Athletes & Sports Icons · Head-to-head
Usain Bolt vs Lionel Messi
No — based on their recorded years, Usain Bolt (born 1986) lived before Lionel Messi (born 1987), and their lifetimes did not overlap.
Usain Bolt
A Jamaican sprinter widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, with eight Olympic gold medals.
Key achievements
- Won eight Olympic gold medals across his sprinting career
- Set world records in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4×100 metres relay
- Became a global icon of track and field in the 2000s and 2010s
- Is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter in the history of the sport
Fast fact
Usain Bolt is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time.
Full profile of Usain Bolt →Lionel Messi
An Argentine professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Key achievements
- Won eight Ballons d'Or, the most of any footballer
- Is the most decorated player in the history of professional football with 46 team trophies
- Led Argentina to victory at the FIFA World Cup
- Holds numerous individual scoring and assist records in professional football
Fast fact
Messi has scored over 910 senior career goals for club and country.
Full profile of Lionel Messi →Who lived first, Usain Bolt or Lionel Messi?
Usain Bolt (born 1986) lived first, before Lionel Messi (born 1987), based on their recorded years.
Were Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi contemporaries?
No — based on their recorded years, Usain Bolt (born 1986) lived before Lionel Messi (born 1987), and their lifetimes did not overlap.
What do Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi have in common?
Both Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi are grouped among our Athletes & Sports Icons figures and lived during the Modern Era.