Lionel Andrés Messi (born June 24, 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays forward and captains both Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer and the Argentina national team. He is the most decorated player in the history of professional football, with 48 senior team trophies, eight Ballon d’Or awards, six European Golden Shoes, and a 2022 World Cup that finally gave the GOAT debate its long-awaited punctuation mark.
For nearly two decades at Barcelona, Messi rewrote what was possible in La Liga. He scored 672 goals for the club, the most by any player for a single team in history, captured ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies, and built the case that you could play football with a kind of geometric inevitability: a left foot, a low center of gravity, and the rare ability to see passing lanes that did not yet exist. After a financially forced exit from Barcelona in 2021, he won two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain, then moved to MLS in July 2023 to lead Inter Miami into a new era.
The international story took longer. After three consecutive major final defeats from 2014 to 2016, Argentina finally broke through with the 2021 Copa América, then won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Messi delivering the tournament of his life. Argentina won the Copa América again in 2024, and Messi enters the 2026 World Cup (likely his last) as the defending champion captain with another shot at history.
People also read: Cristiano Ronaldo (5× Ballon d’Or), Neymar (2013 FIFA Confederations Cup), Kylian Mbappé (2018 World Cup), Luis Suárez (2014 La Liga top scorer)
Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Lionel Andrés Messi |
| Profession: | Professional footballer |
| Born: | June 24, 1987 |
| Age: | 38 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Nationality: | Argentine (also holds Spanish citizenship) |
| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Sport: | Soccer / Football |
| Position: | Forward (primarily Right Winger / False 9 / Attacking Midfielder) |
| Current Club: | Inter Miami CF (MLS) |
| National Team: | Argentina (captain) |
| Jersey Number: | #10 (Inter Miami and Argentina) |
| Preferred Foot: | Left |
| Known For: | Most decorated player in professional football history; 8 Ballon d’Or awards; 2022 World Cup champion; all-time leading scorer for Argentina, Barcelona, and La Liga |
| Notable Achievements: | 2022 FIFA World Cup; 2021 & 2024 Copa América; 10× La Liga; 4× UEFA Champions League; 2× Ligue 1; 2025 MLS Cup; 8× Ballon d’Or |
| Awards: | 8× Ballon d’Or, 3× FIFA Best Men’s Player, 6× European Golden Shoe, 2× World Cup Golden Ball, 2× Laureus World Sportsman of the Year |
| Zodiac Sign: | Cancer |
| Relationship: | Married to Antonela Roccuzzo (since 2017); three sons |
| Years Active (Pro): | 2004 to present |
Featured Video
Video courtesy of FC Barcelona’s official YouTube channel.
Early Life & Education
Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, the third of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory worker, and Celia Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood and started playing for the local club Grandoli at age five, coached by his father. By six he was at Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club he would have made his career at, except that at age 10 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that his family could not afford to treat. The medication cost roughly $1,000 a month. Newell’s wouldn’t cover it. River Plate, in Buenos Aires, was interested but stalled.
FC Barcelona offered to pay. In 2000, Messi traveled to Spain for a trial that became one of the most famous moments in football’s history: Barcelona sporting director Carles Rexach, watching this small 13-year-old destroy older players, signed him to a contract on a paper napkin because no formal paperwork was ready. The Messi family relocated to Barcelona, and Lionel entered La Masia, the club’s legendary youth academy, where he would be developed alongside Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Cesc Fàbregas, and Gerard Piqué. Education in the traditional sense ended early. Football was the curriculum. He made his unofficial Barcelona debut at 16 and his competitive first-team debut at 17, on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Messi’s Barcelona career spanned 17 years and reshaped the club, the league, and the sport. Under Pep Guardiola from 2008 to 2012, he won four La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, and the 2009 and 2011 FIFA Club World Cups, playing as a “false 9” in a system widely considered the high point of modern positional football. He scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona and broke the single-season La Liga goal record with 50 in 2011–12, plus the single calendar year goal record with 91 across club and country in 2012. He won the Ballon d’Or four years in a row from 2009 to 2012, then again in 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
His exit from Barcelona in August 2021 was forced, not chosen. La Liga’s salary cap rules made his renewal impossible despite the club’s intent to keep him. He signed with Paris Saint-Germain and won two Ligue 1 titles in two years, though the partnership never quite caught creative fire. The vindication came elsewhere: at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi played the international tournament of his career, scoring seven goals (including two in the final), assisting three more, winning his second World Cup Golden Ball, and ending Argentina’s 36-year title drought with a 4–2 penalty shootout win over France in what is widely considered the greatest World Cup final ever played.
