Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi, born on 24 June 1987, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and the Argentina national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players in history. Throughout his career, Messi has won many individual awards, including eight Ballon d'Ors, six European Golden Shoes, and has been named the world’s best player eight times by FIFA. In 2025, he was named the All Time Men’s World Best Player by the IFFHS.

Messi is the most decorated player in professional football history, having won many team trophies. His records include scoring many goals in a calendar year and the most goals for a single club, Barcelona. He has scored many goals and provided many assists in his career.

Messi made his debut for Barcelona at age 17 in 2004. He helped the club achieve a big win during the 2008–09 season and became Barcelona’s top scorer. After leaving Barcelona in 2021, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Ligue 1 title. In 2023, he joined Inter Miami and led them to their first MLS Cup victory in 2025.

As an Argentine international, Messi is the national team’s top scorer and most-capped player. He helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América and led the team to a World Cup victory in 2022. Messi’s third major international title came when Argentina won the 2024 Copa América.

Messi has endorsed the sportswear company Adidas since 2006. He was ranked the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022 and was named to Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2023, he was named Time’s Athlete of the Year and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US president Joe Biden in 2025.

Early life

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, a city in Argentina. His family loved football. His father worked at a steel company, and his mother worked in a magnet factory. Messi started playing football when he was four years old with his older brothers and cousins.

Messi’s grandmother, Celia, was very important to him. She went to all his games. After she passed away, Messi started a special tradition. After scoring a goal, he would point to the sky to honor her memory. Messi’s family was very close, and football was a big part of their lives.

Youth career

Newell's Old Boys

Lionel Messi started playing football at age seven with the club Newell's Old Boys in Rosario. He played for six years, scored many goals, and became very popular. When he was ten, Messi learned he had a condition that made it hard for him to grow. His family began special treatments to help him, but they cost a lot of money.

Barcelona

When Messi was 13, his family set up a trial with the famous club Barcelona. The coaches liked him immediately, even though European clubs usually didn’t sign players that young. Messi joined Barcelona and moved to Spain. At first, it was difficult because he missed home and felt shy with new teammates.

Soon, Messi joined Barcelona’s youth teams and quickly became a star. He scored many goals and helped his teams win important trophies. Even at 16, he played with Barcelona’s main team and everyone was impressed by his skills. Messi worked hard to get stronger and kept getting better every year.

Club career

Main article: Career of Lionel Messi § Club career

Barcelona

2004–2008: Rise to the first team

Messi started the 2004–05 season with Barcelona's B team but was soon promoted to the first team. He made his debut in La Liga in October 2004 at 17 years old. By May 2005, he scored his first goal, becoming the youngest ever to do so for the club. Barcelona won the league that season.

After turning 18, Messi signed his first professional contract, which was later updated. By the end of the 2005–06 season, Barcelona won both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

In the 2006–07 season, Messi scored his first hat-trick, matching a feat by Diego Maradona. Barcelona won only one trophy that year, and the next season brought no trophies. The manager then left the club.

2008–2012: Success under Pep Guardiola

When new manager Pep Guardiola arrived in 2008, Messi was given the number 10 shirt. He became a key player, scoring many goals and helping the team win important trophies. That season, Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.

The next few seasons brought more success. Messi won many individual awards, including the Ballon d'Or several times. He became Barcelona’s top scorer and helped the team win more titles each year.

2012–2014: Record-breaking year and Messidependencia

In 2012, Messi set a new record by scoring 91 goals in one year. He won his fourth Ballon d'Or and signed a new contract to stay with Barcelona. The team won La Liga again, and Messi’s importance grew so much that people worried the team depended too much on him.

Barcelona signed Neymar to help. Though Messi had a poorer season, he still scored many goals. Unfortunately, Barcelona did not win any major trophies that year.

2014–2017: Arrival of Luis Enrique and birth of MSN

New coach Luis Enrique arrived in 2014, and Barcelona signed Luis Suárez to play with Messi and Neymar. This trio, known as MSN, scored many goals and helped the team win several trophies, including another treble.

Messi won his fifth Ballon d'Or in 2016 and helped Barcelona win more titles. The MSN trio broke many records for goals scored.

2017–2021: Final years at Barcelona

Messi signed a new contract to stay with Barcelona until 2021. The team won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 2018, and Messi became the club’s new captain. He won his sixth Ballon d'Or and helped the team win more trophies.

Despite this, the 2019–20 season was disappointing for Barcelona, and they did not win any trophies. Messi wanted to leave but decided to stay for the final year of his contract. In 2021, he helped Barcelona win the Copa del Rey. However, after his contract ended, Barcelona could not afford to keep him, and Messi left the club.

Paris Saint-Germain

Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021. He chose the number 30, which he had worn when he first debuted for Barcelona. Messi scored his first goal for PSG in the Champions League and helped the team win the Ligue 1 title in his first season. He won a record seventh Ballon d'Or after also leading Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa América.

In his second season, Messi won more trophies with PSG and helped them win another Ligue 1 title. He left the club after two years.

Inter Miami

Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023. His arrival created huge excitement, and he quickly became the team’s captain. He helped Inter Miami win their first-ever trophy in the Leagues Cup and was named the league’s MVP in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, he led the team to their first MLS Cup victory. Messi continued to break records and signed a contract extension to stay with Inter Miami until 2028.

