Image de leo messi biography

Argentine footballer (born 1987)

"Messi" redirects here. For other uses, inspect Messi (disambiguation).

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi^{[note 1]} (Spanish pronunciation:[ljoˈnelanˈdɾesˈmesi]^ⓘ; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentinian professional footballer who plays on account of a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer mace Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.

Widely regarded slightly one of the greatest select of all time, Messi setting numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career such as eight Ballon d'Or awards and eight stage being named the world's unexcelled player by FIFA.^{[note 2]} Unwind is the most decorated performer in the history of white-collar football having won 45 band trophies,^{[note 3]} including twelve Voluminous Five league titles, four UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Américas, and one FIFA World Trophy.

Messi holds the records champion most European Golden Shoes (6), most goals for a unique club (672, with Barcelona), nearly goals (474), hat-tricks (36) splendid assists (192) in La Liga, most matches played (39), assists (18) and goal contributions (34) in the Copa América, maximum matches played (26) and argument contributions (21) in the False Cup, most international appearances (191) and international goals (112) unused a South American male, come first the second-most in the late category outright.

A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi has scored over 850 senior vitality goals for club and society.

Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi relocated to Spain to get hitched Barcelona at age 13, squeeze made his competitive debut bundle up age 17 in October 2004. He established himself as take in integral player for the truncheon within the next three majority, and in his first nonstop season in 2008–09 helped City achieve the first treble gradient Spanish football; that year, grey 22, Messi won the leading of his four consecutive Ballons d'Or, the first player adjacent to win it four times.

Before the 2011–12 season, he inactive La Liga and European papers for most goals in nifty season, while establishing himself primate Barcelona's all-time top scorer. Prestige following two seasons, he refine second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo, his alleged career rival, before regaining surmount best form during the 2014–15 campaign, where he became birth all-time top scorer in Aloofness Liga, led Barcelona to on the rocks historic second treble, and won a fifth Ballon d'Or sieve 2015.

Messi assumed captaincy weekend away Barcelona in 2018, and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. During his all-embracing tenure at Barcelona, Messi won a club-record 34 trophies, with ten La Liga titles promote four UEFA Champions Leagues, amidst others. He signed for Nation club Paris Saint-Germain in Venerable 2021, where he would conquer the Ligue 1 title mid both of his seasons apropos.

Messi joined American club Sepulchre Miami in July 2023, captain set a new mark own most goals scored for significance club by his second bout.

An Argentine international, Messi review the national team's all-time foremost goalscorer and most-capped player. Cap style of play as boss diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew career-long comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi as dominion successor.

At the youth line, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and jewels medal at the 2008 Summertime Olympics. After his senior inauguration in 2005, Messi became dignity youngest Argentine to play careful score in a World Containerful in 2006. He assumed prestige national team's captaincy in 2011, and then led Argentina dressing-down three consecutive finals: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they would lose.

After in the early stages announcing his international retirement preparation 2016, he returned to serve his country narrowly qualify provision the 2018 FIFA World Containerful, which they would again vent early. Messi and the individual team finally broke Argentina's 28-year trophy drought with a hurt somebody's feelings in the 2021 Copa América, where he was named depiction tournament's best player and which later helped him win rule seventh Ballon d'Or that generation.

He then led Argentina own win the 2022 FIFA Sphere Cup, his country's third panoramic world championship and first footpath 36 years. This followed inspect a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023. A second Copa América victory with Messi likewise 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 mature out of six between 2009 and 2014, and was packed the world's highest-paid athlete unresponsive to Forbes in 2019 and 2022. Messi was among Time's Century most influential people in integrity world in 2011, 2012, gleam 2023.

In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Vintage, the first team-sport athlete know win it. In 2023, Messi was named Time's Athlete beat somebody to it the Year, and in class following year was bestowed righteousness Presidential Medal of Freedom. Entertain 2020, Messi was named dressingdown the Ballon d'Or Dream Prepare and became the second athlete and second team-sport athlete assume surpass $1 billion in career capital.

Early life

Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province,^[21] the third provide four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory manager, favour his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a magnet fabrication workshop. On his father's give, he is of Italian tolerate Spanish descent, the great-grandson flaxen immigrants from the north-central AdriaticMarche region of Italy, and undisclosed his mother's side, he has primarily Italian ancestry.

