Lionel Messi

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Lore & Background

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 420 assists for club and country, making him the second-highest goalscorer and the highest assist provider in the history of the sport. He is the all-time leading goalscorer (125) and most-capped player (207) of the Argentina national team. 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, before retiring from international football afterwards.

In Their Own Story

The final whistle in Lusail, Qatar, on December 18, 2022, signaled the end of a 28-year wait for Argentina. Messi, the captain, had led his team through a grueling tournament. After a shock loss to Saudi Arabia in the group stage, Argentina won every subsequent match. In the final against France, Messi scored two goals and converted his penalty in the shootout, securing a 4-2 victory on penalties after a 3-3 draw. He was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, becoming the first player to win the award twice. The victory silenced critics who had questioned his ability to deliver on the biggest stage and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Reader's Guide

Messi made his competitive debut for Barcelona at age 17 in 2004. During his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09, he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football. During the 2014–15 season, Messi formed the successful attacking trio MSN with Luis Suárez and Neymar, and helped Barcelona achieve a historic second treble. He 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. He joined the 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. Messi has been sponsored by Adidas since 2006. He was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022, and 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. In 2020, Messi became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings. In 2026, he appeared on The World's Billionaires list for the first time with a net worth of $1.1 billion. He was named Time's Athlete of the Year in 2023, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US president Joe Biden in 2025.

Did You Know?

• Messi has scored over 920 senior career goals and provided over 420 assists for club and country.
• He is the all-time leading goalscorer (125) and most-capped player (207) of the Argentina national team.
• Messi won the World Cup Golden Ball twice, in 2014 and 2022.
• He was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2020 and 2023, the first team-sport athlete to win the award.
• Messi appeared on The World's Billionaires list for the first time in 2026 with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

Global Dominance and Unprecedented Accolades

Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. His individual achievements include eight Ballon d'Or awards, the most for any footballer. Having won 46 team trophies, he is the most decorated player in the history of professional football. In 2024, ESPN named Messi the greatest player of the 21st-century.

The Barcelona Era: From Debut to Legend

Messi's club career began with Barcelona, where he rose through the youth ranks, making his first-team debut in 2004. During his tenure, Barcelona secured ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Reys, four UEFA Champions Leagues, seven Supercopa de Españas, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups, and Messi became the club's all-time top scorer. In 2021, due to club financial constraints and league regulations, Messi left Barcelona and signed with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

International Redemption and World Cup Glory

On the international stage, Messi made his debut with Argentina's senior national team in 2005, and would represent the country in six FIFA World Cups and seven Copa Américas. Initially facing criticism for not winning major tournaments with the national team, Messi broke Argentina's 28-year international trophy drought by captaining the team to victory in the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América.

Global Journey: PSG and Inter Miami

In 2021, due to club financial constraints and league regulations, Messi left Barcelona and signed with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Joining forces with fellow superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, he won two Ligue 1 titles and one Trophée des Champions. In 2023, Messi joined Inter Miami, where he would lead the team to win their first-ever MLS Cup championship.