There are no two athletes more dominant right now than Lionel Messi and Lebron James.
I know they play two different sports, but if ESPN can waste time debating about which streak was better, the Heat’s or the Blackhawk’s, then surely I can debate about Lebron James (Miami Heat) and Lionel Messi (Futbol Club Barcelona). I have divided this argument into four 
categories.
Better Video Game Stats
Whenever any athlete nowadays delivers such a mind blowing performance, fans may use the phrase “video game stats” to describe how tremendous that athlete’s performance was.
Both James and Messi have their fair share of games where they have put up staggering numbers.
Messi has multiple four-goal games on his resume, including an unprecedented five-goal game, which is unheard of for the level of competition he faces.
James had a stretch of six games where he scored more than 30 points and shot at least 60 percent from the floor which just boggles my mind considering he takes the most shots on the team.
This is a close category to judge, but I have to give to Messi because his numbers overall are record-breaking. He scored 91 goals in a calendar year for Barcelona, smashing the previous record of 85. James has unbelievable stats, but other legendary players have achieved them in the past.
Winner: Messi.
Better Championship Pedigree
Every dominant athlete in professional sports must solidify their spot in the history books by winning as many championships as possible.
This is where loyal fans turn into rabid critics when it comes to these two magnificent athletes.
Neither one has had major success winning championships. James has won one NBA title in ten seasons and Messi has won several La Liga titles and a couple Champions League titles, but not the FIFA World Cup.
They both have performed very poorly in moments where they should perform as a champion that history will remember for decades.
This is a tough one to but the winner is Lebron simply because James has won two gold medals and an NBA title, and those are the two most prestigious championships a player can win with a team in basketball. Messi has not won a World Cup yet or has even had a memorable moment, something that cannot be missing from his legacy.
Winner: Lebron.
Better In-game entertainer
Lebron wins this category because every game he is a threat to be a “top ten play” on SportsCenter.
Messi makes an unbelievable amount of entertaining plays on the field, but he does not create the same Twitter and YouTube buzz that Lebron does. Lebron has more highlights featuring spectacular passes and acrobatic dunks than any other player in the league right now.
I mean the man completely hurdled over a fully grown human being to successfully thrown down a vicious alley-oop.
Winner: Lebron.
Better Trophy Collection
I am only putting stock into the awards James and Messi won as professional athletes because that is when these two really started to establish their legacies.
Lebron has won 2 NBA All Star Game MVP awards, NBA Rookie of the Year, 3 NBA MVP Awards, and a NBA Finals MVP Award.
With all that being said Messi is the winner of this category because every major individual soccer award there is to win Messi has won the past four years!
Winner: Messi.
Who wins?
Lebron is more dominant by a hair, or I should say title.
He has achieved greatness at the pinnacle of his sport by winning the NBA Finals and being Finals MVP.
Messi has not won a World Cup despite consistent greatness and record breaking numbers.
Without a World Cup for Messi, Lebron remains the most dominant athlete in sports for now.
Damone Griffin
Features Contributer
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