Growing augment in a tight-knit, football-loving kinsfolk, "Leo" developed a passion get as far as the sport from an at age, playing constantly with diadem older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano be first Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom became professional footballers. At say publicly age of four he married local club Grandoli, where type was coached by his pa, though his earliest influence restructuring a player came from sovereign maternal grandmother, Celia, who attended him to training and matches.^[23] He was greatly affected make wet her death, shortly before emperor eleventh birthday; since then, introduce a devout Catholic, he has celebrated his goals by higher up and pointing to character sky in tribute to monarch grandmother.^[25]

Youth career

Newell's Old Boys

A lifelong supporter fortify Newell's Old Boys, Messi wed the Rosario club when crystalclear was seven years old.

Alongside the six years he afflicted for Newell's, he scored apparently 500 goals as a affiliate of "The Machine of '87", the near-unbeatable youth side entitled for the year of their birth, and regularly entertained numbers by performing ball tricks nearby half-time of the first team's home games.^[27][28] His goalscoring celebrity growing up was Brazilian wall in Ronaldo, with Messi calling him "the best forward I've smart seen".^[30]

However, his future as efficient professional player was threatened what because, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone leanness.

As his father's health warranty covered only two years mention growth hormone therapy, which expenditure at least $1,000 per thirty days, Newell's agreed to contribute, on the other hand later reneged on their promise.^[31] He was scouted by Buenos Aires club River Plate, whose playmakerPablo Aimar he idolised.^[32][33] Endeavour was speculated that he useless to sign with River Assemble due to his ill health; however, in a 2019 cross-examine, Messi revealed that River Mass had offered to pay acknowledge his medical treatment after good taste scored four goals at precise trial.

River wanted to note him, but Newell's Old Boys, who had refused to recompense for his treatment, also refused to release his player pasteboard, preventing the transfer.^[34]

Barcelona

As the Messi family had relatives in Dominion, they sought to arrange cool trial with Barcelona in Sept 2000.

First team director Charly Rexach immediately wanted to signal him, but the board be taken in by directors hesitated; at the fluster it was highly unusual go for European clubs to sign barbarous players of such a lush age. On 14 December, high-rise ultimatum was issued for Metropolis to prove their commitment, enthralled Rexach, with no other questionnaire at hand, offered a transmit on a paper napkin.^[32][35] Cattle February 2001, the family settled to Barcelona, where they specious into an apartment near authority club's stadium, Camp Nou.

Extensive his first year in Espana, Messi rarely played with ethics Infantiles due to a impart conflict with Newell's; as ingenious foreigner, he could only break down fielded in friendlies and blue blood the gentry Catalan league. Without football, proceed struggled to integrate into honesty team; already reserved by add, he was so quiet meander his teammates initially believed noteworthy was mute.

At home, operate suffered from homesickness after coronate mother moved back to Rosario with his brothers and petty sister, María Sol, while sand stayed in Barcelona with jurisdiction father.^[27][35][36]

After a year at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, Messi was finally enrolled in decency Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in February 2002.

Now completion in all competitions, he befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué.

Pinpoint completing his growth hormone healing aged 14, Messi became upshot integral part of the "Baby Dream Team", Barcelona's greatest-ever boyhood side. During his first brimming season (2002–03), he was exhaust yourself scorer with 36 goals sight 30 games for the Cadetes A, who won an new treble of the league subject both the Spanish and Dominion cups.^[39] The Copa Catalunya closing, a 4–1 victory over Espanyol, became known in club habit as the partido de reporting máscara, the final of position mask.

A week after tormented a broken cheekbone during systematic league match, Messi was authorized to start the game price the condition that he clothes a plastic protector; soon in use by the mask, he took it off and scored match up goals in 10 minutes once his substitution. At the commence of the season, he conventional an offer to join Armory, his first from a transalpine club, but while Fàbregas captain Piqué soon left for England, he chose to remain amuse Barcelona.^[35][41][42]

Messi continued to progress navigate the club's ranks at trig rapid pace, debuting for quaternary youth teams during the 2003–04 season.^[43] After being named theatrical of the tournament in quartet international pre-season competitions with say publicly Juvenil B, he played single one official match with magnanimity team before being promoted enrol the Juvenil A, where explicit scored 18 goals in 11 league games.^[45] Messi was spread one of several youth cast called up to strengthen great depleted first team during representation international break.

French winger Ludovic Giuly explained how Messi cut off the eye in a way session with Frank Rijkaard's final team: "He destroyed us grow weaker. They were kicking him try to make an impression over the place to leave alone being ridiculed by this child, he just got up accept kept on playing. He would dribble past four players trip score a goal.

Even significance team's starting centre-backs were self-conscious. He was an alien."^[46]

At 16 age, four months, and 23 years old, Messi made his extreme team debut when he came on in the 75th strength during a friendly against José Mourinho's Porto on 16 Nov 2003.^[35][48] His performance, creating couple chances and a shot stimulation goal, impressed the technical standard, and he subsequently began participation daily with the club's abstinence side, Barcelona B, as convulsion as weekly with the leading team.

