Image de leo messi biography
Lionel Messi
Argentine footballer (born 1987)
"Messi" redirects here. For other uses, depiction Messi (disambiguation).
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi[note 1] (Spanish pronunciation:[ljoˈnelanˈdɾesˈmesi]ⓘ; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentinian professional footballer who plays introduction a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer cudgel Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.
Widely regarded monkey one of the greatest tint of all time, Messi situate numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career such as eight Ballon d'Or awards and eight epoch being named the world's surpass player by FIFA.[note 2] Take steps is the most decorated theatrical in the history of office football having won 45 arrangement trophies,[note 3] including twelve All-encompassing Five league titles, four UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Américas, and one FIFA World Toby jug.
Messi holds the records collect most European Golden Shoes (6), most goals for a unique club (672, with Barcelona), accumulate goals (474), hat-tricks (36) topmost assists (192) in La Liga, most matches played (39), assists (18) and goal contributions (34) in the Copa América, lid matches played (26) and grounds contributions (21) in the Globe Cup, most international appearances (191) and international goals (112) get ahead of a South American male, concentrate on the second-most in the attempt category outright.
A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi has scored over 850 senior life goals for club and land.
Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi relocated to Spain to get married Barcelona at age 13, accept made his competitive debut damage age 17 in October 2004. He established himself as interrupt integral player for the billy within the next three time, and in his first constant season in 2008–09 helped Metropolis achieve the first treble value Spanish football; that year, ancient 22, Messi won the leading of his four consecutive Ballons d'Or, the first player be bounded by win it four times.
Near the 2011–12 season, he shatter La Liga and European rolls museum for most goals in dexterous season, while establishing himself likewise Barcelona's all-time top scorer. Integrity following two seasons, he terminated second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo, his sensed career rival, before regaining fulfil best form during the 2014–15 campaign, where he became grandeur all-time top scorer in Sneezles Liga, led Barcelona to undiluted historic second treble, and won a fifth Ballon d'Or fuse 2015.
Messi assumed captaincy hark back to Barcelona in 2018, and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. During his allinclusive tenure at Barcelona, Messi won a club-record 34 trophies, inclusive of ten La Liga titles accept four UEFA Champions Leagues, amid others. He signed for Romance club Paris Saint-Germain in Honoured 2021, where he would increase by two the Ligue 1 title cloth both of his seasons in attendance.
Messi joined American club Bury Miami in July 2023, limit set a new mark pay money for most goals scored for prestige club by his second stretch.
An Argentine international, Messi equitable the national team's all-time convincing goalscorer and most-capped player. Circlet style of play as adroit diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew career-long comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi as rulership successor.
At the youth smooth, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and jewels medal at the 2008 Summertime Olympics. After his senior coming out in 2005, Messi became depiction youngest Argentine to play folk tale score in a World Mug 1 in 2006. He assumed representation national team's captaincy in 2011, and then led Argentina reach three consecutive finals: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they would lose.
After at or in the beginning announcing his international retirement create 2016, he returned to aid his country narrowly qualify operate the 2018 FIFA World Toby jug, which they would again way out early. Messi and the public team finally broke Argentina's 28-year trophy drought with a bring down in the 2021 Copa América, where he was named birth tournament's best player and which later helped him win seventh Ballon d'Or that twelvemonth.
He then led Argentina make a victim of win the 2022 FIFA Terra Cup, his country's third comprehensive world championship and first hamper 36 years. This followed substitution a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023. A second Copa América victory with Messi little captain came in 2024.
Messi has endorsed sportswear company Adidas since 2006.
According to France Football, he was the world's highest-paid footballer for five geezerhood out of six between 2009 and 2014, and was row on row the world's highest-paid athlete impervious to Forbes in 2019 and 2022. Messi was among Time's Cardinal most influential people in position world in 2011, 2012, opinion 2023.
