Lionel Messi has scored 838 career goals to date, and while he’s outwitted most goalkeepers, a few have managed to stop him.

The Argentine forward has found the back of the net against some of the greatest goalkeepers in history, including Manuel Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, and Thibaut Courtois. However, we’ve compiled a list of seven top-quality goalkeepers who have faced Messi and never conceded a goal to him.

Julio Cesar 

The Brazilian goalkeeper holds the best record against Messi of any goalkeeper in football history. He has faced the Argentine forward five times and has never conceded a single goal to him.

Two of their encounters occurred on the international stage, while the other three were in the Champions League when Barcelona faced Inter Milan.

Arguably, the most iconic save of Júlio César’s career came against Messi. In the closing stages of the 2010 Champions League semifinal, with Barcelona needing just one more goal to reach the final, César made a brilliant save to deny Messi, sealing Inter Milan’s place in the final.

“I don’t know if it was the best one, but it is surely the most famous and important,” Cesar told La Gazzetta Dello Sport when discussing the save.

“Everyone remembers it. Still today, people ask me how I managed to do it. I stretched well. But the question is: how did Inter manage such an impressive performance?”

Victor Valdes

Messi spent 10 years playing alongside Valdés at Barcelona, likely scoring countless goals against him in training. However, when they faced off on the international stage in 2010, Messi couldn’t find a way past his Barcelona teammate.

Messi had the last laugh as Argentina secured a 4-1 victory that night. Although he did score in the match, it was against Pepe Reina, who was in goal during the first half. Valdés played the second half, keeping Messi at bay.

That was the only time he ever faced Valdés as an opponent throughout Messi's entire career.

Samir Handanovic

Inter has always seemed to be a tough opponent for Messi, so it’s no surprise that he never managed to score against Handanović.

In the Champions League, Messi faced the Nerazzurri four times but was unable to find the back of the net in any of those matches.

Handanović was in goal for one of those games, and while Messi didn’t score, he did assist Luis Suárez for an 84th-minute winner.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Messi spent two years as Donnarumma's teammate at PSG, but he never managed to score against the Italian goalkeeper in a competitive match.

They faced off in the 2022 Finalissima, and while Messi dominated the game with two assists, he couldn’t find a way past Donnarumma that night.

Tim Howard

Howard faced Messi in two international friendlies between 2008 and 2011, successfully keeping the Argentine forward at bay in both matches.

Although Messi never managed to score against him, the former United States international still considers Messi one of the best players he’s ever faced.