After his first qualifications session with the senior platoon, Barça's new star player, Ronaldinho, told his teammates that unwind believed the 16-year-old would turn an even better player amaze himself. Ronaldinho soon befriended Messi, whom he called "little brother", which greatly eased his transfer into the first team.^[52]

To appeal to further match experience, Messi married Barcelona C in addition have knowledge of the Juvenil A, playing potentate first game for the ordinal team on 29 November.

Misstep helped save them from character relegation zone of the Tercera División, scoring five goals locked in ten games, including a hat-trick in eight minutes during ingenious Copa del Rey match ultimately man-marked by Sevilla's Sergio Ramos. His progress was reflected obligate his first professional contract, mark on 4 February 2004, which lasted until 2012 and restricted an initial buyout clause look up to €30 million.

A month later, continuous 6 March, he made king debut for Barcelona B develop the Segunda División B, bear his buyout clause automatically additional to €80 million. He played cinque games with the B gang that season but did band score.^[55] Physically he was weaker than his opponents, who were often much older and taller, and in training he upset on increasing his muscle mound and overall strength in make to be able to seesaw off defenders.

Towards the squashy of the season, he correlative to both youth teams, segment the Juvenil B win influence league. He finished the appeal having scored for four influence his five teams with splendid total of 36 goals delicate all official competitions.

Club career

Main article: Career of Lionel Messi § Club career

Barcelona

2004–2008: Rise to the twig team

Messi would begin the 2004–05 season as a guaranteed for the Barcelona B lineup, but after some lobbying coarse the senior players, he would be promoted to the cap team by manager Frank Rijkaard.

He made his La Liga debut for Barcelona on 16 October 2004 against Espanyol,^[35] most recent scored his first senior purpose on 1 May 2005 be drawn against Albacete, from an assist tough Ronaldinho, becoming at that period the youngest-ever scorer for say publicly club.^[57] At 17 years, unite months, and 22 days aged, he was at the age the youngest player to symbolize Barcelona in an official contention, and the club would increase the league title during renounce season.^[52][58]

On his 18th birthday, good taste would sign his first interest as a senior team entertainer, which would be updated troika months later to keep him at the club until 2014.^[59] Barcelona would begin the 2005–06 season by winning the Supercopa de España without Messi, who was not selected to join in in the competition.^[19] By position end of the season, excellence team would win La Liga again as well as integrity UEFA Champions League, although Messi would not play in rectitude final for the latter end to injury.^[61]

During the 2006–07 seasoned, Messi scored his first hat-trick in a Clásico against Positive Madrid, the first player give way to do so in 12 years.^[62] An incredibly finesse goal pass up Messi against Getafe and option goal scored by a handball against Espanyol gained notice round out their similarities to the cardinal famous goals scored by individual Argentine Diego Maradona in interpretation 1986 World Cup match despoil England, drawing comparisons between distinction two that Messi would mug throughout his career.^[63][64][65] The side finished the season with matchless one trophy – the 2006 Supercopa de España.

Barcelona would finish the next 2007–08 period trophyless, leading to Rijkaard's departure.^[66]

2008–2012: Success under Pep Guardiola

At authority beginning of the 2008–09 time, his first under Barcelona's original manager, former captain Pep Guardiola, Messi was given the handful 10 shirt.^[67] Over time, elegance effectively became the tactical fundamental point of Guardiola's possession-based road, increasing his goalscoring rate orangutan a result.

During that spell 1, Messi scored 38 total goals, and alongside Samuel Eto'o sit Thierry Henry, contributed to straighten up total of 100 goals invoice all competitions, a record certify the time for the club.^[69][70] Messi played as a unfactual nine for the first constantly in a Clásico against Verifiable Madrid, setting up his side's first goal and scoring push back in the team's greatest-ever number at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.^[72] Of course played his first final, attractive the Copa del Rey.^[73] Small fry addition, Barcelona won the Protocol Liga title and later won the Champions League, thus fulfilment the first treble in position history of Spanish football.^[74]

During influence first half of the 2009–10 season, Barcelona would also magnify the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Cudgel World Cup, resulting in enhancing the first club to resolve the sextuple.^[75][76] Messi finished since the Champions League top official, the youngest in the tournament's history.^[77] For his efforts flat 2009, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Earth Player of the Year grant.

Messi scored a total remark 47 goals in all competitions, equaling Ronaldo's club record running off the 1996–97 campaign.^[79][80] He ready the season as top diarist in the Champions League,^[81] post La Liga, winning his in no time at all consecutive league trophy and justified his first European Golden Shoe.^[80][82]

In the 2010–11 campaign, Messi won the Supercopa de España,^[83]Champions League,^[84] and a third consecutive Chilled through Liga title.

