Captain America is one of the oldest and most powerful Marvel superheroes. He's been around since March 1941 and is still going strong. A lot of people don't like Captain America because of his no-nonsense personality, but there's no denying that he's a force to be reckoned with and also works as a symbol of ideals and beliefs that bring people together.
Captain America has fought many villains during his long life as a superhero and even though he won most of the time, there were a few enemies that proved too much even for him, for example, Thanos. Let's give Captain America a second chance and take a look at who would win - whether Thanos or him.
Allies: Captain America
Captain America knows very well that there's strength in numbers and he works well in a team as their leader. He did so during the Second World War with Howling Commandos and again in the 21st century with the Avengers.
His allies and friends can always help him out and stand by his side in a battle. Thanos, on the other hand, mostly likes to play solo in the comics and even though he has a few allies at his side as well, he doesn't really trust them.
Intelligence: Tie
Both Thanos and Captain America are immensely intelligent people. Captain America's mental processes got enhanced when he got the supersoldier serum and even beforehand, he was no dummy.
He's a brilliant strategist, has sharp senses and quick thinking that saved his skin more than once. Thanos then possesses deep knowledge in multiple fields and is also extremely good at devising a functional battle strategy.
Shield/Mjolnir: Captain America
Captain America and his faithful shield are a duo that simply belongs together. That's why it's always so noticeable in the MCU films when somebody steals Captain's shield (such as Spider-Man in the 2016 Captain America: Civil War movie) or manages to catch it (Bucky).
Despite these occasional setbacks, the shield works as an excellent weapon, knocks down multiple opponents, and then returns when it belongs, to Captain's hands. The Mjolnir is even better since it gives the one who wields it some useful extra powers.
Infinity Gauntlet: Thanos
That's how the whole mess started in the MCU - with Thanos collecting the Infinity Stones for his gauntlet. When it contains all the stones, it has the power to forever change the world, no, space, as everybody knows it.
Unlike Iron Man, Captain America would probably be able to wield the gauntlet, but since it left serious damage even on Thanos, it's safe to assume that this weapon is a curse in disguise.
Hand To Hand Combat: Captain America
It's never a good idea to mess with Captain America, not if one values his or her health and wants it to remain intact. Captain America is highly proficient at hand to hand combat and knows various types of martial arts that he can use against his enemies - and does so, on everyday bases.
To name just a few of the martial arts he knows, Steve Rogers can do Judo, Jujitsu, Wushu, Boxing, and many more. In other words, this hero sure knows how to throw a punch.
Strength: Thanos
Captain America may know his fair share of fighting styles but when it comes to actual strength one can use in a fight, Thanos wins the round. According to some sources, Captain America's strength reaches the level of 2500 kilos.
That's impressive, but considering that Thanos's strength level is so high it's impossible to count, Captain America doesn't stand a chance in this area.
Fighting Experience: Tie
Captain America has been a soldier for a long time. One could almost argue that's all that he knows, and it certainly plays a highly important part in his life. He spent a long time fighting and has seen and experienced a lot.
The same can be said for Thanos, who might have spent a lot of time sitting around in the background and waiting for others to do his bidding but wasn't afraid to step up and fight for himself and his goals when he deemed it necessary.
Physiology: Thanos
Captain America might be the example of a peak of human possibilities, but Thanos's natural physiology still makes him superior to any human, albeit an enhanced one such as Steve Rogers.
Not only does Thanos have superhuman strength, but he's also superhumanly fast, agile, durable, and has amazing reflexes. That's a lot to take in and while Captain America also possesses the same traits, they're simply not on the same level.
Resilience: Captain America
One of the main reasons why Steve Rogers was chosen for the supersoldier program and received the serum that changed him into the hero he is today, is his resilience. Even before he became a hero, Steve wasn't a one to back down in a fight, even though it meant he usually suffered a serious beating.
This aspect of his personality, his resilience, or even stubbornness, means that Steve Rogers always finds a way how to win in the end - whatever it takes.
Winner: Captain America
It was a very close call and the fight didn't go without shedding blood, but in the end, Captain America is the winner. Thanos might be stronger and have the Infinity Gauntlet, but the heroes have taken it from him before and they could do it again. Captain America never gives up and even if he fails at first, he'll eventually find a way how to stop Thanos once and for all.