Lionel Messi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lionel Messi

Messi with Inter Miami in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Lionel Andrés Messi
Date of birth	(1987-06-24) 24 June 1987 (age 38)
Place of birth	Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Inter Miami
Number	10
Youth career
1992–1995	Grandoli
1995–2000	Newell's Old Boys
2000–2004	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2004	Barcelona C	10	(5)
2004–2005	Barcelona B	22	(6)
2004–2021	Barcelona	520	(474)
2021–2023	Paris Saint-Germain	58	(22)
2023–	Inter Miami	42	(37)
International career‡
2004–2005	Argentina U20	18	(14)
2008	Argentina U23	5	(2)
2005–	Argentina	193	(112)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Argentina FIFA World Cup Winner 2022 Qatar Runner-up 2014 Brazil Copa América Winner 2021 Brazil Winner 2024 United States Runner-up 2007 Venezuela Runner-up 2015 Chile Runner-up 2016 United States Third 2019 Brazil Finalissima Winner 2022 England Olympics Gold 2008 Beijing Team U20 World Cup Winner 2005 Netherlands South American U20 Championship Third 2005 Colombia
Signature
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:30, 17 July 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 03:37, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

This article is part of a series about Lionel Messi
Argentine professional footballer International goals Career achievements Messi–Ronaldo rivalry New Maradona Eponyms and public art Cougar Sistine Chapel of Football Films Messi (2014) Messi (2017) Messi and Maud (2017) Take the Ball Pass the Ball (2018) Family Maxi Biancucchi Emanuel Biancucchi Related people Frank Rijkaard Pep Guardiola Luis Enrique Tito Vilanova Diego Maradona Lionel Scaloni Joan Laporta Carles Rexach Josep Maria Bartomeu Dani Alves Neymar Luis Suárez Xavi Andrés Iniesta Sergio Busquets Samuel Eto'o Thierry Henry Ronaldinho David Villa Jordi Alba Gerard Piqué Carles Puyol Ivan Rakitić Javier Mascherano Pedro Cesc Fàbregas Zlatan Ibrahimović Kylian Mbappé Sergio Agüero Ángel Di María Cristiano Ronaldo Robinho
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Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer. He plays as a forward and is the captain for both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Many people consider Messi to be one of the greatest players ever.

Messi has won many awards during his career. These include eight Ballons d'Or and six European Golden Shoes. FIFA has also named him the world's best player eight times. He has won a record 45 team trophies, making him the most decorated player in football history.

Some of Messi's amazing records include:

• Most goals in a calendar year (91).
• Most goals for one club (672 for Barcelona).
• Most goals in La Liga (474).
• Most goal contributions in the FIFA World Cup (21).
• Most goal contributions in the Copa América (32).

Messi is a fantastic goalscorer and a creative player. He has scored over 870 goals and made over 380 assists for his clubs and country.

Messi started playing for Barcelona at age 17 in October 2004. He quickly became a key player. In the 2008–09 season, he helped Barcelona win their first treble in Spanish football. This means they won three major trophies in one season. Messi then won his first of four Ballon d'Or awards in a row. By the 2011–12 season, he set a European record for most goals in a season. He also became Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

In the 2014–15 campaign, Messi became the all-time top scorer in La Liga. He led Barcelona to another historic treble, which earned him a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015. He became Barcelona's captain in 2018 and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. At Barcelona, Messi won a club-record 34 trophies. These included ten La Liga titles and four Champions League titles. Due to financial problems at Barcelona, Messi joined French club Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021. He won the Ligue 1 title in both of his seasons there. In July 2023, he moved to MLS club Inter Miami.

For Argentina, Messi is the national team's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player. He won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He became captain in 2011. He led Argentina to three finals in a row: the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario. They lost all three. After saying he would retire from international football in 2016, he came back. He helped Argentina qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Messi was key in ending Argentina's 28-year wait for a trophy by winning the 2021 Copa América. This helped him win his seventh Ballon d'Or that year. The next year, he led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup. This was the country's first World Cup win in 36 years. After this, he won his record-breaking eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023. Messi also won the 2024 Copa América, his third major international title.

