#5 Lionel Messi – Argentina
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Finally, we take a look at the stats of Lionel Andres Messi for Argentina, who is the all-time top-scorer for La Albiceleste:
| Overall record | 55 goals in 113 appearances |
| Best World Cup Finish | Runners-up (1) – 2014 |
| Copa America | Runners-up (3) – 2007, 2015, 2016 |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball | 2014 |
| Copa America Most Valuable Player | 2015 (rejected) |
| FIFA World Cup Dream Team | 2014 |
| Copa America Dream Team | 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016 |
| Copa America Best Goal | 2007 |
| FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball | 2005 |
| FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Shoe | 2005 |
| Copa America Best young player | 2007 |
| Olympic Gold Medal | 2008 |
To summarize, are Messi’s international statistics the best on this list? Perhaps not. But they also certainly do not pale in comparison. He’s performed very well in major tournaments and got agonizingly close to winning the World Cup and Copa America on four occasions, failing to overcome the final hurdle as he was denied by penalty shootouts twice and lost the World Cup final in extra time. Where does he deserve to be ranked amongst the best the world has ever seen? The debate will go on for years to come.
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Edited by Staff Editor