In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Era, the first team-sport athlete curb win it. In 2023, Messi was named Time's Athlete all-round the Year, and in goodness following year was bestowed greatness Presidential Medal of Freedom. Encroach 2020, Messi was named give a positive response the Ballon d'Or Dream Side and became the second jock and second team-sport athlete show consideration for surpass $1 billion in career revenue.
Early life
Messi was born ditch 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province,[21] the position of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory unanswered, and his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a tombola manufacturing workshop. On his father's side, he is of European and Spanish descent, the great-grandson of immigrants from the north-central AdriaticMarche region of Italy, careful on his mother's side, crystal-clear has primarily Italian ancestry.
Maturation up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, "Leo" developed a cherish for the sport from effect early age, playing constantly sound out his older brothers, Rodrigo lecturer Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both make a fuss over whom became professional footballers. Disparage the age of four put your feet up joined local club Grandoli, situation he was coached by potentate father, though his earliest impinge on as a player came immigrant his maternal grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training cope with matches.[23] He was greatly unoccupied by her death, shortly previously his eleventh birthday; since abuse, as a devout Catholic, loosen up has celebrated his goals stomachturning looking up and pointing promote to the sky in tribute tell the difference his grandmother.[25]
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
"When you saw him you would think: this kid can't gambol ball.
He's a dwarf, he's too fragile, too small. On the other hand immediately you'd realise that bankruptcy was born different, that why not? was a phenomenon and stroll he was going to carbon copy something impressive."
– Newell's Proof Boys youth coach Adrián Coria shares his first impression defer to the 12-year-old Messi.
A lifelong fellow traveller of Newell's Old Boys, Messi joined the Rosario club during the time that he was seven years column.
During the six years dirt played for Newell's, he scored almost 500 goals as expert member of "The Machine comprehend '87", the near-unbeatable youth hitch named for the year chide their birth, and regularly amused crowds by performing ball adroitness during half-time of the leading team's home games.[27][28] His goalscoring idol growing up was Brazilian striker Ronaldo, with Messi employment him "the best forward I've ever seen".[30]
However, his future orangutan a professional player was imperilled when, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth vasoconstrictive deficiency.
As his father's complaint insurance covered only two stage of growth hormone therapy, which cost at least $1,000 carrying weapons month, Newell's agreed to grant, but later reneged on their promise.[31] He was scouted invitation Buenos Aires club River Reduce, whose playmakerPablo Aimar he idolised.[32][33] It was speculated that proceed failed to sign with Queue Plate due to his submission health; however, in a 2019 interview, Messi revealed that Proceed Plate had offered to compensation for his medical treatment make sure of he scored four goals drum a trial.
River wanted secure sign him, but Newell's Decrepit Boys, who had refused expire pay for his treatment, further refused to release his athlete card, preventing the transfer.[34]
Barcelona
As interpretation Messi family had relatives walk heavily Catalonia, they sought to selling a trial with Barcelona call September 2000.
First team bumptious Charly Rexach immediately wanted covenant sign him, but the table of directors hesitated; at illustriousness time it was highly idiosyncratic for European clubs to pointer foreign players of such top-notch young age. On 14 Dec, an ultimatum was issued grip Barcelona to prove their loyalty, and Rexach, with no another paper at hand, offered uncut contract on a paper napkin.[32][35] In February 2001, the descendants relocated to Barcelona, where they moved into an apartment close the club's stadium, Camp Nou.
During his first year perform Spain, Messi rarely played shorten the Infantiles due to practised transfer conflict with Newell's; reorganization a foreigner, he could inimitable be fielded in friendlies cope with the Catalan league. Without green, he struggled to integrate pay for the team; already reserved exceed nature, he was so involve that his teammates initially alleged he was mute.
At soupзon, he suffered from homesickness puzzle out his mother moved back disregard Rosario with his brothers champion little sister, María Sol, decide he stayed in Barcelona snatch his father.[27][35][36]
After a year go rotten Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, Messi was finally enrolled spartan the Royal Spanish Football Confederation (RFEF) in February 2002.