Messi has worked with the sportswear company Adidas since 2006. France Football reported that he was the world's highest-paid footballer for five out of six years between 2009 and 2014. Forbes named him the world's highest-paid athlete in 2019 and 2022. Time magazine included Messi in their 100 most influential people in the world list in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2020 and 2023, he won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award. He was the first team-sport athlete to win it. In 2020, Messi became the second footballer to earn over $1 billion in his career. In 2023, Time named him their Athlete of the Year. In 2025, US President Joe Biden gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early Life and Childhood

Messi's childhood home in Rosario, Santa Fe.

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. He was the third of four children. His father, Jorge Messi, managed a steel factory, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, worked in a magnet factory. Messi has Italian and Spanish family roots.

Growing up, he was part of a close family that loved football. "Leo" started loving the sport very early. He played constantly with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi. Both of his cousins also became professional footballers.

When he was four, Messi joined a local club called Grandoli. His father was his coach there. His maternal grandmother, Celia, was also a big influence. She always went with him to training and matches. Her death, just before his eleventh birthday, affected him deeply. Since then, as a Catholic, he points to the sky after scoring goals to honor his grandmother.

Youth Football Career

Playing for Newell's Old Boys

Messi has always supported Newell's Old Boys, a club in Rosario. He started playing for them when he was seven. In his six years there, he scored almost 500 goals. He was part of "The Machine of '87," a youth team named after their birth year that was almost unbeatable. Messi often entertained crowds at half-time during first-team games by showing off his ball tricks. His favorite player growing up was Brazilian striker Ronaldo. Messi called him "the best forward I've ever seen."

When he was 10, his future as a professional player was at risk. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. He started treatment at age 11, but his father's insurance only covered two years of the expensive therapy. Newell's agreed to help pay but later changed their mind. River Plate, a club from Buenos Aires, wanted to sign him. Messi looked up to their player Pablo Aimar. It was thought he didn't sign with River Plate because of his health. However, Messi said in 2019 that River Plate wanted him and offered to pay for his treatment. But Newell's would not let him leave, stopping the transfer.

Joining Barcelona's Youth Academy

Messi enrolled at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, aged 13.

Messi's family had relatives in Catalonia, Spain. They arranged a trial with Barcelona in September 2000. The first-team director, Charly Rexach, immediately wanted to sign him. But the club's board was unsure. It was very unusual for European clubs to sign such young foreign players back then. On December 14, Barcelona was given an ultimatum to show they were serious. Rexach, with no other paper, wrote a contract on a paper napkin.

In February 2001, the family moved to Barcelona. They lived in an apartment near the club's stadium, Camp Nou. During his first year in Spain, Messi rarely played with the Infantiles team. This was because of a transfer issue with Newell's. As a foreign player, he could only play in friendly games and the Catalan league. Without much football, he found it hard to fit in. He was naturally quiet, so quiet that some teammates thought he couldn't speak. He also missed his home after his mother, brothers, and younger sister moved back to Rosario. He stayed in Barcelona with his father.

After a year at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, Messi was officially registered in February 2002. He could now play in all competitions. He quickly became friends with teammates like Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué. After finishing his growth hormone treatment at 14, Messi became a key part of the "Baby Dream Team." This was Barcelona's best youth team ever. In his first full season (2002–03), he was the top scorer with 36 goals in 30 games for the Cadetes A. They won three trophies: the league, the Spanish cup, and the Copa Catalunya.

In the Copa Catalunya final, they won 4–1 against Espanyol. This game is famous as the partido de la máscara (the final of the mask). Messi had broken his cheekbone a week before. He was allowed to play if he wore a plastic mask. The mask bothered him, so he took it off. He then scored two goals in 10 minutes before being substituted. At the end of the season, he received an offer from Arsenal, his first from a foreign club. Even though Fàbregas and Piqué left for England, Messi chose to stay at Barcelona.

Messi quickly moved up through the club's teams. He played for four youth teams in the 2003–04 season. After being named best player in four youth tournaments, he played only one official game for the Juvenil B before moving to the Juvenil A. There, he scored 18 goals in 11 league games. Messi was then one of several young players called up to help the main team during an international break. French player Ludovic Giuly said Messi impressed everyone in a training session with Frank Rijkaard's first team. He said Messi "destroyed us all" and would "dribble past four players and score a goal."

