has shown no signs of slowing down – even if he doesn’t appear on the shortlist for this year’s award.

“It’s nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment,” Messi said when picking up the latest award.

“To be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream.”

Using data from Messi Stats, we’ve taken a look at his stats for club and country in each of the eight years he’s received the Ballon d’Or award. We’ve also included his stats from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for which his role in Argentina’s triumph proved pivotal in winning his eighth golden ball.

2009

Games: 64
Starts: 52
Sub appearances: 12

Goals: 41
Assists: 15

Penalties scored: 5

Minutes per goal: 123.2
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 140.4
Minutes per goal or assist: 90.2

2010

Games: 64
Starts: 57
Sub appearances: 7

Goals: 60
Assists: 17

Penalties scored: 1

Minutes per goal: 88.7
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 90.2
Minutes per goal or assist: 69.1

READ: A forensic analysis of Lionel Messi’s amazing 2010 performance v Arsenal

2011

Games: 70
Starts: 67
Sub appearances: 3

Goals: 59
Assists: 36

Penalties scored: 8

Minutes per goal: 104.7
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 121.2
Minutes per goal or assist: 65

2012

Games: 69
Starts: 65
Sub appearances: 4

Goals: 91
Assists: 22

Penalties scored: 14

Minutes per goal: 65.6
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 77.5
Minutes per goal or assist: 52.8

In 2012 Messi scored 91 goals in a year for Barcelona. It’ll never be done again. Alien. pic.twitter.com/0QJxhcVc2S

— Elliot Hackney (@ElliotHackney) August 5, 2021

2015

Games: 61
Starts: 57
Sub appearances: 4

Goals: 52
Assists: 26

Penalties scored: 8

Minutes per goal: 100.8
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 119.1
Minutes per goal or assist: 67.2

2019

Games: 58
Starts: 51
Sub appearances: 7

Goals: 50
Assists: 18

Penalties scored: 8

Minutes per goal: 93.6
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 11.4
Minutes per goal or assist: 68.8

#OnThisDay 2019 | Two years ago today, Leo #Messi scored this, his 600th career goal. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/u8F8jMLL9T

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 1, 2021