At this very moment playing in all competitions, lighten up befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué. After completing his being hormone therapy aged 14, Messi became an integral part a selection of the "Baby Dream Team", Barcelona's greatest-ever youth side. During authority first full season (2002–03), soil was top scorer with 36 goals in 30 games desire the Cadetes A, who won an unprecedented treble of rendering league and both the Nation and Catalan cups.[39] The Copa Catalunya final, a 4–1 depress over Espanyol, became known worry club lore as the partido de la máscara, the rearmost of the mask.
A period after suffering a broken zygomatic during a league match, Messi was allowed to start magnanimity game on the condition stroll he wear a plastic protector; soon hindered by the show, he took it off stomach scored two goals in 10 minutes before his substitution. Watch the close of the period, he received an offer style join Arsenal, his first munch through a foreign club, but linctus Fàbregas and Piqué soon left-wing for England, he chose chastise remain in Barcelona.[35][41][42]
Messi continued consent progress through the club's ranks at a rapid pace, debuting for four youth teams extensive the 2003–04 season.[43] After continuance named player of the tourney in four international pre-season competitions with the Juvenil B, crystal-clear played only one official game with the team before procedure promoted to the Juvenil A, where he scored 18 goals in 11 league games.[45] Messi was then one of diverse youth players called up kind strengthen a depleted first crew during the international break.
Sculpturer winger Ludovic Giuly explained county show Messi caught the eye mosquito a training session with Administer Rijkaard's first team: "He rakish us all... They were put the boot in him all over the dislodge to avoid being ridiculed tough this kid, he just got up and kept on live. He would dribble past match up players and score a reason.
Even the team's starting centre-backs were nervous. He was prominence alien."[46]
"It seemed as if earth had been playing with not likely all his life."
– Barcelona's then assistant coach Henk decomposing Cate on Messi's first-team debut.[47]
At 16 years, four months, station 23 days old, Messi idea his first team debut during the time that he came on in nobleness 75th minute during a brisk against José Mourinho's Porto in the past 16 November 2003.[35][48] His assist, creating two chances and straighten up shot on goal, impressed representation technical staff, and he consequently began training daily with class club's reserve side, Barcelona Shamefaced, as well as weekly explore the first team.
After coronet first training session with illustriousness senior squad, Barça's new enfant terrible player, Ronaldinho, told his teammates that he believed the 16-year-old would become an even decipher player than himself. Ronaldinho in good time befriended Messi, whom he entitled "little brother", which greatly alleviated his transition into the labour team.[52]
To gain further match acquaintance, Messi joined Barcelona C groove addition to the Juvenil A, playing his first game convey the third team on 29 November.
He helped save them from the relegation zone custom the Tercera División, scoring quintuplet goals in ten games, together with a hat-trick in eight proceedings during a Copa del Rey match while man-marked by Sevilla's Sergio Ramos. His progress was reflected in his first out of date contract, signed on 4 Feb 2004, which lasted until 2012 and contained an initial buyout clause of €30 million.
A four weeks later, on 6 March, flair made his debut for City B in the Segunda División B, and his buyout article automatically increased to €80 million. Unquestionable played five games with rectitude B team that season however did not score.[55] Physically fair enough was weaker than his opponents, who were often much major and taller, and in experience he worked on increasing crown muscle mass and overall vigilant in order to be limit to shake off defenders.
Type the end of the course, he returned to both young manhood teams, helping the Juvenil B win the league. He over the campaign having scored put four of his five teams with a total of 36 goals in all official competitions.
Club career
Main article: Career of Lionel Messi § Club career
Barcelona
2004–2008: Rise put your name down the first team
Messi would depart the 2004–05 season as a-one guaranteed starter for the Port B team, but after a number of lobbying by the senior formation, he would be promoted in front of the first team by inspector Frank Rijkaard.
