Lionel Messi

Lore & Background

Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional football, having won 46 team trophies. His career achievements include most goals in a calendar year (91), scoring over 920 senior career goals and providing over 420 assists for club and country, making him the second-highest goalscorer and the highest assist provider in the history of the sport. In addition, he has amassed over 1,150 career appearances and has the 4th most in the 21st century. Messi has been sponsored by the sportswear company Adidas since 2006. He was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022. 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.

Reader's Guide

In 2004, Messi made his competitive debut for Barcelona at age 17 and soon emerged as one of the most talented young players in the world, being awarded the FIFPro Young Player of the Year three times in a row from 2006 to 2008. 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, Messi formed the successful attacking trio MSN with Luis Suárez and Neymar, and helped Barcelona achieve a historic second treble, subsequently 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. He recorded the most goals for a single club (672) and most goals in La Liga (474). 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 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. Following his arrival and impact on football in the United States, Messi 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. 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.

Did You Know?

• Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 10 and began therapy at age 11.
• He scored almost 500 goals during his six years playing for Newell's Old Boys youth team.
• Messi's first contract with Barcelona was written on a paper napkin by director Carles Rexach.
• He has a general understanding of English but cannot speak it fluently.