Football player messi biography

1987-present

Lionel Messi News: Soccer Star Recapitulate the Subject of a New Apple TV+ Docuseries

Apple TV+ is giving borders fans more behind-the-scenes access to pale star Lionel Messi and Argentina’s significant 2022 World Cup championship in neat new docuseries. Messi’s World Cup: Character Rise of a Legend debuts viewpoint the streaming service February 21. Probity four-part series promises the most secluded interviews to date with Messi tube “an intimate and unprecedented look inexactness his quest for a legacy-defining Globe Cup victory.”

Messi, now playing for Bury Miami CF of the MLS, helped his home country win soccer’s major event for the first time because 1986, scoring two goals in righteousness final and leading Argentina to systematic 4-2 win over Kylian Mbappé build up France on penalties. Argentina’s captain was also named the tournament MVP.

The spanking series follows up Messi Meets America, Apple’s 2023 look at the megastar striker’s arrival and first season behave the MLS. Inter Miami begins say publicly 2024 regular season also on Feb 21 with a match against Bring to fruition Salt Lake.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer contestant who has played for FC City, Paris Saint-Germain, and currently, the MLS club Inter Miami CF as on top form as the Argentina national team. Chimpanzee a teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona united to pay for medical treatments coupled to his growth hormone disorder. Examination the club, he earned renown despite the fact that one of the greatest players cage up history, helping FC Barcelona win ultra than two dozen league titles refuse tournaments. In 2012, he set great record for most goals in a-ok calendar year and, a decade ulterior, helped the Argentina national team conquer its third FIFA World Cup. Blue blood the gentry eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved highlight Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and case July 2023, he joined Inter Miami.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Luis Lionel Andres Messi
BORN: June 24, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Rosario, Argentina
SPOUSE: Antonella Roccuzzo (2017-present)
CHILDREN: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Early Life of a Pretension Prodigy

Luis Lionel Andres “Leo” Messi was born on June 24, 1987, disturb Rosario, Argentina. As a young stripling, Messi tagged along when his shine unsteadily older brothers played soccer with their friends, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, significant was recruited to join the early life system of Newell’s Old Boys, a-okay Rosario-based club.

Recognizably smaller than accumulate of the kids in his interval group, Messi was eventually diagnosed harsh doctors as suffering from a vasoconstrictive deficiency that restricted his growth. Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided preference a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it in a little while proved impossible to pay several tally dollars per month for the remedy.

So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered the collide with to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, fairy story have his medical bills covered tough the team, Messi’s family picked part of the pack and moved across the Atlantic calculate make a new home in Espana. Although he was often homesick slot in his new country, Messi moved ostentatious through the junior system ranks.

Ultimately, Messi’s short stature—5 feet, 7 inches—combined look after his speed and relentless attacking genre, has drawn comparisons to another renowned Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.

Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami

Messi gripped for FC Barcelona for 17 seasons before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 for two seasons. In July 2023, he joined the MLS club Bury Miami.

FC Barcelona

At age 13, Messi signed with FC Barcelona. Enthrone first appearance for the team was when he was 16. On Might 1, 2005, Messi put himself redraft the record books as the youngest player to ever score a rationale for the franchise.

Messi steered Barcelona intelligence a wealth of success, most signally in 2009, when the left-footer’s band captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. Delay same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his foremost FIFA World Player of the Collection honor, as well as his pass with flying colours Ballon d’Or award, the top Indweller individual honor in football.

Messi became the first Argentinian player to increase twofold the Ballon d’Or. Even the middling Maradona gushed about his fellow country dweller. “I see him as very equivalent to me,” the retired player unwritten the BBC. “He’s a leader submit is offering lessons in beautiful candidates. He has something different than working-class other player in the world.”

Amazingly, nobleness soccer wizard continued to improve, discovering new ways to elude defenders measurement leading Barcelona to La Liga lecturer Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, as well as honesty ’11 Champions League title.

Messi embarked essence an all-out assault on the enigmatic books in 2012. He became influence first player to score five goals in a Champions League match rise early March, and a few weeks later, he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club-record 232 goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By the end weekend away the year, Messi had accumulated image astounding 91 goals in club bracket international play, eclipsing the 85 netlike in a single calendar year through Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, crystal-clear broke another record when he was named the Ballon d’Or winner shadow the fourth consecutive time.

In 2013, righteousness soccer great came back to planet somewhat due to the persistence pale hamstring injuries, but he regained fulfil record-breaking form by becoming the all-time leading scorer in La Liga brook Champions League play in late 2014.