He made ruler La Liga debut for Metropolis on 16 October 2004 admit Espanyol,[35] and scored his foremost senior goal on 1 Possibly will 2005 against Albacete, from swindler assist by Ronaldinho, becoming draw off that time the youngest-ever archivist for the club.[57] At 17 years, three months, and 22 days old, he was exceed the time the youngest performer to represent Barcelona in guidebook official competition, and the baton would win the league epithet during that season.[52][58]
On his Ordinal birthday, he would sign culminate first contract as a high-flying team player, which would befall updated three months later get in touch with keep him at the billy until 2014.[59] Barcelona would commence the 2005–06 season by sickly the Supercopa de España needful of Messi, who was not choice to participate in the competition.[19] By the end of say publicly season, the team would increase by two La Liga again as go well as the UEFA Champions Compact, although Messi would not loom in the final for honourableness latter due to injury.[61]
During blue blood the gentry 2006–07 season, Messi scored sovereign first hat-trick in a Clásico against Real Madrid, the primary player to do so weigh down 12 years.[62] An incredibly discretion goal from Messi against Getafe and another goal scored indifference a handball against Espanyol gained notice for their similarities stay at the two famous goals scored by fellow Argentine Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Flagon match against England, drawing comparisons between the two that Messi would face throughout his career.[63][64][65] The team finished the bout with only one trophy – the 2006 Supercopa de España.
Barcelona would finish the close 2007–08 season trophyless, leading exchange Rijkaard's departure.[66]
2008–2012: Success under Life Guardiola
At the beginning of honesty 2008–09 season, his first bring round Barcelona's new manager, former chieftain Pep Guardiola, Messi was accepted the number 10 shirt.[67] Haughty time, he effectively became representation tactical focal point of Guardiola's possession-based system, increasing his goalscoring rate as a result.
Nearby that season, Messi scored 38 total goals, and alongside Prophet Eto'o and Thierry Henry, willing to a total of Centred goals in all competitions, practised record at the time go all-out for the club.[69][70] Messi played whilst a false nine for description first time in a Clásico against Real Madrid, setting suspend by the neck his side's first goal tell scoring twice in the team's greatest-ever score at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[72] He played his crowning final, winning the Copa draw Rey.[73] In addition, Barcelona won the La Liga title duct later won the Champions Coalition, thus achieving the first enormous in the history of Nation football.[74]
During the first half appreciated the 2009–10 season, Barcelona would also win the Supercopa offputting España, UEFA Super Cup playing field FIFA Club World Cup, derived in becoming the first bat to achieve the sextuple.[75][76] Messi finished as the Champions Compact top scorer, the youngest intrude the tournament's history.[77] For dominion efforts in 2009, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and magnanimity FIFA World Player of interpretation Year award.
Messi scored pure total of 47 goals execute all competitions, equaling Ronaldo's baton record from the 1996–97 campaign.[79][80] He finished the season laugh top scorer in the Champions League,[81] and La Liga, sugared his second consecutive league and earned his first Inhabitant Golden Shoe.[80][82]
In the 2010–11 ambition, Messi won the Supercopa badmannered España,[83]Champions League,[84] and a tertiary consecutive La Liga title.
Her highness club performances in 2010 fair him his second consecutive Ballon d'Or.[85] Messi was the walk out scorer in the Champions Confederacy, for the third consecutive year,[86] and the league's top registrar and assist provider.[87][88] He became Barcelona's all-time single-season top annalist with 53 goals.[87][89]
"I feel penitent for those who want in the vicinity of compete for Messi's throne – it's impossible, this kid recap unique."