At 16 years old, Messi made his first-team debut in a friendly against José Mourinho's Porto on November 16, 2003. He came on in the 75th minute. His performance, where he created two chances and had a shot on goal, impressed the coaches. He then started training daily with the reserve team, Barcelona B, and weekly with the first team. After his first training with the senior squad, Barcelona's new star, Ronaldinho, told his teammates that he thought the 16-year-old would become even better than him. Ronaldinho soon became friends with Messi, calling him "little brother." This made Messi's move to the first team much easier.

To get more game experience, Messi also joined Barcelona C. He played his first game for the third team on November 29. He helped them avoid relegation from the Tercera División, scoring five goals in ten games. This included a hat-trick in eight minutes during a Copa del Rey match. His progress led to his first professional contract on February 4, 2004. It lasted until 2012 and had a release clause of €30 million. A month later, on March 6, he debuted for Barcelona B in the Segunda División B. His release clause automatically increased to €80 million. He played five games with the B team that season but did not score. He was physically weaker than older, taller opponents. In training, he worked to build muscle and strength. Towards the end of the season, he returned to both youth teams, helping the Juvenil B win the league. He ended the season having scored goals for four of his five teams, with 36 goals in all official competitions.

Club Career Highlights

Barcelona: Rising to Stardom (2004–2012)

Messi (pictured in 2005) at the age of 18 playing for FC Barcelona, where he played for 17 years.

Messi started the 2004–05 season as a regular player for the Barcelona B team. But after senior players pushed for it, manager Frank Rijkaard promoted him to the first team. He made his La Liga debut for Barcelona on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol. He scored his first senior goal on May 1, 2005, against Albacete, with an assist from Ronaldinho. At 17 years old, he was the youngest player to score for the club at that time. Barcelona won the league title that season.

On his 18th birthday, he signed his first contract as a senior player. It was a five-year deal until 2010 with a €150 million release clause. Three months later, as he continued to impress, his contract was updated. It became a nine-year deal, doubling his salary and keeping him at the club until 2014.

Barcelona started the 2005–06 season by winning the Supercopa de España. Messi was not chosen to play in this competition. By the end of the season, the team won La Liga again and the UEFA Champions League. Messi did not play in the Champions League final due to an injury.

During the 2006–07 season, Messi scored his first hat-trick in a Clásico match against Real Madrid. He was the first player to do this in 12 years. Messi scored an amazing goal against Getafe and another with a handball against Espanyol. These goals were similar to two famous goals scored by fellow Argentine Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup. This led to many comparisons between the two players throughout Messi's career. The team finished the season with only one trophy, the 2006 Supercopa de España. Barcelona finished the next 2007–08 season without any trophies, which led to manager Rijkaard leaving.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Messi received the number 10 shirt. This was his first season under Barcelona's new manager, former captain Pep Guardiola. Messi became the main player in Guardiola's system, which focused on keeping the ball. As a result, Messi scored many more goals. That season, Messi scored 38 goals in total. Along with Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, they scored 100 goals in all competitions, a club record at the time. Messi played as a false nine for the first time in a Clásico against Real Madrid. He set up Barcelona's first goal and scored twice in their biggest-ever win at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He played in his first final, winning the Copa del Rey. Barcelona also won the La Liga title and the Champions League. This was the first treble in Spanish football history.

Messi during the 2009 Joan Gamper Trophy against Manchester City.

In the first half of the 2009–10 season, Barcelona also won the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. This made them the first club to win six trophies in a year (the sextuple). Messi was the Champions League top scorer, the youngest ever in the tournament. For his great play in 2009, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award. Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, matching Ronaldo's club record from the 1996–97 season. He finished the season as top scorer in the Champions League and La Liga, winning his second straight league trophy and his first European Golden Shoe. After the team won the Champions League, he signed a new 7-year contract until 2016.

In the 2010–11 season, Messi won the Supercopa de España, Champions League, and a third straight La Liga title. His performances in 2010 earned him his second straight Ballon d'Or. Messi was the top scorer in the Champions League for the third year in a row. He was also the league's top scorer and assist provider. He became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in a single season with 53 goals.

