Lionel Messi: from Atomic Flea to soccer’s GOAT

Roots

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. Fun fact: it's the same place where revolutionary Che Guevara was born.

Disorder

At around age 10 or 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone disorder, also known as GHD. Treatments were expensive, and before his move to Spain his family struggled to pay for it.

He didn’t start playing immediately

Messi spent one year at Barcelona's youth academy before being enrolled in the Spanish soccer federation.

First team debut

Messi was just 16 when he first played for the first team in a friendly against FC Porto on November 16, 2003.

His Argentina debut didn’t go as expected

Messi was sent off with a red card after just 47 seconds on the pitch, in his 2005 international debut.

Playing style

A versatile forward, Messi is known for his ball control, dribbling, and acceleration. His stature allows him to quickly pass through defenders and score.

Top scorer

He’s also the top scorer for Argentina, with over 70 goals, beating Gabriel Batistuta’s previous record of 45 goals by a large margin.

Most goals in a year

In 2012, Messi broke Gerd Müller's record of the most goals scored in a calendar year, which was 85 goals set in 1972. Messi scored 79 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina.

Awards

Since 2008, Messi has won eight Ballons d'Or, six FIFA World's Best Player awards, and six European Golden Shoes (aka Golden Boot).

Celebration

Messi usually celebrates his goals by pointing towards the sky, dedicating them to his late grandmother.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

In 2010, the soccer star was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Religion

Leo Messi is a devoted Catholic. In 2013, he met Pope Francis, at the Vatican. Of course, Pope Francis was also from Argentina, and happened to be a big soccer fan.

Family

Messi has been in a relationship with his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo for many years. They got married in 2017 and have three sons together.

Barça fans froze in August 2020

After dedicating his career to Barcelona, in August 2020 Messi expressed his desire to leave the club. But faced with a €700 million (about US$855 million) release clause, Messi opted for staying.

The tables turned

Then, in 2021, Messi wished to renew his contract with Barcelona for two more years, but the club was unable to keep him due to funding issues and LaLiga regulations. At a tearful press conference he said, "This year I wanted to stay and I couldn’t. Last year I didn’t want to stay, and I said it." He eventually completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he had some highs and lows.

Winning the World Cup

In 2022, Messi won his first World Cup title with Argentina against France in what was one of the most epic matches FIFA has ever seen. Not even Kylian Mbappé's remarkable hat trick could deny Messi his trophy. The Argentine captain scored two goals in the final, and after extra time ended in an unbelievable 3-3 tie, his team defeated France in a 4-2 penalty shootout. This is Argentina's third World Cup title ever, and its first since 1986. Messi has now officially won every major football trophy with Argentina, including Finalissima (2022), Copa América (2021), Beijing Olympics (2008), and FIFA World Youth Championship (2005). 

Best FIFA Men's Player award, 2023

In February 2023, Messi was named Best FIFA Men's Player at a Paris ceremony, beating his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. "It's amazing. It was a tremendous year and it is an honor for me to be here tonight and win this award," said Messi of his second FIFA title—the first of which he received in 2019. "I want to express my thanks to [coach Lionel] Scaloni and my teammates; without them I would not be here," he added. "I achieved a dream I had been hoping for so long and finally I achieved it. It's a dream for any player; very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so."

Moving to Miami

Following a challenging two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi joined the American Major League Soccer team Inter Miami in July 2023, taking on the role of captain. Under his leadership, the team clinched the Leagues Cup and has now also secured the 2024 Supporters' Shield. Messi leads the Argentine national team as they gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.