In July 2023 he joined Inter Miami CF, becoming the first active MLS player to win a Ballon d’Or (his eighth, in October 2023). His MLS impact has been transformational: a Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 with a record 74 points, and back-to-back MLS MVP awards in 2024 and 2025: the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive years. In 2025 he led Miami to its first MLS Cup and won the league Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 matches. He has signed an extension through 2028, scored his 900th career goal in March 2026, and enters the 2026 World Cup as the defending champion captain.
Selected Career Highlights
- Signed by FC Barcelona at age 13 on a paper napkin contract (December 2000)
- Competitive first-team debut for Barcelona at age 17 (October 16, 2004)
- Won 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal with Argentina
- First Ballon d’Or (2009); won four consecutive Ballon d’Ors (2009–2012): only player to do so
- Set single-season La Liga goals record (50) in 2011–12
- Set single calendar year goals record (91 across club & country) in 2012
- Led Argentina to 2014 World Cup final; won World Cup Golden Ball
- Won 4× UEFA Champions League with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
- Won 2021 Copa América: Argentina’s first major title in 28 years
- Surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo as all-time top scorer in European club football (2022)
- Won 2022 FIFA World Cup; second World Cup Golden Ball (only player to win it twice)
- Eighth Ballon d’Or, first as an active MLS player (2023)
- Won 2024 Copa América (Argentina’s record 16th)
- 2024 and 2025 MLS Most Valuable Player (back-to-back; first in league history)
- Led Inter Miami to first MLS Cup title; named MLS Cup MVP (2025)
- Surpassed Ferenc Puskás as all-time assists leader in football (2025)
- Scored 900th career goal (March 18, 2026)
Major Recognition
- 8× Ballon d’Or (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023): Guinness World Record
- 3× The Best FIFA Men’s Player (2019, 2022, 2023)
- 6× European Golden Shoe (most all-time)
- 2× FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (2014, 2022): only player to win twice
- 2× Laureus World Sportsman of the Year (2020, 2023): first team-sport athlete to win
- 2025 IFFHS All Time Men’s World Best Player
- Named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2011, 2012, 2023)
- Forbes World’s Highest-Paid Athlete (2019, 2022)
- Surpassed $1 billion in career earnings (2020): second team-sport athlete in history
- 16× Argentine Footballer of the Year
Read More Celebrity Biographies
- Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
- Neymar Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
- Kylian Mbappé Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
- Luis Suárez Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Context | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | First of eight career wins | Won |
| 2010 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Back-to-back | Won |
| 2011 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Three-peat | Won |
| 2012 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Four consecutive: only player to do so | Won |
| 2014 | FIFA World Cup | Golden Ball (Best Player) | Argentina runner-up to Germany | Won |
| 2015 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Champions League treble with Barcelona | Won |
| 2019 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Sixth career win | Won |
| 2021 | Copa América | Player of the Tournament | Argentina won the title, first major in 28 years | Won |
| 2021 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Seventh career win | Won |
| 2022 | FIFA World Cup | Golden Ball (Best Player) | Only player to win Golden Ball twice; Argentina champions | Won |
| 2023 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Eighth career win; first as active MLS player | Won |
| 2023 | FIFA Best Men’s Player | Best Men’s Player | Third career win | Won |
| 2024 | MLS Awards | Landon Donovan MVP | 20G/16A in 19 matches; Supporters’ Shield | Won |
| 2025 | MLS Awards | Landon Donovan MVP | Back-to-back: first in league history | Won |
| 2025 | MLS Cup | MVP & Golden Boot | Inter Miami’s first MLS Cup; 29 regular-season goals | Won |
Career Stats & Records
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Assists | Trophies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Barcelona | La Liga | 51 | 38 | 18 | La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League (treble) |
| 2011–12 | Barcelona | La Liga | 60 | 73* | 29 | Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup |
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | La Liga | 57 | 58 | 25 | La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League (second treble) |
| 2018–19 | Barcelona | La Liga | 50 | 51 | 22 | La Liga; Pichichi; European Golden Shoe |
| 2020–21 | Barcelona | La Liga | 47 | 38 | 14 | Copa del Rey; final Barcelona season |
| 2021–22 | PSG | Ligue 1 | 34 | 11 | 14 | Ligue 1 |
| 2022–23 | PSG | Ligue 1 | 41 | 21 | 20 | Ligue 1, Trophée des Champions |
| 2023 | Inter Miami | MLS | 14 | 11 | 5 | Leagues Cup |
| 2024 | Inter Miami | MLS | 19 | 20 | 16 | Supporters’ Shield; MLS MVP |
| 2025 | Inter Miami | MLS | 28 | 29* | 19 | MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield; MLS MVP & Golden Boot |
Apps = Appearances (all club competitions); Goals and Assists across all club competitions for the listed season. Asterisk (*) indicates league-leading or record-setting. Selected seasons shown. Career totals exceed 1,000 club appearances and 750+ club goals across Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami.