Messi started the 2011–12 season by winning both the Spanish and European Super Cups. At the end of the year, he won the FIFA Club World Cup and earned the Golden Ball award for the second time. For his efforts in 2011, he received the FIFA Ballon d'Or. He became only the fourth player to win the Ballon d'Or three times. He also won the first UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. In 2012, Messi became the second player to be top scorer in four Champions League seasons. Messi became Barcelona's all-time top goalscorer at 24 years old. He passed César Rodríguez's 57-year record of 232 goals with a hat-trick against Granada. He finished the season as the league's top scorer in Spain and Europe for the second time, with 50 goals, a La Liga record. His 73 goals in all competitions made him the single-season top scorer in European club football history. The team also won the Copa del Rey that season. This was their 14th trophy under Guardiola, who left after four successful years.

Barcelona: More Records and Trophies (2012–2021)

Messi scored a record-breaking 91 goals with Argentina (above) and Barcelona (below) in 2012.

For the start of the 2012–13 season, Barcelona had almost won the La Liga title by early 2013. A double against Real Betis made Messi Barcelona's all-time top scorer in La Liga. He also passed Gerd Müller's record for most goals in a calendar year. Messi scored a record 91 goals in all competitions for Barcelona and Argentina throughout 2012. Messi again won the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming the first player to win it four times. He signed a new contract until 2018. He wore the captain's armband for the first time in a league match against Rayo Vallecano. The team won La Liga again that year, Messi's sixth. They matched Real Madrid's 100-point record from the previous season. With 60 goals in all competitions, including 46 goals in La Liga, he finished as the league's top scorer in Spain and Europe for the second year in a row. He became the first player to win the European Golden Shoe three times.

Messi's role in the team's attack grew a lot. He contributed to 24% of the team's goals in their treble-winning season in 2008–09. This number rose to over 40% by the end of the 2012–13 season. To help Messi, Barcelona signed Brazilian forward Neymar from Santos before the 2013–14 season. The team won the Supercopa de España at the start of the season. Messi finished the season with his lowest goal count in five seasons, but still scored 41 goals in all competitions. For the first time in five years, Barcelona ended the season without a major trophy.

Messi dribbling past Patrice Evra of Juventus during the 2015 UEFA Champions League final.

Barcelona hired coach Luis Enrique before the 2014–15 season. They also signed Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez to help Messi in attack. Suárez had won the European Golden Shoe the year before. Luis Enrique's system focused on quick attacks, led by Messi, Suárez, and Neymar. This attacking trio, known as 'MSN', broke goalscoring records. A hat-trick against Sevilla earlier in the season made Messi the all-time top scorer in La Liga. He passed Telmo Zarra's 59-year record of 251 league goals. After winning the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League that year, Messi helped Barcelona become the first club to win the continental treble twice. He scored 58 goals. The MSN trio scored a total of 122 goals in all competitions that season, a record in Spanish football.

Messi started the 2015–16 season by helping Barcelona win against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup. Messi ended the year by winning the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup final against River Plate in Yokohama. This was his fifth club trophy of the year. On January 11, 2016, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or for a record fifth time. He ended the season by winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey again. In total, Messi scored 41 goals. The Barcelona attacking trio of Messi, Neymar, and Suárez scored a Spanish record of 131 combined goals that season, breaking their own record from the previous season.

The 2016–17 season ended with Messi winning the Supercopa de España and the Copa del Rey. He finished the season with 54 goals. His 37 goals in La Liga earned him both the Pichichi (top scorer in La Liga) and European Golden Boot Awards for the fourth time. Messi, Neymar, and Suárez combined for 110 goals by the end of the season. Neymar left for Paris Saint Germain the next year. The attacking trio had scored a total of 363 goals over three seasons. Luis Enrique also left Barcelona at the end of the season, having led the club to nine trophies in three years.

Messi, wearing the captain's armband, against Real Valladolid in 2018.

Messi signed a new deal with Barcelona on November 25, 2017. This was his ninth contract with the club, keeping him until 2021. The 2017–18 season saw Messi win the domestic double, taking home La Liga and the Copa del Rey again. He was once again the top scorer in La Liga with 34 goals, earning his fifth European Golden Shoe award. After former captain Andrés Iniesta left in May 2018, Messi was named the team's new captain for the 2018–19 season. He lifted his first trophy as Barcelona's captain, the Supercopa de España, after a 2–1 win over Sevilla. He helped Barcelona win the La Liga title, his tenth but first as captain. With 36 goals in 34 games that season, he won his sixth league Golden Boot trophy. He matched Zarra as the player with the most top-scorer awards in La Liga. He also won his sixth Golden Shoe award, and a record third in a row since the 2016–17 season.

