Lionel Messi

Early Life

Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. He played youth football for Newell's Old Boys in Rosario. At the age of 11 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency; in 2000, at 13, he moved with his family to Barcelona, where FC Barcelona agreed to fund his treatment and he joined the club's La Masia academy.

Career

Messi joined FC Barcelona's academy, La Masia, at the age of 13 and made his first-team debut in October 2004, aged 17. Over 17 seasons with Barcelona he became the club's all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, winning ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles before leaving in 2021. He then played for Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023, winning two Ligue 1 titles, and joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer in July 2023. For Argentina, he made his senior debut in 2005 and played in five World Cups. After losing the 2014 World Cup final and winning the Olympic gold in 2008, he led Argentina to the Copa América in 2021, the Finalissima in 2022 and the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, scoring seven goals in the tournament, including two in the final against France, and winning the Golden Ball. He led Argentina to a second successive Copa América title in 2024. All career totals in this profile are stated as of November 2026; totals for a player still active change with every match, so the profile records dated milestones rather than a running total.

Achievements

Messi has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards as the world's top male player (2009–12, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023). He captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player for the second time, after first winning it in 2014. He led Argentina to the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and to the Finalissima in 2022, and won the Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2008. In 2012 he scored 91 goals in a calendar year, a Guinness World Record. For FC Barcelona he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances, the most goals by a player for a single club, winning ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles, and six European Golden Shoes.

• Won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards as the world's top male player (2009–12, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
• Captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player for a second time
• Won the Copa América with Argentina in 2021 and 2024, and the Finalissima in 2022
• Won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina at Beijing 2008
• Scored 91 goals in the calendar year 2012, a Guinness World Record
• Scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for FC Barcelona, the most goals by a player for a single club
• Won six European Golden Shoes as Europe's top league scorer
• Won ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona

Legacy

Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history. His records include eight Ballon d'Or awards, the most goals in a calendar year (91, in 2012) and the most goals for a single club (672, for Barcelona). His captaincy of Argentina to the 2022 World Cup, after four previous World Cup campaigns, completed a set of honours that includes the Copa América, the Finalissima and an Olympic gold medal. His move to Inter Miami in 2023 brought one of the sport's most followed players to Major League Soccer.

Contributions

Messi's contribution to football is a body of goalscoring and playmaking records: eight Ballon d'Or awards, 91 goals in a calendar year, 672 goals for a single club, and Argentina's 2022 World Cup as captain. His style, built on close control, balance and vision, has shaped how the forward position is understood in the modern game.

Milestones

• 2000 — Moved to Barcelona at 13 and joined FC Barcelona's La Masia academy Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
• 2004 — Made his first-team debut for Barcelona, aged 17 Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
• 2008 — Won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina at Beijing 2008 Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2009 — Won his first Ballon d'Or; the first of four in consecutive years Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2012 — Scored 91 goals in the calendar year, a Guinness World Record, breaking Gerd Müller's 1972 mark of 85 Source: Guinness World Records; Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2014 — Reached the World Cup final with Argentina and won the Golden Ball Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2015 — Won a fifth Ballon d'Or Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2019 — Won a sixth Ballon d'Or Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2021 — Won the Copa América with Argentina; left Barcelona after 672 goals in 778 appearances and joined Paris Saint-Germain Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2022 — Won the Finalissima and captained Argentina to victory at the World Cup, winning the Golden Ball for a second time Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2023 — Joined Inter Miami and won a record eighth Ballon d'Or Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2024 — Led Argentina to a second successive Copa América title Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

Timeline

1. 24 June 1987

   Born Lionel Andrés Messi in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina

   Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
2. 2000

   Moved to Barcelona at 13 and joined FC Barcelona's La Masia academy

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
3. 2004-10

   Made his first-team debut for Barcelona, aged 17

   Approximate date Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
4. 2008

   Won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina at Beijing 2008

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
5. 2009

   Won his first Ballon d'Or

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
6. 2012

   Scored 91 goals in the calendar year, a Guinness World Record

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Guinness World Records; Encyclopaedia Britannica
7. 2014

   Reached the World Cup final with Argentina and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
8. 2021

   Won the Copa América with Argentina; left Barcelona after 17 seasons and joined Paris Saint-Germain

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
9. 2022

   Won the Finalissima with Argentina; captained Argentina to victory at the World Cup in Qatar, winning the Golden Ball for a second time

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
10. 2023

    Joined Inter Miami in July; won a record eighth Ballon d'Or

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
11. 2024

    Led Argentina to a second successive Copa América title

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

Related Personalities

• Cristiano Ronaldo Footballer · b. 1985
• Pelé Footballer · 1940–2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

1. Lionel Messi — Encyclopaedia Britannica — Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed 12 November 2026)
2. Lionel Messi — Wikipedia (cross-check) — Wikipedia (accessed 12 November 2026)
3. Records — Messi vs Ronaldo (Guinness-sourced records) — Guinness World Records (via messivsronaldo.football) (accessed 12 November 2026)
4. File:Lionel Messi 20180626.jpg — Wikimedia Commons (portrait file page) — Wikimedia Commons (accessed 12 November 2026)

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