Club & National Team History
Club Career
| Years | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Trophies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2021 | FC Barcelona | La Liga (Spain) | 778 | 672 | 10× La Liga; 4× Champions League; 7× Copa del Rey; 8× Supercopa de España; 3× Club World Cup; 3× UEFA Super Cup (35 trophies total) |
| 2021–2023 | Paris Saint-Germain | Ligue 1 (France) | 75 | 32 | 2× Ligue 1; Trophée des Champions |
| 2023–present | Inter Miami CF | MLS (USA) | 88+ | 77+ | 2025 MLS Cup; 2024 Supporters’ Shield; 2023 Leagues Cup; 2× MLS MVP |
National Team Career
| Years | National Team | Caps | Goals | Major Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–present | Argentina (senior) | 189+ | 112+ | 2022 FIFA World Cup champion; 2× Copa América (2021, 2024); 2022 Finalissima; 2014 WC runner-up; 2008 Olympic gold (U-23); 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates of Messi’s net worth vary widely. Forbes ranked him the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2019 and 2022, and he became the second team-sport athlete in history to surpass $1 billion in career earnings (in 2020). He has not disclosed a verified net worth figure. Treat numbers found online as unconfirmed. |
| Income Sources | Inter Miami compensation and equity (reportedly $70–$80 million per year per March 2026 reporting), endorsement deals (career portfolio led by Adidas since 2006), media and image rights, appearance fees, business ventures, and the Leo Messi Foundation (charitable, not personal revenue). |
| Endorsements & Partnerships | Adidas (career-long partnership since 2006, including signature boots and apparel). Lay’s, Pepsi, Mastercard, Budweiser, Hard Rock Cafe, Saudi Tourism Authority. Apple TV+ partnership tied to MLS Season Pass. Inter Miami equity stake as part of his MLS contract. |
| Properties & Assets | Reported residences in Miami, Barcelona, and Rosario. Most personal financial and property details are kept private. Reliable public documentation is limited beyond major real estate purchases. |
| Lifestyle | Notably private and family-focused for an athlete of his profile. Married to childhood friend Antonela Roccuzzo since 2017; three sons (Thiago, Mateo, Ciro). Active with the Leo Messi Foundation, supporting children’s healthcare and education globally. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Official account: @leomessi (verified). Approximately 510 million followers, the most-followed athlete on Instagram and one of the most-followed accounts globally. Used for match content, family moments, and brand partnerships. | |
| X (Twitter) | Official account: @TeamMessi (verified). Managed by his team rather than personal posting. Used for major announcements. |
| Official page: Leo Messi (verified). Over 110 million followers. Cross-posted content from Instagram. | |
| TikTok | As of April 2026, Lionel Messi does not have a single, consistently verified, or personal TikTok account that he manages himself. Official Content: Official Messi content and match highlights appear on MLS (@mls), Inter Miami CF (@intermiamicf), and Apple TV (@appletv) accounts, particularly via the “Player Spotlight: Messi” live streams. |
| Official Inter Miami Profile | Inter Miami CF player page, official club bio and stats. |
| Foundation | Leo Messi Foundation, global charitable work supporting vulnerable children’s access to healthcare and education. |
| Official Website | messi.com, career achievements, news, and brand content (operated by Leo Messi Management S.L.U.). |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, an enormous number of fan-run pages, clip accounts, statistical tracker accounts, and dedicated highlight pages exist across all platforms in dozens of languages. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Lionel Messi or his management. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at age 10. Barcelona agreed to pay for the treatment as part of his recruitment from Argentina, which is why he moved to Spain at 13.
- His Barcelona contract was famously written on a paper napkin by sporting director Carles Rexach in December 2000, because no formal paperwork was on hand at the meeting.
