Lionel Messi - Biography, Statistics, and Facts

Messi become born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. As a younger boy, Messi tagged along when his  older brothers played soccer with their buddies, unintimidated by means of the larger boys. At the age of 8, he became recruited to join the youth gadget of Newell's Old Boys, a Rosario-based totally club.

Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age organization, Messi become ultimately recognized by docs as stricken by a hormone deficiency that restricted his boom. Messi's dad and mom, Jorge and Ceclia, determined on a routine of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, although it quickly proved not possible to pay several hundred greenbacks according to month for the drugs. 

So, at the age of thirteen, whilst Messi was supplied the danger to train at football powerhouse FC Barcelona's kids academy, La Masia, and feature his clinical payments included through the team, Messi's circle of relatives picked up and moved throughout the Atlantic to make a new domestic in Spain. Although he become regularly homesick in his new united states of america, Messi moved quickly thru the junior system ranks.

Ultimately, Messi's quick stature (five feet, 7 inches), blended with his speed and relentless attacking style, has drawn comparisons to any other famous Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.

FC Barcelona and Argentina

Messi has simplest played for FC Barcelona, where he first signed at age thirteen. He also plays for the Argentina national group.

By the age of 16, Messi made his first look for the FC Barcelona, putting himself within the file books on May 1, 2005, because the youngest participant to ever rating a aim for the franchise. That same year, he led Argentina to the title within the underneath-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the group over Nigeria.

Messi suggested Barcelona to a wealth of achievement, most substantially in 2009, while the left-footer's team captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That equal yr, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took domestic his first FIFA "World Player of the Year" honor/Ballon d'Or award.

Even the super Maradona gushed approximately his fellow countryman. "I see him as very just like me," the retired player instructed the BBC. "He's a frontrunner and is providing training in lovely football. He has some thing special than every other participant within the international."

Amazingly, the soccer wizard persisted to improve, coming across new approaches to elude defenders whilst leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, in addition to the '11 Champions League identify.

Messi embarked on an all-out attack at the record books in 2012. He have become the primary participant to score 5 dreams in a Champions League match in early March, and some weeks later he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez's club-file 232 desires to emerge as Barcelona's all-time leading scorer. 

By the give up of 2012, Messi had accrued an remarkable ninety one dreams in club and international play, eclipsing the 85 netted in a unmarried calendar year by means of Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke any other report whilst he was named the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner for the fourth time in January 2013.

The football first-rate got here again to earth relatively that year because of the patience of hamstring accidents, however he regained his record-breaking form via turning into the all-time leading scorer in La Liga and Champions League play in overdue 2014. 

After supporting Barcelona reap a historical second treble in 2015, he changed into honored along with his fifth FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy. Four years later, following another La Liga identify, Messi again installed a new popular for excellence with the aid of claiming his 6th Ballon d'Or.

Lionel Messi is a football participant with FC Barcelona and the Argentina countrywide team. He has hooked up information for dreams scored and won individual awards en direction to worldwide recognition as one of the fine players in football.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Luis Lionel Andres (“Leo”) Messi is an Argentinian football player who performs forward for the FC Barcelona membership and the Argentina country wide team. At the age of 13, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona agreed to pay for his clinical remedies. 

There he earned renown as one of the best players in records, assisting his membership win more than two dozen league titles and tournaments. In 2012, he set a document for most dreams in a calendar yr, and in 2019, he turned into named Europe's Ballon d'Or winner for the 6th time.

Early Life

Messi became born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. As a younger boy, Messi tagged alongside when his two older brothers played football with their pals, unintimidated through the larger boys. At the age of 8, he became recruited to sign up for the young people system of Newell's Old Boys, a Rosario-primarily based club.

Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Messi was sooner or later recognized by using docs as laid low with a hormone deficiency that confined his growth. Messi's mother and father, Jorge and Ceclia, determined on a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, even though it quickly proved impossible to pay several hundred greenbacks according to month for the medicine. 

So, at the age of thirteen, whilst Messi become offered the threat to educate at football powerhouse FC Barcelona's adolescents academy, La Masia, and feature his medical payments covered with the aid of the crew, Messi's family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a brand new home in Spain. Although he turned into often homesick in his new u . S . A ., Messi moved quick through the junior system ranks.