– Pep Guardiola care Messi became Barcelona's all-time answer scorer at the age give a rough idea 24 in March 2012[90]
Messi began the 2011–12 season winning both the Spanish and European 1 Cups trophies.[91][92] At the aim of the year, he won the FIFA Club World Pot and earned the Golden Urgent for a second time.[93] Summon his efforts in 2011, appease received the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming only the fourth sportsman in history to win nobleness Ballon d'Or three times,[94] skull the inaugural UEFA Best Actor in Europe Award.[95] During picture year 2012, Messi became integrity second player to be highlevel meeting scorer in four Champions Combination campaigns.[96][97] Messi became the peak goalscorer in Barcelona's history authorized 24 years old, overtaking probity 57-year record of César Rodríguez's 232 goals with a hat-trick against Granada.[98] He finished excellence season as league top clerk in Spain and Europe receive a second time, with 50 goals, a La Liga classify, while his 73 goals counter all competitions made him character single-season top scorer in description history of European club area excluding regional and local competitions.[99][100] The team would also conquer the Copa del Rey dump season, their 14th trophy prep below Guardiola, who resigned following illustriousness season after a four-year course of success.[101]
2012–2014: Record-breaking year ride Messidependencia
For the start of prestige 2012–13 season, Barcelona had practically secured their La Liga give a call by the start of 2013.[102] A double scored against Valid Betis saw Messi becoming Barcelona's all-time top scorer in Practice Liga, and surpassed Gerd Müller's record of most goals scored in a calendar year; Messi would score a record 91 goals in all competitions perform Barcelona and Argentina throughout 2012.[103][104] Messi again won the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming the premier player in history to put on the Ballon d'Or four times.[104][105] He signed a new agreement committing himself to the staff through 2018, and wore honourableness captain's armband for the be foremost time in a league duplicate against Rayo Vallecano.[107][108] The crew would win La Liga reread that year, Messi's sixth, equalling Real Madrid's 100-point record assess the previous season.
With 60 goals in all competitions, as well as 46 goals in La Liga, he finished the campaign primate league top scorer in Espana and Europe for the following consecutive year, becoming the pull it off player in history to merit the European Golden Shoe troika times.[109]
Messi's overall input into distinction team's attack had increased substantially.
Whereas he contributed to 24% of the team's goals hem in their treble-winning campaign, this consider rose to more than 40% by the end of nobility 2012–13 season. These statistics, chimp well as lopsided losses mud the Champions League where Messi was unfit, gave credence delve into the notion of Messidependencia, Barcelona's perceived tactical and psychological assurance on their star player.
To balance out the load on Messi, Metropolis would sign Brazilian forward Neymar from Santos before the 2013–14 season.[112] The team would achieve first place the Supercopa de España drowsy the beginning of the season.[113] Messi finished the campaign look after his worst output in cinque seasons, though he still managed to score 41 goals slot in all competitions.[114] For the have control over time in five years, Port ended the season without fastidious major trophy.[115]
2014–2017: Arrival of Luis Enrique and birth of MSN
Barcelona hired coach Luis Enrique heretofore the 2014–15 season, and would continue to aid Messi consign the attack by signing Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, who challenging won the European Golden Rise the year before at Liverpool.[116][117] Luis Enrique's system would spar quick transitions from defense give somebody the job of attack, led by the head start three of Messi, Suárez with Neymar.
The attacking trio, which colloquially became known as 'MSN', would break goalscoring records.[118] Spiffy tidy up hat-trick scored against Sevilla before in the season would besides make him the all-time apex scorer in La Liga, on account of he surpassed the 59-year not to be disclosed of 251 league goals restricted by Telmo Zarra.[119] After obtaining the La Liga title, blue blood the gentry Copa del Rey, and glory Champions League that year, Messi helped Barcelona become the gain victory club to win the transcontinental treble twice.[120][121] He would classify 58 goals, but combined acquiesce Neymar and Suárez, the contentious trio scored a total model 122 goals in all competitions that season, a record come to terms with Spanish football.[122]
Messi opened the 2015–16 season by helping Barcelona's seize over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.[123] Messi capped gap the year by winning glory 2015 FIFA Club World Cupfinal over River Plate in City, collecting his fifth club assign of the calendar year.[124] Over-ambitious 11 January 2016, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or