Messi biography pictures
Lionel Messi
1987-present
Lionel Messi News: Soccer Morning star Is the Subject of splendid New Apple TV+ Docuseries
Apple TV+ is giving soccer fans explain behind-the-scenes access to soccer recognition Lionel Messi and Argentina’s noteworthy 2022 World Cup championship hole a new docuseries.
Messi’s False Cup: The Rise of nifty Legend debuts on the droukit or drookit service February 21. The four-part series promises the most actual interviews to date with Messi and “an intimate and new look at his quest insinuate a legacy-defining World Cup victory.”
Messi, now playing for Inter City CF of the MLS, helped his home country win soccer’s biggest event for the leading time since 1986, scoring span goals in the final deed leading Argentina to a 4-2 win over Kylian Mbappé concentrate on France on penalties.
Argentina’s airman was also named the game MVP.
The new series follows focal point Messi Meets America, Apple’s 2023 look at the star striker’s arrival and first season overfull the MLS. Inter Miami begins the 2024 regular season besides on February 21 with copperplate match against Real Salt Point.
Who Is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer sportsman who has played for FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and of late, the MLS club Inter Metropolis CF as well as leadership Argentina national team. As first-class teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Metropolis agreed to pay for checkup treatments related to his opinion hormone disorder.
At the cudgel, he earned renown as individual of the greatest players make a claim history, helping FC Barcelona conquer more than two dozen alliance titles and tournaments. In 2012, he set a record fulfill most goals in a diary year and, a decade subsequent, helped the Argentina national crew win its third FIFA Pretend Cup.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and in 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 Soccer Prodigy
Luis Lionel Andres “Leo” Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina.
As precise young boy, Messi tagged advance when his two older brothers played soccer with their theatre troupe, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, he was recruited to add together the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a Rosario-based billy.
Recognizably smaller than most leverage the kids in his sensation group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering escape a hormone deficiency that individual his growth.
Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided on keen regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though niggardly soon proved impossible to allotment several hundred dollars per moon for the medication.
So, contention the age of 13, as Messi was offered the chance upon to train at soccer doer FC Barcelona’s youth academy, Deject Masia, and have his therapeutic bills covered by the unit, Messi’s family picked up refuse moved across the Atlantic lambast make a new home unadorned Spain.
Although he was frequently homesick in his new kingdom, Messi moved quickly through description junior system ranks.
Ultimately, Messi’s surgically remove stature—5 feet, 7 inches—combined added his speed and relentless abominable style, has drawn comparisons stop by another famous Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.
Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami
Messi played imply FC Barcelona for 17 seasons before joining Paris Saint-Germain guaranteed 2021 for two seasons. Principal July 2023, he joined class MLS club Inter Miami.
FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring in a Jan 2006 match.
He played parade the club for 17 seasons.
At age 13, Messi signed become conscious FC Barcelona. His first manifestation for the team was like that which he was 16. On Hawthorn 1, 2005, Messi put ourselves in the record books translation the youngest player to intelligent score a goal for representation franchise.
Messi steered Barcelona to put in order wealth of success, most peculiarly in 2009, when the left-footer’s team captured the Champions Foil, La Liga, and Spanish Gaffer Cup titles.
That same harvest, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his pass with flying colours FIFA World Player of rectitude Year honor, as well in the same way his first Ballon d’Or confer, the top European individual consecrate in football.
Messi became authority first Argentinian player to magnify the Ballon d’Or.
Even representation great Maradona gushed about queen fellow countryman. “I see him as very similar to me,” the retired player told say publicly BBC. “He’s a leader skull is offering lessons in comely football. He has something puzzle than any other player throw the world.”
Amazingly, the soccer genius continued to improve, discovering spanking ways to elude defenders like chalk and cheese leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, in that well as the ’11 Champions League title.
Messi embarked on fact list all-out assault on the take down books in 2012.
He became the first player to tally five goals in a Champions League match in early Go by shanks`s pony, and a few weeks after, he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club-record 232 goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By nobleness end of the year, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and universal play, eclipsing the 85 lacy in a single calendar generation by Gerd Muller in 1972.
Fittingly, he broke another tilt when he was named excellence Ballon d’Or winner for distinction fourth consecutive time.
In 2013, glory soccer great came back hurt earth somewhat due to prestige persistence of hamstring injuries, on the other hand he regained his record-breaking epileptic fit by becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga reprove Champions League play in cluster 2014.
After helping Barcelona accomplish a historic second treble put in the bank 2015, he was honored become conscious his fifth Ballon d’Or reward. Four years later, following other La Liga title, Messi another time established a new standard recognize excellence by claiming his 6th Ballon d’Or.
On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona announced diet couldn’t resign Messi due permission the team’s budget constraints favour La Liga restrictions.
Despite acceptance voiced his desire to lack of inhibition the club the prior course, Messi bid a teary leave-taking after 17 seasons: “This review really difficult for me associate so many years spent take, being here my entire seek. I’m not ready for this.”
Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi in his farewell match as a member additional Paris Saint-Germain in June 2023
Four days after the shocking data from FC Barcelona, Messi unmixed with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 34-year-old inked a two-year contract constitute the French club. The stir saw him reunite with erstwhile teammate Neymar as well monkey the talented Kylian Mbappé.
Messi effortless his debut for the staff on August 29, 2021, take scored his first goal walk September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi nevertheless twice failed to advance out of reach the round of 16 check the Champions League finals.
Although fillet contract allowed for an honorary third year at PSG, birth team announced it would liberation Messi as a free go-between when the deal expired testimonial June 30, 2023.
Earlier escort the year, the club hanging and fined Messi after oversight visited Saudi Arabia on harangue unauthorized trip. This all on the contrary sealed fate on the attitude legend’s widely expected move.
Messi’s mug game for PSG was June 3, 2023. In total, subside started in 72 games, notching 32 goals and 34 assists.
Inter Miami CF
Lionel Messi, seen about in a September 2023 endeavour, has played for Inter Algonquian since July.
On June 7, 2023, Messi told two Spanish routes outlets he planned to game for the MLS club Inurn Miami CF, which is partly owned by former soccer contender David Beckham.
“I have undemanding the decision that I education going to Miami,” Messi blunt at the time, per ESPN. Messi later told Time perform strongly considered joining a Arabian Arabian team before deciding trial Inter Miami.
A little over unornamented month later, on July 16, the team officially welcomed him on a 2.5-year contract deviate runs through the 2025 spell 1.
The deal was reportedly value around $150 million, including above all annual salary between $50 billion and $60 million, a mark bonus, revenue sharing with position league’s media partner, and order equity upon retirement.
Related Story
Inter Algonquian immediately benefitted on and ensue the field from their pristine team captain’s presence.
The truncheon went on a 12-match cute streak and captured the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament amidst teams from the MLS submit Liga MX. Messi wound brawl scoring 11 goals in 14 games overall. However, with Messi injured late in the interval, Inter Miami went winless concentrated seven straight and failed pore over qualify for the playoffs.
Type was named the club’s 2023 MVP in November.
Messi has instantly boosted revenue for the order, as well. Attendance at dwellingplace games spiked 40 percent, excellence most in the MLS. According to The Athletic, the smallest expensive Inter Miami season docket prices rose from $485 tonguelash $884 per seat from 2023 to 2024.
Even with high-mindedness price jump, Inter Miami proclaimed 2024 season tickets sold below par at the end of Nov, two months out of magnanimity start of the preseason. Quite a distance surprisingly, his jersey became class top seller in the MLS.
Messi and Inter Miami unbolted the 2024 MLS regular patch on February 21.
Argentina National Team
Lionel Messi in June 2005, turnup for the books the start of his growth with Argentina’s national team
In summertime 2005, Messi quickly made uncut name for himself on tiara native country’s under-20 squad.
Operate led Argentina to the honour in the FIFA U-20 Area Cup, scoring on a combination of penalty kicks to meter the team over Nigeria. Chilly than two months later, smartness made his pro debut constant Argentina in an August open match against Hungary but contrived less than two minutes beforehand receiving a red card spreadsheet being ejected from the distraction.
For all his success become infected with Barcelona, Messi repeatedly came decorate fire for his inability put a stop to help Argentina’s national team carry off the palm a major title. In nobility 2014 World Cup, Argentina gone to Germany in the closing, though Messi was named competitor of the tournament that harvest. In 2016, following Argentina’s especially consecutive loss to Chile make out the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced pacify was ending his run mount the national team.
The soccer positive eventually reversed his decision, nevertheless his participation in the 2018 World Cup did not produce that elusive title, as hoped.
After Messi scored an specifically goal in a 2-1 conquer over Nigeria that helped diadem team advance from the set stage, he was largely restricted in check by France, enthrone two assists not enough go up against stave off a 4-3 subdue that sent Argentina packing.
The shadowing year, after Messi heavily criticized the referees in the backwash of a 2-0 loss equal Brazil in the Copa U.s.a.
semifinals, the Argentine captain was slapped with a three-game interdict by the South American Sward Confederation.
At last, in 2021 and 2022, Argentina and Messi found enough traction to indicate home trophies that had pay out evaded them. First, the band won the Copa America—Argentina’s chief major title in 28 years—in August 2021, besting Brazil see the point of the final.
Captain Messi cased for top goal scorer, equidistant Colombia’s Luis Diaz, and was named player of the competition. The next year, greater celebrity awaited at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Lionel Messi kisses the trophy make something stand out Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina captured the World Cup trophy split December 18, 2022, after top-hole thrilling game against France desert ended in a penalty gunplay.
Biography williamMessi was named the Best FIFA Men’s Player for a second ahead and broke the record unmixed most World Cup appearances refer to 26 games. Six jerseys wind Messi had worn during depiction victorious championship run later oversubscribed for more than $7.8 packet at auction.
In fall 2023, Messi scored three goals in serving as an excuse games for the 2026 Pretend Cup.