- He has been an Adidas-sponsored athlete since 2006: one of the longest single-brand partnerships in sports history.
- He holds the Guinness World Record for most goals scored in a calendar year (91 in 2012, across club and country).
- He is the only player in football history to have won a Golden Ball (best player) award at every official tournament he has played in: U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup, and Copa América.
- He became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2010 and has used the Leo Messi Foundation to support children’s healthcare and education projects since 2007.
Quotes
“I’m not someone who pretends to be what I’m not. I’m a normal person, simple, with the same dreams and ambitions as anyone else.”
– Lionel Messi, interview with FIFA.com (2014)
“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.”
– Lionel Messi, La Pulga documentary (2018)
“This is crazy, that we managed to achieve this. I really wanted this. I knew God would give it to me. I had a feeling this was going to be the one.”
– Lionel Messi, post-match interview after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, December 18, 2022
“I dreamed of this so many times. I just wanted to give this to all of the Argentine people.”
– Lionel Messi, on lifting the World Cup, post-final press conference (December 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How old is Lionel Messi?
A: He was born on June 24, 1987. He is 38 years old as of 2026.
Q: What team does Lionel Messi play for?
A: He plays for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer and captains the Argentina national team. He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 and has signed a contract extension through 2028.
Q: How many Ballon d’Or awards has Messi won?
A: Eight (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023), the most in the award’s history. The four consecutive wins from 2009 to 2012 are also a record.
Q: Has Messi won the World Cup?
A: Yes. He led Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating France in the final 4–2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw. He also won the World Cup Golden Ball, his second (he is the only player to win it twice).
Q: How tall is Lionel Messi?
A: He is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall. He was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency as a child, which Barcelona’s medical staff treated as part of his recruitment.
Q: What endorsement deals does Messi have?
A: His major partnerships include Adidas (since 2006), Pepsi, Lay’s, Mastercard, Budweiser, Hard Rock Cafe, Apple TV+ (tied to MLS), and the Saudi Tourism Authority.
Q: What are Messi’s official social accounts?
A: His verified accounts include @leomessi on Instagram and TikTok, the Leo Messi Facebook page, and @TeamMessi on X.
Upcoming Projects / Season Outlook
- 2026 FIFA World Cup (June–July 2026, USA / Canada / Mexico), Likely to be Messi’s final World Cup. Argentina enters as defending champions in Group F (with Austria, Algeria, Jordan). He could become the first player to captain a World Cup-winning team in two different tournaments.
- 2026 MLS Season, Inter Miami begin their first full season at the new Miami Freedom Park stadium as defending MLS Cup champions. Messi targeting a third consecutive MLS MVP and Golden Boot defense.
- CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026, Inter Miami compete in the regional championship. Messi scored his 900th career goal in a March 2026 group stage draw with Nashville SC.
- Career milestones, Approaching 1,000 career goals; could surpass Juninho Pernambucano (72) and Marcelinho (78) on the all-time free-kick goal list.
- Leo Messi Foundation, Ongoing global initiatives focused on children’s healthcare and education access.
Interviews & Features
- The New York Times, “Lionel Messi wins eighth Ballon d’Or” (October 2023), the moment Messi became the first active MLS player to win the sport’s most prestigious individual award.
- ESPN, “Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments for Miami and Argentina in 2026”, ESPN’s running game-by-game tracker of his ongoing 2026 season.
- MLSsoccer.com, “Messi Named 2025 MLS MVP for Second Consecutive Season” (December 2025), the official league announcement of his historic back-to-back MVP achievement.
Public Appearances, Games, & Events
- 2022 FIFA World Cup Final (December 18, 2022): Scored twice and converted in the penalty shootout to lead Argentina past France in Lusail, Qatar. Won the World Cup Golden Ball as tournament MVP.
- 2024 Copa América Final (July 14, 2024): Lifted Argentina’s record 16th Copa América in Miami Gardens, Florida, defeating Colombia 1–0.
- 2025 MLS Cup Final (December 6, 2025): Provided two assists as Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1 in Fort Lauderdale for the club’s first MLS Cup title. Named MLS Cup MVP.
- 900th career goal (March 18, 2026): Scored against Nashville SC in CONCACAF Champions Cup play in Nashville, joining the exclusive 900-goal club.
- Trump White House visit (March 2026): Made a notable visit to the White House in Washington, D.C., generating significant coverage given Messi’s traditional avoidance of political settings.
