Lionel Messi Argentinian Athlete From Rosario

Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. A forward who is 169 cm tall, he spent most of his career at FC Barcelona, played for Paris Saint-Germain, and has been with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer since 2023. He represented Argentina for twenty-one years and announced his retirement from international football on 6 October 2026. He holds a record eight Ballon d'Or awards.

Early life

Messi grew up in the Las Heras district of Rosario in a family that loved football. His father, Jorge Messi, worked at a steel plant, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, in a magnet workshop. At four he joined a local club, Abanderado Grandoli, where his father coached him. At seven he moved to Newell's Old Boys, where he stayed for six years and scored close to 500 goals.

The family had relatives in Catalonia, and in September 2000 Messi had a trial at Barcelona at the age of 13. The club's sporting director, Carles Rexach, wanted to sign him at once, and when the board hesitated he wrote out an agreement on a paper napkin. In 2001 the family moved to Barcelona. After a year in the La Masia academy he was registered with the Spanish federation and could play in every competition. He was promoted through the youth ranks quickly and made his first-team debut in a friendly in November 2003, at 16.

Career

Messi made his La Liga debut on 16 October 2004 and scored his first senior goal on 1 May 2005. Under manager Pep Guardiola from 2008 he wore the number 10 shirt and became the focus of the team's attack. In 2008-09 Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, the first treble in Spanish football, and Messi won his first Ballon d'Or. He won it again in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and in 2012 he scored 91 goals for club and country in a calendar year.

From 2014 he played in a front line with Luis Suárez and Neymar, known as MSN. In 2014-15 Barcelona won a second treble, and the three together scored 122 goals. He became La Liga's all-time top scorer in November 2014 and received a fifth Ballon d'Or in January 2016. He was named captain in 2018 and added a sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. With Barcelona he won 34 trophies, including ten league titles and four Champions League titles, and scored 672 goals for the club, which is a record for a single club.

In August 2021 Barcelona announced it could not renew his contract because of financial constraints, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain, wearing number 30. He won Ligue 1 in both of his seasons there. In July 2023 he signed with Inter Miami. He captained the team to its first trophy, the Leagues Cup, that summer, and in October 2023 he received an eighth Ballon d'Or. In 2024 Miami won the Supporters' Shield with a league-record 74 points, and Messi was named the league's Most Valuable Player. In 2025 he was top scorer with 29 goals, helped the club win its first MLS Cup, and was Most Valuable Player for a second straight year. He scored his 900th career goal in March 2026.

International career

Messi played for Argentina's under-20 side in 2004 and won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he took the Golden Ball. He debuted for the senior team in 2005. At the 2008 Olympic Games he led the under-23 team to the gold medal. He was named captain in 2011.

Argentina lost the finals of the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the 2016 Copa América Centenario. After the third defeat he announced his retirement from the national team but soon returned. He then won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup, where he became the first player to win the tournament's Golden Ball twice, and the 2024 Copa América. In the 2026 World Cup Argentina reached the final again and Messi was awarded the Silver Ball. He holds Argentina's records for appearances (208) and goals (126).

Recognition and public roles

Besides the Ballon d'Or he has been named FIFA World Player of the Year, UEFA Men's Player of the Year and Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. Time named him its Athlete of the Year in 2023, and in 2025 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States president. He has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010. His screen credits include Messi (2014) and Take the Ball, Pass the Ball (2018).

Personal life

Messi has been married to Antonela Roccuzzo since 2017, and they have three children.