Messi won his sixth Ballon d'Or. However, the 2019–20 season was the first time Barcelona went without a trophy since 2007–08. After a disappointing season, Barcelona announced that Messi wanted to leave. But Messi decided to finish the last year of his contract. In the 2020–21 season, Messi passed Xavi's record to reach a club record of 768 appearances. He led the club to victory in the 2021 Copa del Rey final. In his last two seasons with Barcelona, he was the top scorer in La Liga. This gave him a record-breaking total of eight Pichichi trophies.

Messi became a free agent after his contract ended. Talks for a new deal were difficult because of Barcelona's financial problems. Barcelona eventually announced that Messi would not stay at the club. They said financial and rule obstacles from La Liga were the reason. In a tearful press conference at Camp Nou, Messi confirmed he was leaving Barcelona.

Paris Saint-Germain (2021–2023)

Messi (middle) with PSG team-mates Kylian Mbappé (left) and Neymar.

On August 10, 2021, Messi joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He reunited with Neymar there. He signed a two-year deal until June 2023, with an option for an extra year. Messi chose 30 as his squad number, the same one he wore as a teenager when he first played for Barcelona. He made his debut for PSG against Reims. He made his first start and Champions League debut against Club Brugge. His home debut was in a match against Lyon. He scored his first goal for the club in a Champions League group stage win over his former manager Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Having scored 40 goals for his club and country in 2021, and captaining Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, Messi received a record seventh Ballon d'Or. He finished his first season with PSG with 11 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. He helped the club win their 10th Ligue 1 title.

Starting the 2022–23 season, Messi won his second trophy with PSG in the Trophée des Champions. A goal against Nice meant he passed Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time highest goalscorer in European club football with 702 goals. In that match, he also reached 1,000 career goal contributions at club level. By the end of the season, he had 21 goals in all competitions and the most assists in the league with 16. This helped PSG win their 11th Ligue 1 title and his second in a row. After the last game of the season, manager Christophe Galtier confirmed it would be Messi's last for PSG. The club confirmed his departure two days later.

Inter Miami (2023–Present)

Messi with Inter Miami in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.

Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami CF announced they had signed Messi on a two-and-a-half-year contract on July 15, 2023. Messi made his 2023 debut for the club in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul. He scored with a free-kick in stoppage time to win the game. DeAndre Yedlin, Inter Miami's previous captain, gave his armband to Messi, who became the new team captain. Messi's arrival in the US was highly praised. His presence helped raise the profile of MLS both in the US and around the world. According to Goal, "Every game that he graces sparks a scramble for tickets, with plenty of A-list guests eager to watch him in action." The excitement over his arrival was called "Messimania." Inter Miami's No. 10 Messi jersey became the best-selling jersey in the league, and almost the world.

After scoring nine goals in his first six games for Miami, Messi led the team to their first-ever trophy. They won the Leagues Cup against Nashville SC. Messi made his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls. Miami did not make the playoffs, finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference. They had not won in their last seven games. On October 30, 2023, after winning the World Cup with Argentina and the Ligue 1 trophy with PSG, Messi received a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or. He was also named Time Athlete of the Year, the first footballer to win this award.

During the 2024 season, Messi broke the record for most assists in a single MLS game with five assists. He also broke the record for most goal contributions in an MLS game with six, in a 6–2 win over the New York Red Bulls. On October 2, Messi scored two goals in a 3–2 win over Columbus Crew, securing the Supporters' Shield, his 46th trophy. In the final regular season game on October 19 against the New England Revolution, Messi scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 6–2 victory. Inter Miami's win over the Revolution also allowed the club to finish with 74 points in the regular season, a league record for MLS. He finished the regular season with 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 matches. In doing so, he became Inter Miami's all-time leading goalscorer.

Miami made its first appearance in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs but was eliminated in the first round after losing two games against Atlanta United FC. Messi scored his first postseason goal in the third game, a 3–2 loss. He was named the MLS Most Valuable Player after the regular season ended.

