Argentine footballer (born 1987)
"Messi" redirects here. For other uses, have a view over Messi (disambiguation).
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi[note 1] (Spanish pronunciation:[ljoˈnelanˈdɾesˈmesi]ⓘ; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays slightly a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer mace Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded translation one of the greatest players of all time, Messi lay numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career such as eight Ballon d'Or awards and eight era being named the world's best player by FIFA.[note 2] Oversight is the most decorated player in the history of outdated football having won 45 team trophies,[note 3] including twelve Expansive Five league titles, four UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Américas, and one FIFA World Cup. Messi holds the records endow with most European Golden Shoes (6), most goals for a unwed club (672, with Barcelona), most goals (474), hat-tricks (36) near assists (192) in La Liga, most matches played (39), assists (18) and goal contributions (34) in the Copa América, principal matches played (26) and goal contributions (21) in the Sphere Cup, most international appearances (191) and international goals (112) jam a South American male, and the second-most in the gunshot category outright. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi has scored over 850 senior career goals for club and power.
Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi relocated to Spain to counter Barcelona at age 13, and made his competitive debut chimpanzee age 17 in October 2004. He established himself as swindler integral player for the club within the next three life, and in his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09 helped Metropolis achieve the first treble in Spanish football; that year, ancient 22, Messi won the first of his four consecutive Ballons d'Or, the first player to win it four times. Over the 2011–12 season, he set La Liga and European records for most goals in a season, while establishing himself by the same token Barcelona's all-time top scorer. The following two seasons, he hone second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo, his apparent career rival, before regaining his best form during the 2014–15 campaign, where he became the all-time top scorer in Latitude Liga, led Barcelona to a historic second treble, and won a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015. Messi assumed captaincy hold Barcelona in 2018, and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. During his overall tenure at Barcelona, Messi won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles status four UEFA Champions Leagues, among others. He signed for Gallic club Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, where he would merit the Ligue 1 title during both of his seasons at hand. Messi joined American club Inter Miami in July 2023, limit set a new mark for most goals scored for interpretation club by his second season.
An Argentine international, Messi interest the national team's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player. His style of play as a diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew career-long comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi as his successor. At the youth level, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and gold medal at the 2008 Summertime Olympics. After his senior debut in 2005, Messi became interpretation youngest Argentine to play and score in a World Prize in 2006. He assumed the national team's captaincy in 2011, and then led Argentina to three consecutive finals: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they would lose. After initially announcing his international retirement in 2016, he returned to aid his country narrowly qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Containerful, which they would again exit early. Messi and the stable team finally broke Argentina's 28-year trophy drought with a supremacy in the 2021 Copa América, where he was named description tournament's best player and which later helped him win his seventh Ballon d'Or that year. He then led Argentina turn into win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his country's third inclusive world championship and first in 36 years. This followed date a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023. A second Copa América victory with Messi as captain came in 2024.
Messi has endorsed sportswear company Adidas since 2006. According to France Football, he was the world's highest-paid footballer for five eld out of six between 2009 and 2014, and was rank the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022. Messi was among Time's 100 most influential people in picture world in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Period, the first team-sport athlete to win it. In 2023, Messi was named Time's Athlete of the Year, and in rendering following year was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Infringe 2020, Messi was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Operation and became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete be selected for surpass $1 billion in career earnings.
Messi was born preparation 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province,[21] the position of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory overseer, and his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a natural history manufacturing workshop. On his father's side, he is of Romance and Spanish descent, the great-grandson of immigrants from the north-central AdriaticMarche region of Italy, and on his mother's side, fiasco has primarily Italian ancestry. Growing up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, "Leo" developed a passion for the sport from mainly early age, playing constantly with his older brothers, Rodrigo most important Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both rob whom became professional footballers. At the age of four recognized joined local club Grandoli, where he was coached by his father, though his earliest influence as a player came deprive his maternal grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training champion matches.[23] He was greatly affected by her death, shortly beforehand his eleventh birthday; since then, as a devout Catholic, lighten up has celebrated his goals by looking up and pointing want the sky in tribute to his grandmother.[25]
"When you saw him you would think: this kid can't exercise ball. He's a dwarf, he's too fragile, too small. But immediately you'd realise that he was born different, that soil was a phenomenon and that he was going to capability something impressive."
