Meh, neither of them has won the South Bucks Inter-Schools U15 Challenge Cup, so I wouldn't swap careers with either of these losers.
Whose career would you rather have had? Messi or Zidane
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Look mate, I speak Spanish so stop trying to pull the wool over my eyes.
That says he would swap his personal prizes for a world cup, not the honours he's won on the pitch.
Counting the managerial career, Zidane has had a far better footballing career. Ballon d'Ors, Euros, World Cup, back to back to back CLs, he's got it all. Messi has got a pretty poor international career, and most probably won't have a managerial career either.
Ah my bad, didn't pay attention
There's this from 2011 https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/cambiaria-todo-por-ganar-con-la-seleccion-nid1385947/amp
In general, whenever the question popped up or he spoke about it throughout the years his answer has always remained the same
"Zidane has had by far the better footballing career."
That a man considered the greatest player of all time? Do you realise how absurd that statement is?
We're talkng about careers, not about skill.
Messi has done feck all with his national team, therefor it's not even close.
Zidane by far.
Footballing career = Playing for 1)Club + 2)Country + 3)Managing
Zidane has been far superior in 2 out of 3.
No, the reality is many years ago, before he had won numerous titles, he used to say he'd swap them for a World Cup. In the most recent one, he only says he would swap his individual honours for a World cup.
Bitter Madrid fans.
Messi. He earns much more money in his career than Zidane, and won more trophies and individual awards too. So its easy choice.
But sure one could argue Zidane has easily far better international career. But feck it, country don't pay you off your bills.
But sure one could argue Zidane has easily far better international career. But feck it, country don't pay you off your bills.
Because he was asked about that specifically
Career is not just how many team trophies you win. Nobody remembers Nicky Butt despite what he's won for his club. Individual trophies, records, great goals and all counts as well.
Still means even Messi himself acknowledge WC as the biggest trophy for him.
It's amazing, the question is subjective and the answers aren't really debatable but somehow you pick fights with others people opinions. If you rather have Messi's career perfect but not everyone cares about the same things.
I'm sure no one remembers Zidane scoring in champions league and world cup finals either.
Yeah i mean, nobody remembers Zinedine Zidane 
He's only the guy half the current pros grew up idolizing
He's only the guy half the current pros grew up idolizing
I do, I'll never forget that volley in the CL final. World cup was 2 headers if I remember correctly.
I think you misunderstood my point.
Oh go away. You know plenty about "picking fights."
Huh? You said great goals count aswell and I gave you a few of Zidane's goals that probably more people remember than the best ones Messi scored.
Thanks, some people just love to argue this way I think.I do, on things that are debatable. Here your opinion is as valid as anyone's because it only concerns you, it's entirely subjective.
Point being that I don't think anyone would argue that Javier Hernandez had a greater career than Alan Shearer, because Hernandez has won 1 more PL title than him. Hernandez is remembered as a super subtitute while Alan Shearer is remembered as one the greatest PL strikers of all time.
Zidane is overrated as feck.
Great player mind you but it's leonel messi. He will be remembered better than pele and maradona when he hangs his boots
Great player mind you but it's leonel messi. He will be remembered better than pele and maradona when he hangs his boots
I agree with you that Zidane's goals are iconic and historical. I'd say that on club level though Messi's are just as good, like his solo goal vs the entire Real madrid defense in the semi final.
So stop being such a hypocrite.
Nope, maybe only remembered by Cules and younger fans but for older fans and especially Argentinian Fans definitely not. As long as Messi hasn't won anything at NT, Pele and Maradona are still remembered better than Messi.
How? I didn't judge your opinion or called you bitter because you expressed a different one.
Fifty years from now, some won't even remember Zidane's name. Messi will be remembered for the next one hundred years. In fact, it will become one of those trick questions - which legend in the game never won an international tournament? And many will not realize it's Messi.
In terms of trophies and ability of course Messi is above Zidane but you cannot underestimate what the 1998 WC win did for France and a huge part of the population, it goes way beyond the sport. Plus he has headbutting ability that Messi will never reach 
Zidane is the greatest in football today. If you include both his managerial and player career, there is nobody like him today or ever.
You're a hypocrite for calling me out for "picking out fights" and then admitting that you do the same.
Would you agree that Zidane has had a "far superior career" to Messi, as one of those Madrid fans said?
Messi or Zidane?
Hmmm.. Nah, neither
Lingard!
Hmmm.. Nah, neither
Lingard!
Nope, rather Bebe or Djemba-Djemba
Messi. Obviously.
Better question is which player has a better trophy haul
No,no. They don't have clothes brand or something. He is multi talented, unlike
P.S. Messi.
Zidane's. Has won each and every title on club and national level. Has had a fantastic management career too. Messi indidually is the better player, sure. However, Zidane has really won it all both as a player and a manager.
Well in that context I'm not an hypocrite since I didn't call you out for picking fight, I simply don't understand how you can pick fights regarding a question that is personal, there is no good or bad answer. If it was a matter of fact or something that wasn't personal, I wouldn't be amazed by your response.
Also the poster said that Zidane has been far superior in two aspects of his career, at international level and as a manager which isn't really up for debate since Messi won nothing at international level and hasn't managed yet.
Messi for me. I know, I'm biased since I'm a Barcelona fan, but I have watched his career since the beginnings and at 19-20 he was already one of the best players in the world with performances such as a hat-trick against Real Madrid, the goal that imitates Maradona's the most against Getafe and numerous instances of embarrassing world class players and legends like Roberto Carlos, Cannavaro, Robben etc. The guy was a one man army as a freaking teenager. Ronaldinho in his pomp admitted that he is not even the best player at Barcelona, Messi is. Sure, you could argue that he was modest and propped a youngin', but not a year later and Messi was already better than Ronaldinho without question, so it wasn't that far from the truth. I can just imagine barely having the legal drinking age and completely demolishing world class players left, right and center. I am beyond happy when I manage to dribble one player in my 5 a side Sunday kickabout with my mates, nevermind going full throttle through world class defenders from the half way line over and over again.
And the guy has continued to do this year in, year out for the next 10-15 years. There is almost nothing Messi can't do with a ball at his feet so for me it's an easy choice. At the end of the day football is a team sport so winning titles depends on so many more factors, that one sole player can control so much. That's not even mentioning Messi's trophy cabinet is nothing to sneeze at.
Disclaimer, I'm not patriotic so maybe it weighs a bit against what it means to win a trophy for my country. I couldn't care less if my country wins a World Cup or gets trashed 5-0 against Andorra. It's all the same to me, so maybe I can't appreciate the value people put on WC. This also applies to individual sports. There are many instances when I root for the opponents of my countryman. If I don't like the sportsmans of my country then they could be GOATS of their respective sports and I wouldn't give a feck.
And the guy has continued to do this year in, year out for the next 10-15 years. There is almost nothing Messi can't do with a ball at his feet so for me it's an easy choice. At the end of the day football is a team sport so winning titles depends on so many more factors, that one sole player can control so much. That's not even mentioning Messi's trophy cabinet is nothing to sneeze at.
Disclaimer, I'm not patriotic so maybe it weighs a bit against what it means to win a trophy for my country. I couldn't care less if my country wins a World Cup or gets trashed 5-0 against Andorra. It's all the same to me, so maybe I can't appreciate the value people put on WC. This also applies to individual sports. There are many instances when I root for the opponents of my countryman. If I don't like the sportsmans of my country then they could be GOATS of their respective sports and I wouldn't give a feck.