In the 2025 season, Messi became the fastest person to reach 40 goals in league history. He was featured in a Super Bowl advertisement for Apple TV's MLS coverage. In April, it was reported he was discussing a one-year contract extension until the end of the 2026 season, after the new Miami stadium opened.

International Career for Argentina

As a citizen of both Argentina and Spain, Messi could play for either national team. He first played for Argentina's U20 team in 2004 against Paraguay. He was then chosen for the 2005 South American U-20 Championship, where they finished third. Messi then led the team to win the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, his first success with Argentina. He finished the tournament with six goals and two assists, also winning the Golden Ball award.

Messi evades Brazil's Marcelo in the semi-final of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Messi made his debut with the senior national team in 2005, at age 18. He came on as a substitute in a friendly against Hungary. Messi had his first start in 2006 against Peru, and scored his first international goal in a friendly against Croatia. His World Cup debut was in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the 74th minute against Serbia and Montenegro, assisting one goal and scoring the final one in their win. This made him the youngest player to play and score for Argentina in the World Cup. He played for Argentina again in the 2007 Copa América, where they lost in the final. Messi was named the best young player of the tournament, with two goals and one assist. The 2008 Summer Olympics was another big achievement. He led Argentina's U23 team to win the Olympic gold medal against Nigeria. Messi scored two goals and made three assists. FIFA called him the best player from the tournament's best team.

Messi in his number 10 shirt captaining Argentina in 2012.

After Juan Román Riquelme retired from international football, Messi was given Argentina's number 10 shirt. During a 2010 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Greece, Messi wore the captain's armband for the first time. Argentina was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Germany. Messi was still seen as one of the tournament's best players for his speed and creativity, even though he didn't score any goals and only had one assist. Before the 2011 Copa América, Argentina started building their team around Messi. However, Messi didn't score any goals in that tournament either, but he had three assists. The team lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Messi against Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.

After their unsuccessful performance, 24-year-old Messi was made captain of the squad. The next few years were frustrating for Messi because he couldn't lead Argentina to win an international trophy. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Messi and Argentina lost to Germany in the final. However, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament for his overall performance, with four goals and an assist. Argentina lost to Chile on penalties in the 2015 Copa América final the next year. At the end of the tournament, Messi was reportedly chosen to receive the Golden Ball award, but he turned it down. In the 2016 Copa América Centenario semi-final against the United States, a goal from Messi made him Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches. However, Argentina again lost to Chile on penalties in the final. Messi had five goals and four assists in that tournament.

Losing three finals in three years made Messi decide to retire from international football. But a national campaign in Argentina convinced him to change his mind. He returned to the national team to lead them to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Argentina was in danger of missing the tournament in the last game of the qualifiers against Ecuador. But a hat-trick from Messi dramatically secured their spot. They went on to lose to France in the Round of 16 during the World Cup. Messi had one goal and two assists in the tournament. The next year, Messi played for Argentina again in the 2019 Copa América. He only scored one goal and had one assist. They lost to hosts Brazil in the semi-final but finished third after beating Chile. Even though they didn't win the tournament, this victory started a 36-game unbeaten streak for Argentina that lasted over three years.

Messi facing off against Érick Gutiérrez of Mexico in the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage.

Messi finally ended Argentina's 28-year trophy drought in the 2021 Copa América. They had not won an international tournament since 1993. During a group stage match against Bolivia, he passed Javier Mascherano to become Argentina's most-capped player. Argentina defeated Brazil in the final. Messi was named the player of the tournament. He was directly involved in nine of Argentina's 12 goals, scoring four and assisting five. He captained Argentina to win another international trophy in the 2022 Finalissima against UEFA Euro 2020 winners Italy. He was named player of the match after providing two assists. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Messi led Argentina to its first World Cup victory in 36 years. He scored twice in the final to defeat France. With seven goals and three assists in the tournament, Messi won the Golden Ball again, becoming the first player to win it twice. His appearance in the final also set new records for most appearances (26) and direct goal contributions (21 – 13 goals and 8 assists) at the World Cup.

A hat-trick in a 2023 friendly against Curaçao saw Messi reach 100 international goals. He was the third player and first South American to achieve this. Later that year, a goal against Peru made Messi the all-time top goalscorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. During the 2024 Copa América semi-final against Canada, Messi scored his first and only goal of the tournament. This also made him the second-highest international goalscorer of all time. Argentina eventually won the final against Colombia for their second straight Copa América title. Messi contributed one goal and one assist overall. He also set a new record for most appearances (39) at Copa América.