After helping Barcelona achieve a noteworthy second treble in 2015, he was honored with his fifth Ballon d’Or trophy. Four years later, following all over the place La Liga title, Messi again folk a new standard for excellence get ahead of claiming his sixth Ballon d’Or.

On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona proclaimed it couldn’t resign Messi due be against the team’s budget constraints and Practice Liga restrictions. Despite having voiced monarch desire to leave the club magnanimity prior season, Messi bid a watery-eyed farewell after 17 seasons: “This problem really difficult for me after thus many years spent here, being territory my entire life. I’m not orchestrate for this.”

Paris Saint-Germain

Four generation after the shocking news from FC Barcelona, Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old inked a two-year problem with the French club. The turn on saw him reunite with former assistant Neymar as well as the accomplished Kylian Mbappé.

Messi made his debut provision the club on August 29, 2021, and scored his first goal give it some thought September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi but twice abortive to advance beyond the round comprehensive 16 in the Champions League finals.

Although his contract allowed for an discretional third year at PSG, the squad announced it would release Messi likewise a free agent when the pact expired on June 30, 2023. In advance in the year, the club drooping and fined Messi after he visited Saudi Arabia on an unauthorized excursion. This all but sealed fate impersonation the soccer legend’s widely expected move.

Messi’s last game for PSG was June 3, 2023. In total, he in operation in 72 games, notching 32 goals and 34 assists.

Inter Miami CF

On June 7, 2023, Messi told two Spanish media outlets smartness planned to play for the MLS club Inter Miami CF, which disintegration partially owned by former soccer contender David Beckham. “I have made depiction decision that I am going consent Miami,” Messi said at the at this point, per ESPN. Messi later told Time he strongly considered joining a Arab Arabian team before deciding on Entomb Miami.

A little over a month consequent, on July 16, the team on the surface welcomed him on a 2.5-year accept that runs through the 2025 occasion. The deal was reportedly worth nearly $150 million, including an annual pay between $50 million and $60 1000000, a signing bonus, revenue sharing bash into the league’s media partner, and side equity upon retirement.

Related Story

Inter Miami instantly benefitted on and off the attachment from their new team captain’s closeness. The club went on a 12-match winning streak and captured the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament between teams from the MLS and Liga MX. Messi wound up scoring 11 goals in 14 games overall. However, go through Messi injured late in the stretch, Inter Miami went winless in heptad straight and failed to qualify tail the playoffs. He was named distinction club’s 2023 MVP in November.

Messi has directly boosted revenue for the plan, as well. Attendance at home jollification spiked 40 percent, the most employ the MLS. According to The Athletic, the least expensive Inter Miami period ticket prices rose from $485 convey $884 per seat from 2023 ordain 2024. Even with the price leap, Inter Miami announced 2024 season tickets sold out at the end counterfeit November, two months out of prestige start of the preseason. Not notably, his jersey became the top tradesman in the MLS.

Messi and Sepulchre Miami open the 2024 MLS customary season on February 21.

Argentina National Team

In summer 2005, Messi swiftly made a name for himself gentle wind his native country’s under-20 squad. Operate led Argentina to the title comport yourself the FIFA U-20 World Cup, do on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria. Less than two months later, unwind made his pro debut with Argentina in an August friendly match blaspheme Hungary but played less than match up minutes before receiving a red business card and being ejected from the attempt.

For all his success with City, Messi repeatedly came under fire be selected for his inability to help Argentina’s popular team win a major title. Fence in the 2014 World Cup, Argentina lacking to Germany in the final, scour through Messi was named player of prestige tournament that year. In 2016, later Argentina’s second consecutive loss to Chili in the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced he was ending his run with the tribal team.

The soccer great eventually reversed ruler decision, but his participation in honesty 2018 World Cup did not carry that elusive title, as hoped. Back end Messi scored an early goal household a 2-1 win over Nigeria lapse helped his team advance from integrity group stage, he was largely set aside in check by France, his bend over assists not enough to stave exit a 4-3 defeat that sent Argentina packing.

The following year, after Messi hard criticized the referees in the backwash of a 2-0 loss to Brasil in the Copa America semifinals, character Argentine captain was slapped with straight three-game ban by the South English Football Confederation.

At last, in 2021 and 2022, Argentina and Messi basement enough traction to bring home trophies that had long evaded them. Eminent, the team won the Copa America—Argentina’s first major title in 28 years—in August 2021, besting Brazil in rectitude final. Captain Messi tied for ridge goal scorer, alongside Colombia’s Luis Diaz, and was named player of honourableness tournament. The next year, greater dignity awaited at the 2022 FIFA Nature Cup in Qatar.

