Lionel Messi an Argentine soccer player who widely is one of the best footballers of all times. Born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24, 1987. Messi plays as an attacker and his skill, speed and ability to score goals have made him famous all over the world.
Messi’s career started when he was young and joined the Argentina-based Newell’s Old Boys youth team. At 13, he went to Barcelona, Spain to join La Masia, a prestigious school for young people. He moved up quickly through the ranks and at age of 17, he played his first game for Barcelona’s first team.
During that time Barcelona, Messi did things that never been done before. He won many local and international titles with club including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. Messi did lot on his own. He won the Ballon d’Or, which is given to FIFA World Player of the Year, record-breaking seven times.
Messi left Barcelona in August 2021 because the club couldn’t pay him enough. He then signed with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), club in France’s Ligue 1. After more than 20 years at Barcelona, he moved to PSG, which was big change in his career.
Messi played for the Argentine national team on the world stage. He played in several FIFA World Cups and Copa America events. Messi won Copa America with Argentina in 2021, which was his first big international trophy with national team. This was a long-term goal for him.
Messi has broken lot of records and won lot of praise for his amazing efforts over the course of his career. The way he plays is defined by how close he gets to the ball.
20 facts about Lionel Messi
- Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi. Lionel Messi’s full name is Lionel Andrés Messi. Most people call him Lionel Messi or just Messi.
- Rosario, Argentina, is where he was born. Messi born in Rosario, Argentina, on June 24, 1987. Rosario is in the state of Santa Fe.
- Messi is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall and weighs 148 pounds (67 kg).
- Position: In front. Messi is mostly known for being a shooter or forward. But he is good at playing in places where the team is trying to score.
- Messi started playing football at young age in Argentina. At the age of five, he joined the neighbourhood club Grandoli. After that, he played for Newell’s Old Boys until FC Barcelona found him.
- Arrival at FC Barcelona: Messi moved to Barcelona, Spain, when he was 13 to join La Masia, the prestigious youth school of FC Barcelona.
- Messi’s first game for Barcelona was on November 16, 2003, he was 16 years, 4 months and 23 days old. At time, he was youngest player to ever play for the club.
- Messi took over Ronaldinho’s famous number 10 shirt at FC Barcelona during the 2008-2009 season. This cemented his position as team’s star player.
- Messi holds record for most goals scored in a single year. In 2012, he got 91 goals in all competitions, which is a lot.
- International Career with Argentina: Since 2005, Messi has played for the Argentina national team. He has played in number of Copa America and FIFA World Cup games, to win big international titles.
- Copa America Victory: After coming close several times, Messi finally won his first big international trophy when Argentina won the Copa America 2021 by beating Brazil in the finals.
- Messi got Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. He was 23 years old at that time, but he helped team do well.
- Messi is all-time leader in goals scored for Barcelona. He scored an incredible number of goals for the team. He beat César Rodrguez’s record, which stood since 2012.
- Messi won the famous Ballon d’Or award (now called The Best FIFA Men’s Player) record seven times, proving that he is best player in world.
- FIFA World Player of the Year: Messi won FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2009 and 2010 before it combined with Ballon d’Or.
- Messi is only player to have won European Golden Shoe award a record six times. This award is given to player who scores most goals in local leagues of Europe.
- Messi stayed loyal to Barcelona even though other teams tried to get him to join them. He didn’t leave Barcelona until 2021, he joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
- Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in August 2021 after leaviing Barcelona. He signed two-year contract with an option for third year.
- Philanthropy: Through the Leo Messi Foundation, Messi is very interested in charitable work. The foundation works on schooling and health care projects helping children who are in need.
- Messi is known for how well he dribble, control ball close up, move quickly and see pitch. He is very good at setting up scoring chances and has become face of the tiki-taka style of play that Barcelona is known for.
Most people agree Lionel Messi is the best football players of all time. Messi born in Rosario, Argentina. He worked his way up through FC Barcelona’s famous youth school, La Masia, to become club’s star player. Fans all over world have been amazed by his skills, speed and sensse on pitch. Messi has won lot of praise and set lot of records for his ability to easily move past opponents, score amazing goals and set up chances for his teammates. Fans like him because he stayed true to Barcelona, where he speent most of his professional career and because he does good things off pitch. Messi’s influence on football will be remembered for long time, because his extraordinary talent and achievements have left an indelible mark on the game.
