Lionel Messi has built up his career in such a legendary way! With incredible accuracy playing football and even the most absurd goals, dribbling unmatched, vision to see things happening on the field before it did, Messi is a name to be reckoned with in the records of football.
His performances in the UEFA Champions League have been perhaps some of the most unforgettable among the countless accolades and titles he has accrued.
So exactly how many Champions Leagues has Lionel Messi won by June 2024? Let’s explore!
The Making of a Legend
Lionel Messi’s journey as an all time great, how did it start from Barcelona?
Messi has been a cornerstone of Barcelona’s domestic and international success since making his debut for the first team in 2004.
His output in the Champions League, the top club competition in Europe, stands out the most.
Total Amount of Titles Messi Has Won Till Now
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4 titles with FC Barcelona:
- 2005–06: Messi and the team were involved but due to injury, Messi failed to get his career going yet.
- 2008-2009: Came good in the final, delivered in patches through the tournament.
- 2010-2011: Messi again played a key role and scored Barcelona’s clinching third goal in their win over Manchester United in the final.
- 2014-2015: Barcelona win the treble with major help from Rakitic.
1 title with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
- 2023-2024: Delivered stellar performances leading PSG to victory in the Champions League.
Champions League Titles Before 2024
But, before we get into the recent heroics from Messi in the Champions League, there has been a haul of competition victories for the Argentine until 2018. Messi had by that time already claimed the Champions League on four occasions with Barcelona:
- 2005-06: Barcelona beat Arsenal in the final 2-1. Messi, though, missed the final through injury but was involved in that squad of course.
- 2008-09: Manchester United 0-2 Barcelona. Even Messi topped off the memorable performance with a header goal.
- 2010-11: In a repeat of the 2009 final, Barcelona defeated Manchester United 3-1. With a key goal from Messi to boot, another notch on the legend of Messi.
- 2014-15: Barcelona 3-1 Juventus: Final It was Messi’s performance throughout the tournament that was decisive.
In 2018 Messi had already long sealed his legacy as one of the Champions League greatest ever players. But that was not the end of his story.
Messi’s Champions League Journey from 2018 to 2024
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2018-2019 Season
Barcelona last reached the semi-finals in the 2018-2019 season, when they were sensationally defeated by Liverpool.
Messi still finished the tournament as top scorer, more impressive form from the Argentine.
2019-2020 Season
Shockingly, Barcelona were humiliated 8-2 in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich.
That defeat signalled the end of an era for sure, and was the hammer that started the nails on events that would eventually spell Messi’s departure.
2020-2021 Season
In 2020 Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Their march was brought to an end in the semi-finals, however, by the might of Manchester City.
While it was an admirable showing from Messi, the final reward remained elusive.
2021-2022 Season
In the 2021-2022 season, however, the appearance of Messi was perhaps the glimmer of light leading to the finals.
In the final they defeated Chelsea 2–1. The victory meant Messi claimed an unprecedented fifth Champions League success, and first with PSG.
2022-2023 Season
Paris Saint-Germain came up short in the 2022-2023 season, knocked out in the quarters.
That year was no different for Messi as he continued to play out of his skin, but the team were unable to emulate the achievements of the past.
2023-2024 Season
It was to be a record-breaking 2023/24 season for Messi and PSG.
On their way to the final, they triumphed through a difficult route including a match up against Manchester City.
PSG won 3-2 in an epic game, sealing Messi his sixth Champions League final.
Comparing Messi to Other Football Legends
Few names incite the same level of respect of adoration as those of footballing legends, and amongst that group is Lionel Messi.
Though, given Messi has been compared to other footballing greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pelé and Diego Maradona during his illustrious career.
None of these players has affected the beautiful game quite like each of those mentioned above, but how does Messi’s record compare to theirs?
Cristiano Ronaldo
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Another one of Messi’s great opponents, Cristiano Ronaldo, has similarly left a lasting mark on the Champions League.
Ronaldo enjoys five Champions League titles by June 2024 with all of them coming in his stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Each player has set the standard for the other throughout their careers and Ronaldo’s athleticism, adaptability and knack of getting on the scoresheet have secured his place as one of the game’s greats.
It is a debate for the ages, with Messi’s incredible playmaking abilities and vision on the field playing to his strengths, whereas Ronaldo’s physicality and clinical finishing make for a great argument on the flipside of things.
Pelé
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One of the greatest footballers of all time, Pelé also spent most of his career at Santos FC and New York Cosmos. Pele, who never appeared in the Champions League, has three FIFA World Cup titles with Brazil, a record only Italy, Germany and Argentina have equaled to his name that he can lay claim to as well.
The skill, charisma, and goal-scoring ability of Pelé have seen him become a genuine global icon.
Although Messi has one World Cup win (if he triumphs in 2022 final), Pelé’s lack of European club honours, especially in the Champions League, will see the Brazilian inevitably play second fiddle to the Argentine in terms of performances in top-tier continental club competitions.
Diego Maradona
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Messi is often mentioned in the same way as another Argentine legend in Diego Maradona.
Many thanks to his performance at the 1986 World container, when he led Argentina to winning, Maradona’s heroics have actually seen him cherished in the annals of football.
Maradona succeeded at club level, but there were no Champions League crowns in his cabinet.
His brilliance on the field is frequently compared to Messi’s level of sustained, sustained greatness over time.
Maradona may have been a ball wizard but Messi shows magic and persistence over two decades literally, crossing generations.
Johan Cruyff
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Johan Cruyff influenced the game from his days as a player to his time as a manager and tactician.
Cruyff helped lead Ajax to three European Cups in the early 1970s and is the godfather of “Total Football,” a methodology of play that has influenced modern styles.
The idea of football that reached the school of thinking has definitely helped Messi and it was a concept that Crus, a student of Cruyff, helped him transcend.
Although Cruff’s wins were quite close to him, the number of times Messi has remembered with his individual games continues to cement his position in a league of very high quality.
Conclusion
Lionel Messi’s six Champions League crowns, dating back to his opening years with Barcelona through to his time at PSG, highlight his spectacular influence on the game.
His tendency to deliver on the big stage, consistently, without fail, leading his sides to victory time and time again, has just about cemented his place in the conversation of the best who have ever lived.
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