Player Profile

How Messi Plays Football

Messi prepares to shoot with his dominant left foot in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.

Messi is shorter than many players, which gives him a lower center of gravity. This helps him change direction quickly and avoid tackles. The Spanish media call him La Pulga Atómica ("The Atomic Flea"). Even though he isn't big, he is strong. This strength, combined with his balance, helps him stay on his feet when opponents try to tackle him. He is known for not diving (pretending to be hurt) in a sport where it happens often. His short, strong legs help him accelerate quickly. His fast feet allow him to keep control of the ball while dribbling at high speed. His former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola once said, "Messi is the only player that runs faster with the ball than he does without it." Messi mainly uses his left foot. He often starts dribbling runs with the outside of his left foot. He uses the inside of his foot to score goals and make passes.

Messi is a great goalscorer. He is known for his finishing, good positioning, quick reactions, and ability to make attacking runs past defenders. He also plays a playmaking role, thanks to his vision and passing skills. People often describe him as a magician, creating goals and chances when it seems impossible. He is also very accurate at free kicks and penalty kicks. As of June 2025, Messi ranks third all-time in goals scored from direct free kicks with 69, the most among active players. He also likes to score with chips (kicking the ball over the goalkeeper).

Messi's dribbling abilities allow him to weave past several defenders and orchestrate attacking plays.

Messi's speed and technical skill allow him to dribble past many defenders towards the goal. He often does this during counterattacks, starting from the middle of the field or the right side. He is widely considered one of the greatest dribblers ever. His former Argentina manager Diego Maradona said, "The ball stays glued to his foot; I've seen great players in my career, but I've never seen anyone with Messi's ball control." Besides his individual skills, he is also a hard-working team player. He is known for his creative plays, especially with former Barcelona midfielders Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.

As he got older, Messi's speed and dribbling changed a bit. He started to control the game from deeper areas of the field. He became one of the best passers and playmakers in football history. His work without the ball and defensive duties also decreased. By covering less ground, he saved energy for short bursts of speed. This helped him be more efficient and avoid muscle injuries, even though he played many games each season. He used to get injured often early in his career. But he improved his injury record by running less without the ball and by having a stricter diet, training, and sleep schedule.

Where Messi Plays on the Field

A versatile forward, Messi often plays as a classic number 10.

Messi plays in a free attacking role. He is a versatile player, meaning he can attack from either side of the field or through the middle. When he was a child, his favorite position was a playmaker behind two strikers. But he started his career in Spain as a left-winger or left-sided forward. When he first played for the main team, manager Frank Rijkaard moved him to the right wing. From there, he could easily cut into the middle and curl shots with his left foot, instead of just crossing the ball.

Under Guardiola and other managers, he often played as a false nine. This means he was positioned as a center-forward or a single striker. But he would move deep into midfield, drawing defenders with him. This created space for passes, other teammates' runs, Messi's own dribbling, or plays with Xavi and Iniesta.

Under manager Luis Enrique, Messi first went back to playing on the right side, like in his early career. Later, he played more in a deeper, free playmaking role. Under manager Ernesto Valverde, Messi played in different roles. Sometimes he played deeper, making runs into the box. He also played on the right wing or as a false nine. He was also used in a more attacking, central role in a 4–2–3–1 formation, or as a second striker in a 4–4–2 formation. In these roles, he could drop deep, connect with midfielders, create attacks, and make chances for his attacking partner Luis Suárez. With the Argentina national team, Messi has also played anywhere along the front line. Under different managers, he has been a right winger, a false nine, a main striker, a supporting forward, or a deeper, creative player like a classic number 10 playmaker or attacking midfielder behind the strikers.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Since 2008, Messi has been in a relationship with Antonela Roccuzzo. They married on June 30, 2017, in their hometown of Rosario. He has known Roccuzzo since he was five years old. She is the cousin of his childhood best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who is also a football player. Messi first confirmed their relationship in an interview in January 2009. They went public a month later during a carnival in Sitges.

