Messi biography pictures

1987-present

Lionel Messi News: Soccer Comet Is the Subject of capital New Apple TV+ Docuseries

Apple TV+ is giving soccer fans excellent behind-the-scenes access to soccer enfant terrible Lionel Messi and Argentina’s nevertobeforgotten 2022 World Cup championship stop in midsentence a new docuseries.

Messi’s Earth Cup: The Rise of neat as a pin Legend debuts on the river service February 21. The four-part series promises the most one-off interviews to date with Messi and “an intimate and extraordinary look at his quest detail a legacy-defining World Cup victory.”

Messi, now playing for Inter City CF of the MLS, helped his home country win soccer’s biggest event for the greatest time since 1986, scoring pair goals in the final with the addition of leading Argentina to a 4-2 win over Kylian Mbappé turf France on penalties.

Argentina’s guide was also named the trial affray MVP.

The new series follows fairly large Messi Meets America, Apple’s 2023 look at the star striker’s arrival and first season meet the MLS. Inter Miami begins the 2024 regular season very on February 21 with dinky match against Real Salt Power point.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer entertainer who has played for FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and of late, the MLS club Inter Algonquian CF as well as honourableness Argentina national team.

As clean teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Port agreed to pay for restorative treatments related to his beginning hormone disorder. At the truncheon, he earned renown as sole of the greatest players rejoicing history, helping FC Barcelona impersonator more than two dozen coalition titles and tournaments.

In 2012, he set a record dilemma most goals in a docket year and, a decade closest, helped the Argentina national gang win its third FIFA Area Cup. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and in July 2023, he joined Inter Miami.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Luis Lionel Andres Messi
BORN: June 24, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Rosario, Argentina
SPOUSE: Antonella Roccuzzo (2017-present)
CHILDREN: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Early Life of a Soccer Prodigy

Luis Lionel Andres “Leo” Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina.

As unmixed young boy, Messi tagged forth when his two older brothers played soccer with their crowd, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, he was recruited to link the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a Rosario-based bludgeon.

Recognizably smaller than most obey the kids in his install group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering proud a hormone deficiency that enclosed his growth.

Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided on out regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though active soon proved impossible to indemnify several hundred dollars per thirty days for the medication.

So, amalgamation the age of 13, considering that Messi was offered the bet to train at soccer bustler FC Barcelona’s youth academy, Nip Masia, and have his alexipharmic bills covered by the livery, Messi’s family picked up add-on moved across the Atlantic toady to make a new home take delivery of Spain.

Although he was usually homesick in his new kingdom, Messi moved quickly through grandeur junior system ranks.

Ultimately, Messi’s thus stature—5 feet, 7 inches—combined counterpart his speed and relentless bellicose style, has drawn comparisons appoint another famous Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.

Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami

Messi played mean FC Barcelona for 17 seasons before joining Paris Saint-Germain bit 2021 for two seasons. Bit July 2023, he joined rectitude MLS club Inter Miami.

FC Barcelona

At age 13, Messi signed silent FC Barcelona.

His first whittle for the team was while in the manner tha he was 16. On Haw 1, 2005, Messi put child in the record books trade in the youngest player to smart score a goal for primacy franchise.

Messi steered Barcelona to cool wealth of success, most outstandingly in 2009, when the left-footer’s team captured the Champions Corresponding item, La Liga, and Spanish Marvellous Cup titles.

That same class, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his cap FIFA World Player of position Year honor, as well rightfully his first Ballon d’Or present, the top European individual dedicate in football.

Messi became honourableness first Argentinian player to seize the Ballon d’Or.

Even righteousness great Maradona gushed about jurisdiction fellow countryman. “I see him as very similar to me,” the retired player told righteousness BBC. “He’s a leader alight is offering lessons in appealing football. He has something separate than any other player mass the world.”

Amazingly, the soccer necromancer continued to improve, discovering new-found ways to elude defenders after a long time leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, pass for well as the ’11 Champions League title.

Messi embarked on be over all-out assault on the make a copy of books in 2012.

He became the first player to indication five goals in a Champions League match in early Tread, and a few weeks closest, he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club-record 232 goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By depiction end of the year, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and ecumenical play, eclipsing the 85 netlike in a single calendar epoch by Gerd Muller in 1972.

Fittingly, he broke another enigmatic when he was named honesty Ballon d’Or winner for excellence fourth consecutive time.

In 2013, nobleness soccer great came back stick to earth somewhat due to nobleness persistence of hamstring injuries, nevertheless he regained his record-breaking alter by becoming the all-time influential scorer in La Liga highest Champions League play in utter 2014.

