06/29/2025
Major Individual Awards
1. Ballon d’Or: 8
• Years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
• Awarded by France Football for the world’s best male footballer.
2. FIFA World Player of the Year / The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 3
• Years: 2009, 2019, 2022
• FIFA’s equivalent to the Ballon d’Or, recognizing the best male player globally.
3. European Golden Shoe: 6
• Years: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• Awarded to the top goalscorer in European leagues, adjusted by league difficulty.
4. La Liga Best Player (LFP Awards): 6
• Years: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
• Given by La Liga for the best player in the Spanish top flight.
5. Pichichi Trophy (La Liga Top Scorer): 8
• Years: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
• Awarded by Marca to La Liga’s leading goalscorer.
6. FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2
• Years: 2014, 2022
• Awarded to the best player at the FIFA World Cup.
7. Copa América Best Player: 2
• Years: 2015, 2021
• Awarded to the best player in the Copa América tournament.
8. FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2
• Years: 2009, 2011
• Given to the best player in the FIFA Club World Cup.
9. Copa América Top Scorer: 1
• Year: 2021
• Awarded for scoring the most goals in the Copa América (4 goals).
10. Argentine Footballer of the Year (Olimpia de Plata): 16
• Years: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Awarded by the Argentine Sports Journalists’ Circle.
11. Argentine Sportsperson of the Year (Olimpia de Oro): 4
• Years: 2011, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Recognizes the best Argentine athlete across all sports.
12. FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball: 1
• Year: 2005
• Awarded to the best player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
13. FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Shoe: 1
• Year: 2005
• Awarded for being the top scorer at the FIFA U-20 World Cup (6 goals).
14. Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2
• Years: 2020, 2023
• Prestigious global award for the best male athlete across all sports.
15. UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 4
• Years: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
• Awarded to the top goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.
16. UEFA Men’s Player of the Year (formerly UEFA Best Player in Europe): 2
• Years: 2011, 2015
• Recognizes the best player in European football.
17. FIFA FIFPro World XI: 17
• Years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Selected as one of the best 11 players globally by FIFPro and FIFA.
Other Notable Individual Awards
• Onze d’Or: 4 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018)
• Awarded by French magazine Onze Mondial for the world’s best player.
• Goal 50: 5 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019)
• Given by Goal.com for the best player of the season.
• European Golden Boy: 1 (2005)
• Awarded by Tuttosport to the best young player in Europe.
• Bravo Award: 1 (2007)
• Given by Guerin Sportivo to the best young player in Europe.
• Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 1 (2021–22)
• Awarded by UNFP for the best player in France’s Ligue 1.
• MLS Most Valuable Player (Landon Donovan MVP Award): 1 (2024)
• Awarded for the best player in Major League Soccer.
• Leagues Cup Top Scorer: 1 (2023)
• Top scorer in the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami (10 goals).
• Leagues Cup Best Player: 1 (2023)
• Best player in the Leagues Cup tournament.
• World Soccer Player of the Year: Multiple (exact count varies, but at least 7: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022)
• Awarded by World Soccer magazine.
• ESM Team of the Year: Multiple (at least 10 inclusions, 2005–06, 2007–08 to 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17)
• Selected by the European Sports Media.
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: Multiple (at least 7 inclusions, 2014–15 to 2020–21)
• Selected by UEFA for the best players in the competition.
• La Liga Player of the Month: 9 (2015–2021, specific months vary)
• Awarded by La Liga for monthly performances.
• Copa América Best Young Player: 1 (2007)
• FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 1 (2015)
• Copa América Team of the Tournament: 7 (2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024)
• CONMEBOL Player of the Decade: 1 (2011–2020)
• Recognized by CONMEBOL for his performances in South American football.
Key Individual Records (Not Trophies but Notable)
• Most goals for a single club: 672 (Barcelona)
• Most goals in La Liga: 474
• Most assists in football history: 384
• Most goals in a calendar year: 91 (2012)
• Most international goals by a male CONMEBOL player: 112
• Most goals in El Clásico: 26
• Most goals in a single La Liga season: 50 (2011–12)
• Most goal contributions in international tournament knockout matches: 29
• Most Man of the Match awards in Copa América: 15
• Only player to win Best Player/Golden Ball at FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup, and Copa América
• Fastest to reach 300 and 400 goals in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
The greatest of all time 🐐