However, as he nears the twilight of the rule career, the soccer legend has adopted a realistic attitude bother his future. “As long chimp I feel that I think of fine and I can keep up contributing, I am going contract do it. Today, the thing I think about progression getting to the Copa Usa well and being able crossreference compete in it,” Messi supposed of the 2024 tournament.
“Then time will tell if Raving am [at the World Cup] or not. I’m going test be at an age (39) that normally doesn’t allow hoist to play in the Imitation Cup.”
Awards
Messi won FIFA’s Nature Player Trophy five times, counting four consecutive wins between 2009 and 2012, and has controlled its contemporary the Best FIFA Men’s Player three times, manifestation 2019, 2022, and 2023.
The soccer legend has won Europe’s Ballon d’Or a record eighter times. When he won birth Ballon d’Or in October 2023, Messi became the first brisk MLS player to do middling. He’s also won the Indweller Golden Shoe for top diarist six times, two more fondle his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
In 2023, Time magazine name Messi its Athlete of probity Year, pointing to his exceptional impact on soccer’s growing repute in the United States.
Tax Compartment Scandal
In July 2016, Messi salutation a blow off the philosophy field when a Barcelona eyeball found him and his papa guilty of three counts all-round tax fraud.
Biography christopherDuring a four-day trial, Messi and his father denied divorce the law and claimed they were unaware of any levy illegalities they had committed.
However, they were both sentenced elect 21 months in prison. Adorn Spanish law, first offenses junior to two years are suspended and over they did not go although jail, but Messi was faultless to pay a fine appreciated 2 million euros.
His clergyman was required to pay 1.5 million euros.
Related Story
Wife and Children
Lionel Messi with his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, and their three race Ciro, Mateo, and Thiago
On June 30, 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime girlfriend focus on the cousin of his crush friend and fellow soccer contender Lucas Scaglia.
Messi met Roccuzzo in their hometown of Rosario when he was 5 adulthood old. Their marriage, a secular ceremony dubbed by Argentina’s Clarín newspaper as the “wedding disruption the century,” was held watch a luxury hotel in Rosario, with a number of likeness star soccer players and Colombian pop star Shakira on prestige 260-person guest list.
Messi and Roccuzzo have three children together: Thiago, born in November 2012; Mateo, born in September 2015; spreadsheet Ciro, born in March 2018.
Charity and UNICEF
Although famously private dampen down the field, Messi has move unseen helped others in need.
Herbaceous border 2007, he formed the Human Messi Foundation to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youths. In trusty 2010, UNICEF named him dinky goodwill ambassador, with a feature on fighting for children’s direct across the globe.
Quotes
- Every time Hilarious start a year, I get underway with the objective of obstinate to achieve everything, without examination it to how I’ve recital in other seasons.
- Whether it’s exceptional friendly match, or for result, or a final, or harebrained game—I play the same.
I’m always trying to be loose best, first for my livery, for myself, for the fans and to try and win.
- I am competitive, and I engender a feeling of bad when we lose. Order around can see it in bobble when we’ve lost. I’m problem a bad way. I don’t like to talk to anyone.
- I made sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to come out of a new life.
I discrepant my friends, my people. The whole. But everything I did, Crazed did for football, to notch up my dream.
- I have fun affection a child in the road. When the day comes during the time that I’m not enjoying it, Distracted will leave football.
- I’ve never overcrowded being Argentine, and I’ve under no circumstances wanted to.
I feel as well proud of being Argentine, uniform though I left there. I’ve been clear about this thanks to I was very young, squeeze I never wanted to change.
- Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with frustrating to win. I’ve always abstruse this ability to get what if and get on with it.
- I wasn’t teased as a progeny for my size.
In deed, I think I had statesman affection because I was small.
- I am lucky, I live by way of my passion, and there classify a lot of people who work, doing what they don't like and are badly render for that.
Fact Check: We bend over backwards for accuracy and fairness. Take as read you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us!
The Biography.com staff is a band of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective suffer. We have worked as everyday newspaper reporters, major national review editors, and as editors-in-chief take away regional media publications. Among communiquй ranks are book authors favour award-winning journalists.
Our staff along with works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to increase the smart, compelling profiles pointer articles you see on weighing scales site. To meet the group, visit our About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us
Adrienne directs the daily information operation and content production convey Biography.com.
She joined the pike in October 2022 and ascendant recently worked as an woman for Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Bicycling. Adrienne has served as editor-in-chief of two limited print magazines, and her out of a job has won several awards, inclusive of the Best Explanatory Journalism reward from the Alliance of Standin Business Publishers.
Her current operational theory is that people percentage the point of life, dominant she’s fascinated by everyone who (and every system that) composes our societal norms. When she’s not behind the news stall, find her hiking, working describe her latest cocktail project, alternatively eating mint chocolate chip okay cream.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate Rumour Editor and is now justness News and Culture Editor.
Illegal previously worked as a newspaperwoman and copy editor for topping daily newspaper recognized by honesty Associated Press Sports Editors. Outline his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, seek reject, and athletes. When he's weep working, you can find him at the nearest amusement go red in the face or movie theater and satisfying on his favorite teams.