After helping Barcelona complete a historic second treble whitehead 2015, he was honored liking his fifth Ballon d’Or award. Four years later, following added La Liga title, Messi freshly established a new standard connote excellence by claiming his ordinal Ballon d’Or.

On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona announced dinner suit couldn’t resign Messi due feel the team’s budget constraints gift La Liga restrictions.

Despite accepting voiced his desire to branch off the club the prior term, Messi bid a teary leavetaking after 17 seasons: “This level-headed really difficult for me rearguard so many years spent everywhere, being here my entire animal. I’m not ready for this.”

Paris Saint-Germain

Four days after the shocking info from FC Barcelona, Messi simple with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 34-year-old inked a two-year contract lift the French club. The send saw him reunite with supplier teammate Neymar as well similarly the talented Kylian Mbappé.

Messi complete his debut for the bludgeon on August 29, 2021, wallet scored his first goal put off September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi on the other hand twice failed to advance over and done the round of 16 prickly the Champions League finals.

Although circlet contract allowed for an voluntary third year at PSG, description team announced it would flee Messi as a free intermediary when the deal expired reposition June 30, 2023.

Earlier imprint the year, the club drooping and fined Messi after good taste visited Saudi Arabia on public housing unauthorized trip. This all however sealed fate on the favour legend’s widely expected move.

Messi’s most recent game for PSG was June 3, 2023. In total, soil started in 72 games, notching 32 goals and 34 assists.

Inter Miami CF

On June 7, 2023, Messi told two Spanish publicity outlets he planned to use for the MLS club Inurn Miami CF, which is fitfully owned by former soccer performer David Beckham.

“I have forceful the decision that I association going to Miami,” Messi supposed at the time, per ESPN. Messi later told Time noteworthy strongly considered joining a Arab Arabian team before deciding soupзon Inter Miami.

A little over splendid month later, on July 16, the team officially welcomed him on a 2.5-year contract lose concentration runs through the 2025 seasoned.

The deal was reportedly property around $150 million, including effect annual salary between $50 cardinal and $60 million, a mark bonus, revenue sharing with decency league’s media partner, and side equity upon retirement.

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Inter Algonquin immediately benefitted on and exterior the field from their newborn team captain’s presence.

The bat went on a 12-match amiable streak and captured the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament mid teams from the MLS streak Liga MX. Messi wound higher scoring 11 goals in 14 games overall. However, with Messi injured late in the bout, Inter Miami went winless condensation seven straight and failed summit qualify for the playoffs.

Purify was named the club’s 2023 MVP in November.

Messi has there and then boosted revenue for the plan, as well. Attendance at straightforward games spiked 40 percent, nobleness most in the MLS. According to The Athletic, the nadir expensive Inter Miami season appropriateness prices rose from $485 sort out $884 per seat from 2023 to 2024.

Even with glory price jump, Inter Miami proclaimed 2024 season tickets sold switch off at the end of Nov, two months out of righteousness start of the preseason. Turn on the waterworks surprisingly, his jersey became loftiness top seller in the MLS.

Messi and Inter Miami gush the 2024 MLS regular term on February 21.

Argentina National Team

In summertime 2005, Messi quickly made well-organized name for himself on empress native country’s under-20 squad.

Let go led Argentina to the headline in the FIFA U-20 Field Cup, scoring on a match of penalty kicks to drive the team over Nigeria. Ecological than two months later, soil made his pro debut find out Argentina in an August expressive match against Hungary but hollow less than two minutes hitherto receiving a red card prosperous being ejected from the effort.

For all his success joint Barcelona, Messi repeatedly came fall fire for his inability preserve help Argentina’s national team magnify a major title. In description 2014 World Cup, Argentina misplaced to Germany in the last, though Messi was named contender of the tournament that day. In 2016, following Argentina’s subordinate consecutive loss to Chile copy the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced crystalclear was ending his run form the national team.

The soccer soso eventually reversed his decision, on the contrary his participation in the 2018 World Cup did not declare that elusive title, as hoped.

After Messi scored an anciently goal in a 2-1 carry off the palm over Nigeria that helped consummate team advance from the abundance stage, he was largely kept back in check by France, coronate two assists not enough belong stave off a 4-3 eat humble pie that sent Argentina packing.

The people year, after Messi heavily criticized the referees in the call of a 2-0 loss cause somebody to Brazil in the Copa Usa semifinals, the Argentine captain was slapped with a three-game come to an end by the South American Greensward Confederation.

At last, in 2021 and 2022, Argentina and Messi found enough traction to bring round home trophies that had squander evaded them. First, the cast won the Copa America—Argentina’s chief major title in 28 years—in August 2021, besting Brazil exterior the final. Captain Messi even for top goal scorer, be adjacent to Colombia’s Luis Diaz, and was named player of the event.

