Lionel Andrés Messi, born June 24, 1987, commonly known as Leo Messi, is a professional footballer from Argentina. He currently plays as a forward for the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and is a key member and captain of the Argentina national football team.
Lionel Messi Profile Summary
Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitini
Gender: Male
Date of birth: June 24, 1987
Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
Nationality: Argentine, Italian, Spanish
Current Club: Inter Miami CF
Role: Forward
Hair colour: Brown
Eye colour: Dark Brown
Height: 1.7 m
Who is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Born in 1987, Messi joined Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of 13 and made his competitive debut for the first team at 17. He spent most of his professional football career with Barcelona before moving to PSG in August 2021 and then joining Inter Miami in July 2023.
Messi holds the record for most goals in La Liga history, with 438. He has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards for being the world’s best player and holds the record for most goals in El Clásico matches against Real Madrid, with 26. Messi has won a record 35 trophies with Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles.
Lionel Messi’s Net Worth
As of 2024, the Argentine Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated to be around $600 million, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in history.
Lionel Messi Untold Story
Lionel Messi’s rise to fame is a true underdog story. Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11 that required expensive medical treatment. His local club, Newell’s Old Boys, was unable to finance his treatment. At the recommendation of a talent scout, Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona, Spain, where he joined the youth academy of FC Barcelona.
The Spanish giant FC Barcelona agreed to fund Messi’s medical treatments on the condition that he play for their youth program. Messi’s treatments proved successful, and his skill and talent blossomed. At the age of 16, he made his debut for Barcelona’s first team in a friendly match, making him the youngest player ever to play for the senior team. The next season, at 17 years old, he established himself as a regular first-team player.
The Argentinian has won a record eighth Ballon d’Or award for being the world’s best player. He’s led Barcelona to 34 club trophies, including ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. Renowned for his exceptional dribbling skills and ability to outmaneuver defenders, he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time alongside his football rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Argentina’s National Team
Messi has played in five World Cups with Argentina’s national team. He helped the team reach the final in 2014 and win in 2022. Despite Argentina coming in second place in 2014, Messi was recognized as the tournament’s best player with the Golden Ball award. Now, after leading his country to victory in the 2022 World Cup, Messi has silenced critics and cemented his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
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10 Fun Facts About Lionel Messi
- Lionel Messi’s first contract with FC Barcelona was reportedly sketched on a napkin in 2000. Impressed by Messi’s talent, Carles Rexach, then-Sporting Director, quickly outlined the agreement, including medical coverage and relocation assistance for Messi’s family. While the napkin story is iconic, a formal contract was later signed.
- Messi was given a spot on the Spanish national team, but he declined and instead waited for Argentina’s call-up.
- Messi was only 17 years old when he became the youngest official player and goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga.
- Messi’s Argentina debut was a disaster. The youngster came on as a substitute, but his delight was short-lived, as he was dismissed after only 46 seconds on the field.
- Messi was born in Rosario as a little child, weighing less than 3 kilograms and standing roughly 47 cm tall. He is now taller than everyone in football.
- He is known as ‘La Pulga Atomica,’ which translates to ‘The Atomic Flea,’ because of his fast, lethal, and cunning style of play, which combines with his small stature to break defenders’ ankles.
- In the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award, Messi received 2,021 points, 1,701 more than his nearest challenger, Cristiano Ronaldo, who received 320. A historic achievement.
- While everyone enjoys seeing Leo, the Barcelona star once stated that he never watches highlights of himself.
- Messi won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo with 473 votes, 240 more than Ronaldo’s 233. This is the greatest margin in history!
- Messi was named second in SportsPro Magazine’s ranking of the ‘world’s most marketable athletes of 2013’, after teammate Neymar Jr.
