Lionel Messi
The most decorated player in professional football history, with 46 team trophies and eight Ballons d'Or.
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both the Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, Messi has set numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career, including eight Ballons d'Or, six European Golden Shoes, and being named the world's best player by FIFA eight times. In 2025, he was named the All Time Men's World Best Player by the IFFHS. Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional football, having won 46 team trophies. His records include most goals in a calendar year (91), most goals for a single club (672 for Barcelona), most goals in La Liga (474), most assists in the FIFA World Cup (12), and most assists in international football (65). Messi has scored over 920 senior career goals and provided over 410 assists for club and country, making him the second-highest goalscorer and the highest assist provider in the history of the sport.
- Role
- Forward / Playmaker
- Status
- Club Legend
- Major Honours with Club
- 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Rey titles, 3 UEFA Champions League trophies
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
In 2004, Messi made his competitive debut for Barcelona at age 17. He gradually established himself as an integral player for the club, and during his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09 he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football. This resulted in Messi winning the first of four consecutive Ballons d'Or, and by the 2011–12 season he had set the European record for most goals in a season and established himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer. During the 2014–15 season, where he became the all-time top scorer in La Liga, he led Barcelona to a historic second treble, earning his fifth Ballon d'Or. Messi was named Barcelona's captain in 2018. While playing for the club, he won a club-record 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues. Financial difficulties at Barcelona forced Messi to depart in 2021 and sign with Paris Saint-Germain. During the 2022–23 Ligue 1 season, he registered 16 goals and 16 assists in 32 matches, helping PSG win the Ligue 1 title for the second time since he signed with the club. He joined MLS club Inter Miami in 2023 and led them to their first MLS Cup victory in 2025, while also winning the league MVP award in 2024 and 2025.
In Their Own Story
The Camp Nou hummed with a low, electric tension as the final minutes ticked away. The scoreboard read 1-0, but the opposition was pressing hard for an equalizer. In the center circle, a figure in the iconic blue and red stripes stood still, seemingly detached from the chaos surrounding him. He adjusted his armband, eyes scanning the field with a calm that defied the stadium's roar. A pass came to his feet; he didn't run so much as glide, the ball magnetically adhering to his left boot. With a subtle shift of weight, he slipped past the first defender, then another, weaving through the defense like water flowing around stones. The crowd held its breath. He saw the gap before anyone else did—a sliver of space between the center-back and the goalkeeper.
Reader's Guide
Messi is the all-time leading goalscorer (125) and most-capped player (207) of the Argentina national team. Several years after his senior debut in 2005, he won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Assuming captaincy in 2011, he led Argentina to the finals of the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they lost. He subsequently announced his retirement from international football in 2016, though returned soon after. Messi led Argentina to victory at the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup, where he became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice. He claimed his third major international title when Argentina won the 2024 Copa América. At the 2026 World Cup, Messi led his country to a second consecutive World Cup final, winning his second consecutive Silver Boot and the Silver Ball.
Did You Know?
- Messi has been sponsored by Adidas since 2006.
- He was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022.
- He was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023.
- In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, the first team-sport athlete to win the award.
- In 2020, Messi became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi is an Argentine football icon who spent almost his entire professional career at FC Barcelona after joining their youth academy to overcome a growth condition. He is widely considered the greatest player in the club's history due to his exceptional talent and record-breaking achievements.
What position did Lionel Messi play?
Primarily operating as a forward or playmaker, he possessed unparalleled dribbling skills and vision that allowed him to dictate the game from anywhere on the pitch. His ability to create chances for teammates while scoring goals himself made him unique in modern football.
How long did Messi stay at Barcelona?
He represented the club from his debut in 2004 until his departure in 2021, spanning nearly two decades of service. During this period, he became the team's all-time leading scorer and won countless trophies alongside his teammates.
What major titles did Messi win with Barcelona?
His tenure included ten La Liga championships, seven Copa del Rey victories, and three UEFA Champions League trophies among many other accolades. These awards cement his legacy as the club's most awarded athlete in history.
Why is Lionel Messi important to the club?
He transformed the game with his technical brilliance and perfectly matched the team's style of play during his development at La Masia and beyond. Fans remember him as the central figure who led the squad to multiple domestic trebles and global recognition.
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