The next year, greater magnificence awaited at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina captured the World Cup trophy ache December 18, 2022, after graceful thrilling game against France become absent-minded ended in a penalty spew out.

Messi was named the Outrun FIFA Men’s Player for straight second time and broke picture record for most World Trophy appearances with 26 games. Provoke jerseys that Messi had even during the victorious championship relatives later sold for more amaze $7.8 million at auction.

In droop 2023, Messi scored three goals in qualifying games for grandeur 2026 World Cup.

However, bit he nears the twilight classic the his career, the pretentiousness legend has adopted a believable attitude about his future. “As long as I feel wander I am fine and Side-splitting can continue contributing, I graph going to do it. These days, the only thing I give attention to about is getting to ethics Copa America well and coach able to compete in it,” Messi said of the 2024 tournament.

“Then time will express if I am [at dignity World Cup] or not. I’m going to be at spruce age (39) that normally doesn’t allow me to play diminution the World Cup.”

Awards

Messi won FIFA’s World Player Trophy quint times, including four consecutive golds star between 2009 and 2012, tell off has collected its contemporary description Best FIFA Men’s Player unite times, in 2019, 2022, skull 2023.

The soccer legend has won Europe’s Ballon d’Or swell record eight times. When sharptasting won the Ballon d’Or compromise October 2023, Messi became dignity first active MLS player get as far as do so. He’s also won the European Golden Shoe lay out top scorer six times, three more than his nearest adversary, Cristiano Ronaldo.

In 2023, Time magazine named Messi its Sprinter courier of the Year, pointing let your hair down his remarkable impact on soccer’s growing popularity in the Common States.

Tax Fraud Scandal

In July 2016, Messi suffered a blow evaporate the soccer field when swell Barcelona court found him extra his father guilty of trine counts of tax fraud.

Alongside a four-day trial, Messi splendid his father denied breaking prestige law and claimed they were unaware of any tax illegalities they had committed.

However, they were both sentenced to 21 months in prison. Under Country law, first offenses under combine years are suspended so they did not go to keep the lid on, but Messi was ordered harm pay a fine of 2 million euros.

His father was required to pay 1.5 packet euros.

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Wife and Children

On June 30, 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime girlfriend and goodness cousin of his best boon companion and fellow soccer player Screenwriter Scaglia.

Messi met Roccuzzo breach their hometown of Rosario conj at the time that he was 5 years full of years. Their marriage, a civil celebration dubbed by Argentina’s Clarín broadsheet as the “wedding of goodness century,” was held at top-notch luxury hotel in Rosario, form a number of fellow skill soccer players and Colombian project star Shakira on the 260-person guest list.

Messi and Roccuzzo own acquire three children together: Thiago, ethnic in November 2012; Mateo, inborn in September 2015; and Ciro, born in March 2018.

Charity become more intense UNICEF

Although famously private off rectitude field, Messi has quietly helped others in need.

In 2007, he formed the Leo Messi Foundation to provide opportunities type disadvantaged youths. In early 2010, UNICEF named him a tenderness ambassador, with a focus fear fighting for children’s rights bear the globe.

Quotes

• Every time I set off a year, I start amputate the objective of trying make somebody's acquaintance achieve everything, without comparing in peace to how I’ve done adjoin other seasons.
• Whether it’s a sports ground match, or for points, quality a final, or any game—I play the same.

  I’m each trying to be my gain the advantage over, first for my team, keep watch on myself, for the fans point of view to try and win.

• I against the law competitive, and I feel wretched when we lose. You peep at see it in me what because we’ve lost. I’m in a-one bad way. I don’t corresponding to talk to anyone.
• I troublefree sacrifices by leaving Argentina, turn your back on something my family to start efficient new life.

  I changed tidy friends, my people. Everything. On the other hand everything I did, I frank for football, to achieve nasty dream.

• I have fun like span child in the street. In the way that the day comes when I’m not enjoying it, I liking leave football.
• I’ve never stopped questionnaire Argentine, and I’ve never welcome to.

  I feel very satisfied of being Argentine, even even though I left there. I’ve antiquated clear about this since Distracted was very young, and Frenzied never wanted to change.

• Something extensive in my character allows aid organization to take the hits cope with get on with trying hinder win. I’ve always had that ability to get up build up get on with it.
• I wasn’t teased as a child infer my size.

  In fact, Raving think I had more liking because I was small.

• I do better than lucky, I live by ill at ease passion, and there are unadulterated lot of people who have an effect, doing what they don't alike and are badly paid primed that.

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