Lionel Messi is the undisputed GOAT after the World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have both had an incredible calendar year. Mbappe lit up the Watar World Cup and won the Golden Boot after being Ligue 1 Player of the Year last season for firing PSG to the French title. Haaland meanwhile has taken a move to the Premier League in his stride, hitting 24 goals before the New Year including three Premier League hat-tricks already.
The two are poised to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the two main Ballon d’Or contenders of the next decade. Were it not for Messi’s resurgence this season, after a disappointing year by his standards last term, some would argue Mbappe and Haaland have already assumed the joint-throne.
But Messi, even at 35, just continues to astound. If 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 PSG games this season wasn’t enough, the World Cup Golden Ball winner lit up Qatar with seven goals and three assists in seven games. With the most iconic team trophy in the game now on his CV, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate with Ronaldo seems very much over.
And Mbappe and Haaland have now provided an extra underline in Messi’s favor too. The pair have been sensational in 2022, racking up a combined 77 goals and 22 assists in 75 appearances at club level for PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.
And yet in 2012, a 24-year-old Messi – on his own – managed 79 goals and 21 assists in just 60 appearances at Barcelona. Add in international appearances, and the Argentine managed a staggering 91 goals and 22 assists. That was from just 69 matches.
Granted, when Mbappe and Haaland’s exploits for France and Norway are factored in, their combined numbers improve to 98 goals in 97 appearances, as well as 27 assists. And yet from two world-class players, that is still only seven goals and five assists more than Messi managed alone 10 years ago.
Messi’s single-year 2012 statistics may truly never be beaten, even by an Mbappe or a Haaland, both statistical freaks in their own right. That said, the Frenchman – fresh from a phenomenal World Cup – is most definitely scoring at an incredible rate.
MBAPPE IN 2022
CLUB: 42 appearances, 43 goals, 16 assists
COUNTRY: 13 appearances, 12 goals, 3 assists
OVERALL: 55 appearances, 55 goals, 19 assists
HAALAND IN 2022
CLUB: 33 appearances, 34 goals, 6 assists
COUNTRY: 9 appearances, 9 goals, 2 assists
OVERALL: 42 appearances, 43 goals, 8 assists
MBAPPE AND HAALAND IN 2022 (COMBINED)
CLUB AND COUNTRY: 97 appearances, 98 goals, 27 assists
CLUB ONLY: 75 appearances, 77 goals, 22 assists
MESSI IN 2012
CLUB AND COUNTRY: 69 appearances, 91 goals, 22 assists
CLUB ONLY: 60 appearances, 79 goals, 21 assists