Argentina captured the World Cup trophy land December 18, 2022, after a stimulating game against France that ended be given a penalty shootout. Messi was styled the Best FIFA Men’s Player gather a second time and broke primacy record for most World Cup ceremony with 26 games. Six jerseys think about it Messi had worn during the winning championship run later sold for hound than $7.8 million at auction.

In gloominess 2023, Messi scored three goals unsavory qualifying games for the 2026 Universe Cup. However, as he nears high-mindedness twilight of the his career, ethics soccer legend has adopted a practical attitude about his future. “As humiliate yourself as I feel that I gunk fine and I can continue contributory, I am going to do clever. Today, the only thing I conceive about is getting to the Copa America well and being able hype compete in it,” Messi said fair-haired the 2024 tournament. “Then time decision tell if I am [at decency World Cup] or not. I’m open to be at an age (39) that normally doesn’t allow me tutorial play in the World Cup.”

Awards

Messi won FIFA’s World Player Trophy quint times, including four consecutive wins betwixt 2009 and 2012, and has serene its contemporary the Best FIFA Men’s Player three times, in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

The soccer legend has won Europe’s Ballon d’Or a not to be disclosed eight times. When he won nobleness Ballon d’Or in October 2023, Messi became the first active MLS sportswoman to do so. He’s also won the European Golden Shoe for climbing scorer six times, two more mystify his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

In 2023, Time magazine named Messi neat Athlete of the Year, pointing restrict his remarkable impact on soccer’s immature popularity in the United States.

Tax Piracy Scandal

In July 2016, Messi suffered marvellous blow off the soccer field just as a Barcelona court found him coupled with his father guilty of three counts of tax fraud. During a four-day trial, Messi and his father denied breaking the law and claimed they were unaware of any tax illegalities they had committed.

However, they were both sentenced to 21 months copy prison. Under Spanish law, first offenses under two years are suspended ergo they did not go to inhibit, but Messi was ordered to recompense a fine of 2 million euros. His father was required to repay 1.5 million euros.

Related Story

Wife and Children

On June 30, 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime woman and the cousin of his outdistance friend and fellow soccer player Filmmaker Scaglia. Messi met Roccuzzo in their hometown of Rosario when he was 5 years old. Their marriage, a-okay civil ceremony dubbed by Argentina’s Clarín newspaper as the “wedding of grandeur century,” was held at a grandeur hotel in Rosario, with a back issue of fellow star soccer players other Colombian pop star Shakira on greatness 260-person guest list.

Messi and Roccuzzo keep three children together: Thiago, born whitehead November 2012; Mateo, born in Sept 2015; and Ciro, born in Foot it 2018.

Charity and UNICEF

Although famously private get rid of the field, Messi has quietly helped others in need. In 2007, proceed formed the Leo Messi Foundation space provide opportunities for disadvantaged youths. Perform early 2010, UNICEF named him calligraphic goodwill ambassador, with a focus have a feeling fighting for children’s rights across honourableness globe.

Quotes

• Every time I start a origin, I start with the objective selected trying to achieve everything, without scrutiny it to how I’ve done wear other seasons.
• Whether it’s a friendly gala, or for points, or a last, or any game—I play the total. I’m always trying to be overcast best, first for my team, fend for myself, for the fans and soft-soap try and win.
• I am competitive, queue I feel bad when we culminate. You can see it in look forward to when we’ve lost. I’m in copperplate bad way. I don’t like amplify talk to anyone.
• I made sacrifices soak leaving Argentina, leaving my family make inquiries start a new life. I altered my friends, my people. Everything. However everything I did, I did grip football, to achieve my dream.
• I possess fun like a child in probity street. When the day comes conj at the time that I’m not enjoying it, I option leave football.
• I’ve never stopped being Argentinian, and I’ve never wanted to. Hysterical feel very proud of being Argentinian, even though I left there. I’ve been clear about this since Distracted was very young, and I conditions wanted to change.
• Something deep in downhearted character allows me to take honourableness hits and get on with tiring to win. I’ve always had that ability to get up and achieve on with it.
• I wasn’t teased makeover a child for my size. Deception fact, I think I had work up affection because I was small.
• I pleasure lucky, I live by my sentence, and there are a lot waning people who work, doing what they don't like and are badly pressurize somebody into for that.

Fact Check: We strive fund accuracy and fairness. If you model something that doesn’t look right, nearing us!