International career

Main article: Career of Lionel Messi § International career

Lionel Messi began playing for Argentina's national teams in 2004. He helped the under-20 team win the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005. He made his debut with the senior national team in 2005 at age 18.

Messi became an important player for Argentina, leading them to many victories. He helped the team win the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. In 2022, he led Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup. Messi has broken many records in international football.

Player profile

Style of play

Lionel Messi is known for his small size, which helps him move quickly and change direction fast. Even though he isn't very big, he is strong and can handle challenges from other players. His quick feet let him keep control of the ball when moving fast. Messi is mainly left-footed but has gotten better with his right foot over the years.

Messi is a great goal scorer because of his smart positioning and quick reactions. He can make smart runs to score goals and also helps his teammates by passing the ball well. He is famous for his accurate free kicks and penalty kicks.

Messi's speed and skills let him dribble towards the goal, especially when his team is on the counterattack. Many people think he is one of the best dribblers ever. As Messi has gotten older, he has started to pass the ball more and set up plays for his team instead of just scoring himself. He works hard and moves cleverly on the field.

Tactical positioning

Messi can play in many different positions on the field. He started his career on the left side but later played more in the center. Under different managers, he has played on the right side, in the center, or even as a playmaker behind the main scorers. With the Argentina national team, he has also played in many different attacking roles, depending on the team's needs.

Reception

Messi is seen as one of the best players of his time, along with Cristiano Ronaldo. Many think he is one of the greatest football players ever. In 2025, he was named the All Time Men's World Best Player by the IFFHS.

Messi became a top player before he was even 20 years old. After winning his first big award, people started to think he might be one of the greatest ever. His coach at the time, Pep Guardiola, said Messi was the best player he had ever seen or would see. Over time, more and more people agreed.

Messi faced some criticism for not winning big international tournaments with Argentina early in his career. But after winning the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he achieved all the top awards.

Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo

Main article: Messi–Ronaldo rivalry

Messi is often compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, who many see as his career rival. Both have won many awards and trophies. Fans and experts often talk about who is better. Messi is known for his skills in dribbling, passing, and scoring, while Ronaldo is praised for his speed, strength, and scoring under pressure. Messi has won more individual awards, like eight Ballons d'Or compared to Ronaldo's five.

They first played against each other in 2008, when Ronaldo's Manchester United faced Messi's Barcelona in the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Their teams met again in the next year's Champions League final, with Messi and Barcelona winning 2–0. After Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, Messi's team, the two faced each other many times in El Clásico, one of the world's most watched matches.

Comparisons with Diego Maradona

Main article: New Maradona

Messi has also been compared to Diego Maradona, another great Argentine player. Both are short, left-footed playmakers, and both are from Argentina. When Messi was young, Maradona said he was the best player in the world and his successor. Messi wore the same number 10 shirt that Maradona wore for Argentina.

After leading Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, many now see Messi as equally great as Maradona to Argentinians.

Cultural impact

Popularity

Messi is one of the most well-known people in the world. He has appeared on the Time 100 list in 2011, 2012, and 2023. Many people admire him, and he has millions of fans on Facebook and Instagram.

Messi's popularity has created memorable moments, like a famous photo picked as the best sports image of 2014. Sometimes, fans feel let down, like when he could not play in a match in Hong Kong in February 2024.

Wealth and sponsorships

Messi has made a lot of money from football and from working with big companies. He is one of the highest-paid players. Companies like Adidas, Dolce & Gabbana, and Turkish Airlines have partnered with him.

Messi's ads have helped sell many products. Some people have talked about his choices, like when he became a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.

Public art

Many artworks show Messi, including paintings, murals, and statues. There is a famous artwork called the Sistine Chapel of Football, which includes Messi and other famous Argentine players. Statues of Messi can be found in places like Buenos Aires and Kolkata.

Media

There have been documentaries and series about Messi's life and career. One series about the Argentina national team and their success in the 2022 World Cup came out in February 2024.

Business ventures

In June 2024, Messi started his own brand of sports and energy drinks. Later that year, he began a company to make films and sports events. In 2026, he bought a football club in Spain.

Philanthropy

Lionel Messi has helped children for many years, inspired by his own health struggles when he was young. Since 2004, he has worked with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), visiting places like Haiti after a big earthquake to support children there. He became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2010 and has supported campaigns for education and helping children with disabilities.

In 2007, Messi started the Leo Messi Foundation to help children get healthcare, education, and sports opportunities. The foundation gives money for medical research, training, and building medical centers around the world. Messi also supports young football players in Argentina and helped build facilities for clubs where he grew up. During tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped workers and donated money to fight the disease. In 2025, he received a special award from the United States for his work helping children worldwide.

Personal life

Lionel Messi has been married to Antonela Roccuzzo since 2017. They have three sons together. Messi stays close to his family, and his family helps with his work and charity activities.

Messi had some issues with taxes in 2013. He and his father had to pay extra money and received suspended prison sentences, but Messi said he trusted his dad and lawyers to handle it.

Career statistics

International

See also: List of international goals scored by Lionel Messi

Honours

For a comprehensive listing of Messi's achievements, see List of career achievements by Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi has won many important awards and trophies in his career. He has played for top teams and helped them win leagues, cups, and international competitions.