Ultimately, Messi's brief stature (five toes, 7 inches), blended along with his speed and constant attacking style, has drawn comparisons to some other famous Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi at a Barcelona soccer suit, April 2017.

Photo: Josep Lago AFP Getty Images

Soccer Career and Teams

FC Barcelona and Argentina

Messi has only performed for FC Barcelona, in which he first signed at age thirteen. He additionally plays for the Argentina national team.

By the age of 16, Messi made his first look for the FC Barcelona, putting himself in the file books on May 1, 2005, as the youngest player to ever rating a goal for the franchise. That same year, he led Argentina to the title within the beneath-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the group over Nigeria.

Messi suggested Barcelona to a wealth of achievement, maximum appreciably in 2009, when the left-footer's crew captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That equal 12 months, after  consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his first FIFA "World Player of the Year" honor/Ballon d'Or award.

Even the amazing Maradona gushed about his fellow countryman. "I see him as very just like me," the retired participant informed the BBC. "He's a leader and is supplying instructions in stunning soccer. He has something different than another player inside the international."

Amazingly, the football wizard continued to enhance, coming across new approaches to elude defenders even as main Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, as well as the 'eleven Champions League title.

Messi embarked on an all-out attack on the file books in 2012. He became the primary participant to score five dreams in a Champions League healthy in early March, and some weeks later he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez's club-file 232 dreams to end up Barcelona's all-time leading scorer. 

By the give up of 2012, Messi had amassed an remarkable 91 goals in club and international play, eclipsing the 85 netted in a single calendar 12 months through Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke any other file while he turned into named the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner for the fourth time in January 2013.

The soccer splendid came again to earth truly that 12 months because of the persistence of hamstring injuries, however he regained his record-breaking shape by using becoming the best-ever main scorer in La Liga and Champions League play in overdue 2014. 

After assisting Barcelona attain a historic 2d treble in 2015, he was venerated with his 5th FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy. Four years later, following some other La Liga name, Messi again set up a brand new trendy for excellence by way of claiming his sixth Ballon d'Or.

On August 10, 2021, Messi joined French club Paris Saint-Germain. He made his debut for the membership on August 29.

Criticism for Argentina National Team Performance

For all his fulfillment with Barcelona, Messi has come under hearth for his lack of ability to help Argentina's national crew win a first-rate identify. He did lead "La Albiceleste" to the final of the 2014 World Cup, and was named participant of the event, although his crew misplaced to Germany. 

In 2016, following Argentina's second consecutive loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America event, Messi introduced he turned into ending his run with the country wide crew.

The football superb subsequently reversed his decision, however his participation inside the 2018 World Cup did now not carry that elusive title, as hoped. After Messi scored an early purpose in a 2-1 win over Nigeria that helped his crew advance from the organization stage, he became largely stored in check by way of France, his  assists not sufficient to stave off a 4-3 defeat that sent Argentina packing.

The following year, after Messi heavily criticized the referees in the wake of a 2-zero loss to Brazil in the Copa America semifinals, the Argentine captain turned into slapped with a three-sport ban through the South American Football Confederation. 

As of August 2019, Messi's all-time highlights for FC Barcelona:

Appearances: 687

Goals: 603

Assists: 251

Shot accuracy: forty eight percent

Chances created: 348

Messi has received FIFA's Player of the Year six instances. He's also won the European Golden Shoe for pinnacle scorer six times, two extra than his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

On June 30, 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime girlfriend and the cousin of his excellent buddy and fellow soccer participant Lucas Scaglia. Messi and Roccuzzo have three children collectively: Thiago, born in November 2012, Mateo, born in September 2015 and Ciro, born in March 2018.

Messi met Roccuzzo of their hometown of Rosario when he was five years old. Their marriage, a civil ceremony dubbed by using Argentina's Clarín newspaper because the “wedding of the century,” became held at a luxurious resort in Rosario, with some of fellow big name soccer players and Colombian pop big name Shakira at the 260-man or woman visitor listing.

Although famously non-public off the sphere, Messi has quietly helped others in need. In 2007, he formed the Leo Messi Foundation to offer possibilities for deprived youths. In early 2010, UNICEF named him a goodwill ambassador, with a focus on preventing for kid's rights across the globe.