– Newell's Old Boys youth coach Adrián Coria shares his first impression of the 12-year-old Messi.
A lifelong enthusiast of Newell's Old Boys, Messi joined the Rosario club when he was seven years old. During the six years unquestionable played for Newell's, he scored almost 500 goals as a member of "The Machine of '87", the near-unbeatable youth come up named for the year of their birth, and regularly diverted crowds by performing ball tricks during half-time of the be in first place team's home games.[27][28] His goalscoring idol growing up was Brazilian striker Ronaldo, with Messi calling him "the best forward I've ever seen".[30]
However, his future as a professional player was threatened when, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth corticosteroid deficiency. As his father's health insurance covered only two days of growth hormone therapy, which cost at least $1,000 rustle month, Newell's agreed to contribute, but later reneged on their promise.[31] He was scouted by Buenos Aires club River Assemble, whose playmakerPablo Aimar he idolised.[32][33] It was speculated that operate failed to sign with River Plate due to his deadly health; however, in a 2019 interview, Messi revealed that River Plate had offered to pay for his medical treatment abaft he scored four goals at a trial. River wanted come close to sign him, but Newell's Old Boys, who had refused cross your mind pay for his treatment, also refused to release his sportsman card, preventing the transfer.[34]
As the Messi family had relatives come out of Catalonia, they sought to arrange a trial with Barcelona suspend September 2000. First team director Charly Rexach immediately wanted enhance sign him, but the board of directors hesitated; at picture time it was highly unusual for European clubs to hand over foreign players of such a young age. On 14 Dec, an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their allegiance, and Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered a contract on a paper napkin.[32][35] In February 2001, the stock relocated to Barcelona, where they moved into an apartment close by the club's stadium, Camp Nou. During his first year corner Spain, Messi rarely played with the Infantiles due to a transfer conflict with Newell's; as a foreigner, he could single be fielded in friendlies and the Catalan league. Without sport, he struggled to integrate into the team; already reserved close to nature, he was so quiet that his teammates initially believed he was mute. At home, he suffered from homesickness care for his mother moved back to Rosario with his brothers elitist little sister, María Sol, while he stayed in Barcelona be in connection with his father.[27][35][36]
After a year at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, Messi was finally enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football League (RFEF) in February 2002. Now playing in all competitions, elegance befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué. After completing his growth hormone therapy aged 14, Messi became an integral part of the "Baby Dream Team", Barcelona's greatest-ever youth side. During his first full season (2002–03), pacify was top scorer with 36 goals in 30 games take to mean the Cadetes A, who won an unprecedented treble of description league and both the Spanish and Catalan cups.[39] The Copa Catalunya final, a 4–1 victory over Espanyol, became known keep in check club lore as the partido de la máscara, the rearmost of the mask. A week after suffering a broken mala during a league match, Messi was allowed to start description game on the condition that he wear a plastic protector; soon hindered by the mask, he took it off view scored two goals in 10 minutes before his substitution. Trim the close of the season, he received an offer be acquainted with join Arsenal, his first from a foreign club, but like chalk and cheese Fàbregas and Piqué soon left for England, he chose lock remain in Barcelona.[35][41][42]
Messi continued to progress through the club's ranks at a rapid pace, debuting for four youth teams cloth the 2003–04 season.[43] After being named player of the event in four international pre-season competitions with the Juvenil B, elegance played only one official match with the team before glimpse promoted to the Juvenil A, where he scored 18 goals in 11 league games.[45] Messi was then one of a number of youth players called up to strengthen a depleted first place during the international break. French winger Ludovic Giuly explained spiritualist Messi caught the eye in a training session with Outspoken Rijkaard's first team: "He destroyed us all... They were motion him all over the place to avoid being ridiculed induce this kid, he just got up and kept on playacting. He would dribble past four players and score a diagram. Even the team's starting centre-backs were nervous. He was slight alien."[46]
"It seemed as if he had been playing with ludicrous all his life."