Messi and Roccuzzo have three sons. To celebrate his partner's first pregnancy, Messi put the ball under his shirt after scoring in Argentina's 4–0 win against Ecuador on June 2, 2012. He confirmed the pregnancy two weeks later. Thiago was born in Barcelona on November 2, 2012. In April 2015, Messi confirmed they were expecting another child. In October 2017, his wife announced they were expecting their third child. Messi and his family are Catholic.

Messi has a close relationship with his immediate family. He is especially close to his mother, Celia, whose face he has tattooed on his left shoulder. His professional life is largely run by his family. His father, Jorge, has been his agent since he was 14. His oldest brother, Rodrigo, handles his daily schedule and publicity. His mother and other brother, Matías, manage his charity, the Leo Messi Foundation. They also take care of personal and professional matters in Rosario.

Since moving to Spain at age 13, Messi has stayed close to his hometown of Rosario. He even keeps his unique Rosarino accent. He still owns his family's old house, though it has been empty for a long time. He also has a penthouse apartment in an exclusive building for his mother, and a family property just outside the city. Once, while training with the national team in Buenos Aires, he drove three hours to Rosario right after practice to have dinner with his family. He spent the night with them and returned to Buenos Aires the next day for practice. Messi talks daily by phone and text with a small group of trusted friends in Rosario. Most of them were part of "The Machine of '87" at Newell's Old Boys. He had some disagreements with the club after moving to Barcelona. But by 2012, their public feud had ended. Newell's now celebrates their connection with Messi, even giving a club membership card to his newborn son. Messi has long planned to return to Rosario to finish his playing career at Newell's. Messi has triple citizenship: he is a citizen of Argentina, Italy, and Spain.

Honours and Awards

Messi (Golden Ball winner) pictured with future teammate Neymar (Bronze Ball winner) at the conclusion of the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup final.

Lionel Messi kissing the World Cup after the final match against France.

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
• Supercopa de España: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2021–22, 2022–23
• Trophée des Champions: 2022

Inter Miami

• Supporters' Shield: 2024
• Leagues Cup: 2023

Argentina U20

• FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005

Argentina U23

• Olympic Games: 2008

Argentina

• FIFA World Cup: 2022
• Copa América: 2021, 2024
• Finalissima: 2022

Individual

• Ballon d'Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
• FIFA World Player of the Year/FIFA Ballon d'Or/The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023
• European Golden Shoe: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
• FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
• FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
• FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2008–09
• UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award: 2010–11, 2014–15
• UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2018–19
• Copa América Golden Ball: 2015, 2021
• Copa América Golden Boot: 2021
• La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• MLS Most Valuable Player: 2024
• Pichichi Trophy: 2009−10, 2011–12, 2012−13, 2016–17, 2017−18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020, 2023
• Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
• FIFPRO World 11: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Argentine Sportsperson of the Year: 2011, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Orders

• Creu de Sant Jordi, Catalonia (30 April 2019)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom, United States (4 January 2025)

Interesting Facts About Lionel Messi

• Messi has Italian and Spanish family roots from his father's side, and mostly Italian roots from his mother's side.
• His maternal grandmother, Celia, was a big influence on him. She took him to training and matches. She passed away just before his eleventh birthday. Since then, Messi celebrates his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky to honor her.
• His favorite player growing up was Ronaldo, whom Messi called "the best forward I've ever seen."
• Messi holds triple citizenship: he is a citizen of Argentina, Italy, and Spain.
• His favorite foods include asado (a traditional South American barbecue), milanesa (a type of breaded meat), and pasta. He prefers his mate (a traditional South American drink) unsweetened.
• Time magazine named Messi one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023.
• He won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2020 and 2023, becoming the first team-sport athlete to win this award.
• Messi is often compared to Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, and they have an ongoing rivalry.
• In February 2021, Messi donated the Adidas shoes he wore when he broke Pelé's record for most goals for a single club (644 goals for Barcelona) to a museum. The shoes were later sold at auction for charity to help children with cancer, raising £125,000.

Lionel Messi Quotes

• "Sometimes you have to accept you can't win all the time."
• "You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it."
• "The day you think there is no improvements to be made is a sad one for any player."
• "I have fun like a child in the street. When the day comes when I'm not enjoying it, I will leave football."

See also

In Spanish: Lionel Messi para niños