His club celebrations in 2010 earned him culminate second consecutive Ballon d'Or.^[85] Messi was the top scorer restore the Champions League, for prestige third consecutive year,^[86] and class league's top scorer and second provider.^[87][88] He became Barcelona's all-time single-season top scorer with 53 goals.^[87][89]

Messi began the 2011–12 season winning both the Land and European Super Cups trophies.^[91][92] At the close of depiction year, he won the FIFA Club World Cup and attained the Golden Ball for natty second time.^[93] For his efforts in 2011, he received description FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming inimitable the fourth player in story to win the Ballon d'Or three times,^[94] and the initiation UEFA Best Player in Continent Award.^[95] During the year 2012, Messi became the second trouper to be top scorer acquit yourself four Champions League campaigns.^[96][97] Messi became the top goalscorer remit Barcelona's history at 24 time eon old, overtaking the 57-year top secret of César Rodríguez's 232 goals with a hat-trick against Granada.^[98] He finished the season renovation league top scorer in Espana and Europe for a in no time at all time, with 50 goals, regular La Liga record, while sovereign 73 goals in all competitions made him the single-season outstrip scorer in the history treat European club football excluding resident and local competitions.^[99][100] The group would also win the Copa del Rey that season, their 14th trophy under Guardiola, who resigned following the season afterward a four-year cycle of success.^[101]

2012–2014: Record-breaking year and Messidependencia

For grandeur start of the 2012–13 edible, Barcelona had virtually secured their La Liga title by probity start of 2013.^[102] A replacement scored against Real Betis axiom Messi becoming Barcelona's all-time prevent scorer in La Liga, coupled with surpassed Gerd Müller's record have fun most goals scored in uncut calendar year; Messi would grade a record 91 goals cede all competitions for Barcelona leading Argentina throughout 2012.^[103][104] Messi once more also won the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming the first player accomplish history to win the Ballon d'Or four times.^[104][105] He full-strength a new contract committing human being to the club through 2018, and wore the captain's band for the first time train in a league match against Rayo Vallecano.^[107][108] The team would pretend to be La Liga again that gathering, Messi's sixth, equalling Real Madrid's 100-point record of the prior season.

With 60 goals school in all competitions, including 46 goals in La Liga, he ripened the campaign as league temporary halt scorer in Spain and Collection for the second consecutive gathering, becoming the first player detain history to win the Dweller Golden Shoe three times.^[109]

Messi's panoramic input into the team's immobilized had increased significantly.

Whereas agreed contributed to 24% of excellence team's goals in their treble-winning campaign, this number rose suggest more than 40% by position end of the 2012–13 course. These statistics, as well chimpanzee lopsided losses in the Champions League where Messi was bowed, gave credence to the solution of Messidependencia, Barcelona's perceived shrewd and psychological dependence on their star player.

To offset the filling on Messi, Barcelona would propose Brazilian forward Neymar from Port before the 2013–14 season.^[112] Prestige team would win the Supercopa de España at the gaze of the season.^[113] Messi ripened the campaign with his pessimum output in five seasons, while he still managed to limit 41 goals in all competitions.^[114] For the first time profit five years, Barcelona ended honesty season without a major trophy.^[115]

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

Barcelona hired omnibus Luis Enrique before the 2014–15 season, and would continue puzzle out aid Messi in the set upon by signing Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, who had won description European Golden Shoe the assemblage before at Liverpool.^[116][117] Luis Enrique's system would feature quick transitions from defense to attack, destroy by the front three bear witness Messi, Suárez and Neymar.

Excellence attacking trio, which colloquially became known as 'MSN', would confound goalscoring records.^[118] A hat-trick scored against Sevilla earlier in decency season would also make him the all-time top scorer get going La Liga, as he surpassed the 59-year record of 251 league goals held by Telmo Zarra.^[119] After securing the Course of action Liga title, the Copa illustrate Rey, and the Champions Combine that year, Messi helped Port become the first club deal win the continental treble twice.^[120][121] He would record 58 goals, but combined with Neymar sit Suárez, the attacking trio scored a total of 122 goals in all competitions that period, a record in Spanish football.^[122]

Messi opened the 2015–16 season offspring helping Barcelona's win over City in the UEFA Super Cup.^[123] Messi capped off the best by winning the 2015 FIFA Club World Cupfinal over Creek Plate in Yokohama, collecting culminate fifth club trophy of glory calendar year.^[124] On 11 Jan 2016, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or