Lionel Andrés “Leo” Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and was named the world’s best player for a record eight times by FIFA.
Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and the UEFA Champions League four times. With his country, he won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi holds the records for most goals in La Liga (474), most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and the UEFA Champions League (eight), and most assists in La Liga (192) and the Copa América (17). He also has the most international goals by a South American male (106). Messi has scored over 800 senior career goals for club and country, and has the most goals by a player for a single club (672).
Messi relocated to Spain from Argentina aged 13 to join Barcelona, for whom he made his competitive debut aged 17 in October 2004. He established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, and in his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09 he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football; that year, aged 22, Messi won his first Ballon d’Or. Three successful seasons followed, with Messi winning four consecutive Ballons d’Or, making him the first player to win the award four times. During the 2011–12 season, he set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a single season, while establishing himself as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer.
The following two seasons, Messi finished second for the Ballon d’Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo (his perceived career rival), before regaining his best form during the 2014–15 campaign, becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga and leading Barcelona to a historic second treble, after which he was awarded a fifth Ballon d’Or in 2015. Messi assumed captaincy of Barcelona in 2018, and won a record sixth Ballon d’Or in 2019. Out of contract, he signed for French club Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, spending two seasons at the club and winning Ligue 1 twice. Messi joined American club Inter Miami in July 2023, winning the Leagues Cup in August of that year.
An Argentine international, Messi is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and also holds the national record for appearances. At youth level, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, finishing the tournament with both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. His style of play as a diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew comparisons with his compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi as his successor. After his senior debut in August 2005, Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in a FIFA World Cup (2006), and reached the final of the 2007 Copa América, where he was named young player of the tournament.
As the squad’s captain from August 2011, he led Argentina to three consecutive finals: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which he won the Golden Ball, the 2015 Copa América, winning the Golden Ball, and the 2016 Copa América. After announcing his international retirement in 2016, he reversed his decision and led his country to qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a third-place finish at the 2019 Copa América, and victory in the 2021 Copa América, while winning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot for the latter. That same year, Messi received a seventh Ballon d’Or. In 2022, he led Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he won a record second Golden Ball, scored seven goals including two in the final, and broke the record for most games played at the World Cup (26), later receiving his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.
Messi has endorsed sportswear company Adidas since 2006. According to France Football, he was the world’s highest-paid footballer for five years out of six between 2009 and 2014, and was ranked the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022. Messi was among Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, with Messi being the first team-sport athlete to win the award. In 2020, Messi was named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team and became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.
Lionel Messi Details:
| Full name | Lionel Andrés Messi |
| Also Known As | Lionel Messi or Messi |
| Nickname | Leo, Lio, Pulga |
| Date of birth | June 24, 1987 |
| Birth place | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentinian |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthday | June 24 |
| Age | 36 |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Position | Supporting striker, Attacking Midfielder, Striker |
| Current team | Inter Miami |
| Number | 10 shirt for Argentina, FC Barcelona and Inter Miami 30 shirt for Paris Saint-Germain |
| Parents | Jorge Messi Celia MarÃa Cuccittini |
| Siblings | Maria Sol Messi, Matias Messi, Rodrigo Messi |
| Status | Married |
| Spouse | Antonella Roccuzzo (2017) |
| Children | 3 (Ciro Messi Roccuzz, Mateo Messi, Thiago Messi) |
Lionel Messi Early Life and Education:
Lionel Messi, born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, grew up in a football-loving family with Italian and Spanish heritage. He joined local club Grandoli at age four, where his father coached him, and later moved to Newell’s Old Boys at six, showcasing exceptional talent in youth competitions. At ten, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which threatened his football career until Barcelona offered to cover his treatment costs, leading to his relocation to Spain in 2000.
In Barcelona, Messi faced initial struggles due to homesickness and a language barrier, but he eventually flourished in the club’s youth academy, La Masia. He overcame obstacles, including a broken cheekbone, to become an integral part of Barcelona’s youth teams, earning accolades for his goal-scoring prowess and exceptional performances. Despite offers from foreign clubs like Arsenal, Messi remained committed to Barcelona, laying the foundation for a legendary career that would see him become one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Lionel Messi Personal Life:
Since 2008, Lionel Messi has been in a relationship with Antonela Roccuzzo, whom he has known since childhood as she is the cousin of his close friend Lucas Scaglia. They have three sons together, with Messi famously celebrating his partner’s first pregnancy by placing the ball under his shirt after scoring in a match. In June 2017, Messi and Roccuzzo got married at a luxury hotel in Rosario, Argentina. Their family life is deeply rooted in their Catholic faith, and Messi maintains a close relationship with his immediate family, with his mother Celia being particularly significant, as he has her face tattooed on his left shoulder. His professional matters are also managed within the family, with his father serving as his agent and his oldest brother handling his daily schedule and publicity.
Despite leaving Rosario for Spain at a young age, Messi remains closely connected to his hometown, preserving his distinct Rosarino accent and maintaining ownership of his family’s old house. He frequently travels back to Rosario to spend time with his family, even making a three-hour trip by car after training sessions to have dinner with them. Despite initial tensions, Messi’s relationship with his hometown club, Newell’s Old Boys, has improved over the years, with the club embracing their ties with him and even issuing a club membership card to his newborn son. Messi has expressed his desire to end his playing career at Newell’s and holds citizenship in Argentina, Italy, and Spain.
Lionel Messi Net Worth:
According to Forbes, Lionel Messi is the second world’s highest-paid athlete with a total net worth of $130 million.
Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo
Among his contemporary peers, Messi is most often compared and contrasted with Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, as part of an ongoing rivalry that has been compared to past sports rivalries like the Muhammad Ali–Joe Frazier rivalry in boxing, the Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal rivalry in tennis, and the Prost–Senna rivalry from Formula One motor racing.
Although Messi has at times denied any rivalry, their competition is believed to drive each other to excel. Messi has amassed more Ballon d’Or and FIFA World’s Best Player awards than Ronaldo, sparking ongoing debates among pundits and fans. Their differing physiques and public personas add fuel to the discussion, with Ronaldo’s confidence contrasting Messi’s humility. The annual clashes between their teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, in El Clásico further intensify their rivalry. Despite their on-field competition, they also vie for top salaries, sponsorships, and social media followers. Following Messi’s success in leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, many argue that he has settled the debate between the two football icons.
Career statistics:
Club
| Years | Team | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2004 | Barcelona C | 10 | 5 |
| 2004–2005 | Barcelona B | 22 | 6 |
| 2004–2021 | Barcelona | 520 | 474 |
| 2021–2023 | Paris Saint-Germain | 58 | 22 |
| 2023–presents | Inter Miami | 9 | 4 |
International
| Years | Team | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | Argentina U20 | 18 | 14 |
| 2008 | Argentina U23 | 5 | 2 |
| 2005–presents | Argentina | 180 | 106 |
Honours:
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
- Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
- Supercopa de España: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
- UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2021–22, 2022–23
- Trophée des Champions: 2022
Inter Miami
- Leagues Cup: 2023
Argentina U20
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005
Argentina U23
- Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
Argentina
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
- Copa América: 2021
- CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
Individual
- Ballon d’Or/FIFA Ballon d’Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019, 2022, 2023
- European Golden Shoe: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
- FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
- UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2008–09
- UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award: 2010–11, 2014–15
- UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2018–19
- Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
- Copa América Top Goalscorer: 2021
- La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
- Pichichi Trophy: 2009−10, 2011–12, 2012−13, 2016–17, 2017−18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020, 2023
- Ballon d’Or Dream Team: 2020
- FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Argentine Sportsperson of the Year: 2011, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
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