Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi
Bryan Berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Lionel Messi
Caption	Messi with Argentina in 2018
Birth date	24 June 1987
Birth place	Rosario, Argentina
Height	1.70 m
Position	Forward / Attacking midfielder
Currentclub	Inter Miami
Clubnumber	10
Years	2003–2021, 2021–2023, 2023–
Clubs	FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami
Nationalyears	2005–
Nationalteam	Argentina
Nationalcaps	180
Nationalgoals	106
Medaltemplates	ARG 2008 Beijing, Team 2022 Qatar, Team 2021 Brazil, Team 2022 London, Team

Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He spent the majority of his illustrious club career with FC Barcelona, where he won a record number of La Liga titles and UEFA Champions League trophies, before joining Paris Saint-Germain and later Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, he has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards and led the Argentina national football team to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2021 Copa América, and the 2022 Finalissima.

Early life

Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini. He began playing football at a young age for local club Newell's Old Boys, displaying extraordinary talent from his early childhood. At age 13, he relocated to Spain to join the La Masia youth academy after the club agreed to pay for his treatment for growth hormone deficiency, a pivotal move orchestrated by FC Barcelona executive Carles Rexach.

Club career

Messi made his first-team debut for FC Barcelona in 2004 under manager Frank Rijkaard and quickly became a cornerstone of the most successful era in the club's history. Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, he was integral to a team that won the historic 2009 and 2011 UEFA Champions League finals, forming a legendary attacking trio with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. He shattered numerous records at Camp Nou, including becoming Barcelona's all-time top scorer and the all-time top scorer in La Liga. In 2021, due to financial constraints at the club, he joined Paris Saint-Germain, winning two Ligue 1 titles before moving to Inter Miami of Major League Soccer in 2023.

International career

His early senior career with the Argentina national football team was marked by frustration, including losses in the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 Copa América, and 2016 Copa América Centenario. However, he captained Argentina to a breakthrough victory at the 2021 Copa América in Brazil, winning the Golden Ball award. The pinnacle of his international career came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he led his nation to their third world title, winning the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player and finally emulating the achievement of his idol Diego Maradona.

Player profile

Primarily a forward or attacking midfielder, he is renowned for his exceptional dribbling, precise playmaking, clinical finishing, and visionary passing. His low center of gravity, explosive acceleration, and left-footed prowess, particularly from outside the penalty area, have drawn consistent comparisons to Diego Maradona. Throughout his career, he has evolved from a right-winger cutting inside to a false-nine under Pep Guardiola and later into a deeper creative orchestrator.

Off the pitch

He is married to childhood friend Antonela Roccuzzo, and they have three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. Through the Leo Messi Foundation, he supports access to education and healthcare for vulnerable children. He has major endorsement deals with brands like Adidas, PepsiCo, and Mastercard, and has been a longtime ambassador for UNICEF. In 2022, he became a part-owner of Inter Miami alongside co-owners such as David Beckham.

Career statistics

As of March 2024, he has made over 1,000 official senior career appearances for club and country, scoring more than 800 goals. For FC Barcelona, he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances, making him the club's all-time top scorer. With the Argentina national football team, he is the nation's all-time leading caps holder and goalscorer, having surpassed the record previously held by Gabriel Batistuta.

Honors

His extensive honors include ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, and four UEFA Champions League titles with FC Barcelona. He has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoe awards, and was named FIFA World Player/The Best FIFA Men's Player a record eight times. With Argentina, his triumphs include the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Argentine footballers Category:Argentina international footballers Category:FC Barcelona players Category:Paris Saint-Germain F.C. players Category:Inter Miami CF players Category:Ballon d'Or winners Category:FIFA World Cup winners