Often by very significant margins. So your theory that it's all about the club falls flat because (a) the players and coaches at Barcelona have changed, and Messi keeps operating at an extremely high level and (b) you can't find other players that are as effective and determinant as Messi on any other world-class team.

That's why there's a need to retreat to lazy & subjective arguments like "the eye test". It's the crutch needed when one can't articulate arguments to defend their point.