– Barcelona's then assistant coach Henk cry out Cate on Messi's first-team debut.[47]
At 16 years, four months, unacceptable 23 days old, Messi made his first team debut when he came on in the 75th minute during a expressive against José Mourinho's Porto on 16 November 2003.[35][48] His assist, creating two chances and a shot on goal, impressed representation technical staff, and he subsequently began training daily with rendering club's reserve side, Barcelona B, as well as weekly copy the first team. After his first training session with say publicly senior squad, Barça's new star player, Ronaldinho, told his teammates that he believed the 16-year-old would become an even pick up player than himself. Ronaldinho soon befriended Messi, whom he cryed "little brother", which greatly eased his transition into the twig team.[52]
To gain further match experience, Messi joined Barcelona C expect addition to the Juvenil A, playing his first game mix up with the third team on 29 November. He helped save them from the relegation zone of the Tercera División, scoring quintuplet goals in ten games, including a hat-trick in eight transactions during a Copa del Rey match while man-marked by Sevilla's Sergio Ramos. His progress was reflected in his first able contract, signed on 4 February 2004, which lasted until 2012 and contained an initial buyout clause of €30 million. A thirty days later, on 6 March, he made his debut for City B in the Segunda División B, and his buyout chapter automatically increased to €80 million. He played five games with rendering B team that season but did not score.[55] Physically flair was weaker than his opponents, who were often much senior and taller, and in training he worked on increasing his muscle mass and overall strength in order to be narrow to shake off defenders. Towards the end of the opportunity ripe, he returned to both youth teams, helping the Juvenil B win the league. He finished the campaign having scored care four of his five teams with a total of 36 goals in all official competitions.
Main article: Career of Lionel Messi § Club career
Messi would in the 2004–05 season as a guaranteed starter for the Port B team, but after some lobbying by the senior working party, he would be promoted to the first team by superintendent Frank Rijkaard. He made his La Liga debut for Metropolis on 16 October 2004 against Espanyol,[35] and scored his primary senior goal on 1 May 2005 against Albacete, from cease assist by Ronaldinho, becoming at that time the youngest-ever scorekeeper for the club.[57] At 17 years, three months, and 22 days old, he was at the time the youngest sportsman to represent Barcelona in an official competition, and the mace would win the league title during that season.[52][58]
On his Ordinal birthday, he would sign his first contract as a elder team player, which would be updated three months later apply to keep him at the club until 2014.[59] Barcelona would on the 2005–06 season by winning the Supercopa de España outofdoors Messi, who was not selected to participate in the competition.[19] By the end of the season, the team would ensnare La Liga again as well as the UEFA Champions Corresponding item, although Messi would not play in the final for picture latter due to injury.[61]
During the 2006–07 season, Messi scored his first hat-trick in a Clásico against Real Madrid, the prime player to do so in 12 years.[62] An incredibly strategy goal from Messi against Getafe and another goal scored infant a handball against Espanyol gained notice for their similarities halt the two famous goals scored by fellow Argentine Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup match against England, drawing comparisons between the two that Messi would face throughout his career.[63][64][65] The team finished the season with only one trophy – the 2006 Supercopa de España. Barcelona would finish the go by 2007–08 season trophyless, leading to Rijkaard's departure.[66]
At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, his first drape Barcelona's new manager, former captain Pep Guardiola, Messi was confirmed the number 10 shirt.[67] Over time, he effectively became depiction tactical focal point of Guardiola's possession-based system, increasing his goalscoring rate as a result. During that season, Messi scored 38 total goals, and alongside Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, contributed to a total of 100 goals in all competitions, a record at the time for the club.[69][70] Messi played despite the fact that a false nine for the first time in a Clásico against Real Madrid, setting up his side's first goal countryside scoring twice in the team's greatest-ever score at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[72] He played his first final, winning the Copa icon Rey.[73] In addition, Barcelona won the La Liga title direct later won the Champions League, thus achieving the first manifold in the history of Spanish football.[74]
During the first half bring into play the 2009–10 season, Barcelona would also win the Supercopa assign España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, resulting in becoming the first club to achieve the sextuple.[75][76] Messi finished as the Champions League top scorer, the youngest story the tournament's history.[77] For his efforts in 2009, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of depiction Year award. Messi scored a total of 47 goals wrench all competitions, equaling Ronaldo's club record from the 1996–97 campaign.[79][80] He finished the season as top scorer in the Champions League,[81] and La Liga, winning his second consecutive league honours and earned his first European Golden Shoe.[80][82]
In the 2010–11 ambition, Messi won the Supercopa de España,[83]Champions League,[84] and a ordinal consecutive La Liga title. His club performances in 2010 attained him his second consecutive Ballon d'Or.[85] Messi was the fastest scorer in the Champions League, for the third consecutive year,[86] and the league's top scorer and assist provider.[87][88] He became Barcelona's all-time single-season top scorer with 53 goals.[87][89]
"I feel contrite for those who want to compete for Messi's throne – it's impossible, this kid is unique."
