Lionel Messi
On the 14th of December 2000, a Barcelona official named Carles Rexach signed a contract for Lionel Messi on the back of a paper napkin. The young boy was only thirteen years old and lived in Rosario, Argentina, when his family made the difficult decision to move him across the Atlantic Ocean. His growth hormone deficiency required expensive treatment that cost at least one thousand pesos per month. Newell's Old Boys, his childhood club, refused to cover these costs after initially agreeing to help. The family relocated to Barcelona in February 2001 to access medical care and play football professionally. Messi struggled with homesickness while his mother returned to Rosario with his younger siblings. He remained in Spain with his father Jorge Messi. At age fourteen, he completed his therapy and joined the famous La Masia youth academy. A plastic mask protected his broken cheekbone during a match against Espanyol. He removed the mask mid-game and scored two goals within ten minutes.
Spanish media dubbed the small forward La Pulga Atómica or The Atomic Flea due to his low center of gravity. Pep Guardiola placed him as a false nine during the 2008, 09 season to maximize his unique physical attributes. This tactical shift allowed Messi to roam deep into midfield and draw defenders away from teammates. He scored thirty-eight total goals that year alongside Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry. Their combined effort produced one hundred goals in all competitions. Barcelona won their first treble in Spanish history under this new system. Messi became the youngest player to win the Ballon d'Or at twenty-two years old. He set a European record for most goals in a single season with seventy-three total strikes in 2012. His dribbling ability allowed him to change direction quickly and evade tackles despite being physically unimposing. He often started runs from the halfway line or the right side of the pitch. His former manager Frank Rijkaard moved him to the right wing so he could cut inside and curl shots on goal with his left foot.
Argentina lost three consecutive finals between 2014 and 2016 without winning any major international trophy. Messi retired from international football after the Copa América Centenario semi-final loss to the United States. A nationwide campaign convinced him to reverse his decision and return to the national team. He led Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa América, ending a twenty-eight-year drought since their last title in 1993. The final against Brazil saw him score four goals and provide five assists. He captained the squad to another win in the 2022 Finalissima against Italy. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France marked his greatest achievement. Messi scored twice in that match to secure Argentina's first World Cup victory in thirty-six years. He became the first player to win the Golden Ball award at two different tournaments. His performance set records for most appearances and direct goal contributions at the World Cup. This success silenced critics who had questioned his leadership capabilities for years.
Inter Miami CF announced the signing of Lionel Messi on the 15th of July 2023 with a two-and-a-half-year contract. The frenzy over his arrival became known as Messimania across the United States. Every game he graced sparked a scramble for tickets among A-list guests eager to watch him play. Inter Miami's number ten jersey became the best-selling shirt in the league and nearly worldwide. DeAndre Yedlin gave his captaincy armband to Messi immediately after his debut. The team won the Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC just weeks after his arrival. Messi broke the record for most assists in a single MLS game with five during a six-two victory over New York Red Bulls. He finished the 2024 season as the Most Valuable Player after scoring twenty goals and providing sixteen assists. Inter Miami won their first MLS Cup in 2025 by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps three-one. Messi provided two assists in that match and was named the tournament MVP. He signed a three-year extension with the club through 2028 before turning forty-one years old.
Cristiano Ronaldo stands as Messi's primary career rival throughout much of modern football history. Their head-to-head record includes fifteen wins, nine draws, and ten losses in competitive club matches. They met at least twice every season from 2009 to 2018 in El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Ronaldo transferred to Juventus in 2018, ending their direct competition in Spain. Messi stated he missed Cristiano even though it was difficult to see him win trophies. Ronaldo declared their rivalry over after thirty-six official fixtures spanning fifteen years. Critics often compared Messi to Diego Maradona due to their similar playing styles and short statures. Maradona gave Messi his blessing to wear the number ten shirt during their time together on the national team. Argentines initially held Messi in lesser esteem than Maradona because he never played in the Argentine Primera División. The 2022 World Cup victory changed public perception dramatically. Football journalist Tim Vickery noted that ninety-five percent or one hundred percent of Argentines loved Messi after the tournament. Messi himself remarked that the World Cup win won over all the people of Argentina.
Messi became the second athlete in a team sport to surpass one billion dollars in career earnings by 2020. He was the world's highest-paid footballer for five out of six years between 2009 and 2014. His main sponsor since 2006 is Adidas, who challenged Nike successfully in court regarding image rights. A Barcelona jersey with his name sold out worldwide during the 2022 World Cup. A set of shirts he wore at the tournament sold at auction for seven point eight million dollars. His Facebook page gained nearly seven million followers within seven hours of its launch in April 2011. By July 2023, he had more than one hundred fourteen million followers on that platform. He also maintains over five hundred million Instagram followers globally. An advertisement featuring him and Kobe Bryant received one hundred thirty-seven million views on YouTube in 2013. The United Nations Children's Fund appointed him as a Goodwill Ambassador in March 2010. He traveled to Haiti four months later to raise awareness about children affected by the earthquake. Messi founded his own Leo Messi Foundation in 2007 to support health care access for children.
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Common questions
When did Lionel Messi sign his first professional contract with Barcelona?
Lionel Messi signed his first professional contract with Barcelona on the 14th of December 2000. A club official named Carles Rexach signed the agreement on a paper napkin while Messi was only thirteen years old.
How many goals did Lionel Messi score in the 2012 calendar year?
Lionel Messi set a European record by scoring seventy-three total strikes during the 2012 season. This achievement included thirty-eight goals scored that same year alongside teammates Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry.
What major international trophy did Lionel Messi win for Argentina in 2022?
Lionel Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France to secure Argentina's first World Cup victory in thirty-six years. He scored twice in that match and became the first player to win the Golden Ball award at two different tournaments.
Which team did Lionel Messi join when he moved to Major League Soccer in 2023?
Inter Miami CF announced the signing of Lionel Messi on the 15th of July 2023 with a two-and-a-half-year contract. The team won their first MLS Cup in 2025 by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps three-one after his arrival.
Who is considered Lionel Messi's primary career rival throughout modern football history?
Cristiano Ronaldo stands as Lionel Messi's primary career rival throughout much of modern football history. Their head-to-head record includes fifteen wins, nine draws, and ten losses in competitive club matches between 2009 and 2018.