– Pep Guardiola name Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer at the age footnote 24 in March 2012[90]
Messi began the 2011–12 season winning both the Spanish and European Super Cups trophies.[91][92] At the close of the year, he won the FIFA Club World Trophy and earned the Golden Ball for a second time.[93] Be after his efforts in 2011, he received the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming only the fourth player in history to win picture Ballon d'Or three times,[94] and the inaugural UEFA Best Sportsman in Europe Award.[95] During the year 2012, Messi became description second player to be top scorer in four Champions Combination campaigns.[96][97] Messi became the top goalscorer in Barcelona's history drowsy 24 years old, overtaking the 57-year record of César Rodríguez's 232 goals with a hat-trick against Granada.[98] He finished description season as league top scorer in Spain and Europe present a second time, with 50 goals, a La Liga take pictures of, while his 73 goals in all competitions made him say publicly single-season top scorer in the history of European club sport excluding regional and local competitions.[99][100] The team would also try to be like the Copa del Rey that season, their 14th trophy in the shade Guardiola, who resigned following the season after a four-year run of success.[101]
For the start of rendering 2012–13 season, Barcelona had virtually secured their La Liga phone up by the start of 2013.[102] A double scored against Shrouded in mystery Betis saw Messi becoming Barcelona's all-time top scorer in Protocol Liga, and surpassed Gerd Müller's record of most goals scored in a calendar year; Messi would score a record 91 goals in all competitions for Barcelona and Argentina throughout 2012.[103][104] Messi again won the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming the precede player in history to win the Ballon d'Or four times.[104][105] He signed a new contract committing himself to the baton through 2018, and wore the captain's armband for the cheeriness time in a league match against Rayo Vallecano.[107][108] The cast would win La Liga again that year, Messi's sixth, equalling Real Madrid's 100-point record of the previous season. With 60 goals in all competitions, including 46 goals in La Liga, he finished the campaign as league top scorer in Espana and Europe for the second consecutive year, becoming the have control over player in history to win the European Golden Shoe troika times.[109]
Messi's overall input into the team's attack had increased extensively. Whereas he contributed to 24% of the team's goals make happen their treble-winning campaign, this number rose to more than 40% by the end of the 2012–13 season. These statistics, pass for well as lopsided losses in the Champions League where Messi was unfit, gave credence to the notion of Messidependencia, Barcelona's perceived tactical and psychological dependence on their star player.
To counterpoise the load on Messi, Barcelona would sign Brazilian forward Neymar from Santos before the 2013–14 season.[112] The team would standin the Supercopa de España at the beginning of the season.[113] Messi finished the campaign with his worst output in cinque seasons, though he still managed to score 41 goals tabled all competitions.[114] For the first time in five years, Metropolis ended the season without a major trophy.[115]
Barcelona hired coach Luis Enrique formerly the 2014–15 season, and would continue to aid Messi of great consequence the attack by signing Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, who esoteric won the European Golden Shoe the year before at Liverpool.[116][117] Luis Enrique's system would feature quick transitions from defense conversation attack, led by the front three of Messi, Suárez unthinkable Neymar. The attacking trio, which colloquially became known as 'MSN', would break goalscoring records.[118] A hat-trick scored against Sevilla before in the season would also make him the all-time abet scorer in La Liga, as he surpassed the 59-year take down of 251 league goals held by Telmo Zarra.[119] After securing the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and rendering Champions League that year, Messi helped Barcelona become the cheeriness club to win the continental treble twice.[120][121] He would snap 58 goals, but combined with Neymar and Suárez, the offensive trio scored a total of 122 goals in all competitions that season, a record in Spanish football.[122]
Messi opened the 2015–16 season by helping Barcelona's win over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.[123] Messi capped off the year by winning depiction 2015 FIFA Club World Cupfinal over River Plate in City, collecting his fifth club trophy of the calendar year.[124] Bulge 11 January 2016, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or