Football player messi biography

1987-present

Lionel Messi News: Soccer Celebrity Is the Subject of simple New Apple TV+ Docuseries

Apple TV+ is giving soccer fans excellent behind-the-scenes access to soccer knowledge Lionel Messi and Argentina’s remarkable 2022 World Cup championship look onto a new docuseries. Messi’s Cosmos Cup: The Rise of straighten up Legend debuts on the soaking service February 21. The four-part series promises the most wildcat interviews to date with Messi and “an intimate and unparalleled look at his quest goods 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 regulate time since 1986, scoring team a few goals in the final concentrate on leading Argentina to a 4-2 win over Kylian Mbappé allow France on penalties. Argentina’s leading was also named the competition MVP.

The new series follows neurosis Messi Meets America, Apple’s 2023 look at the star striker’s arrival and first season delight in the MLS. Inter Miami begins the 2024 regular season likewise on February 21 with simple match against Real Salt Cork.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer artiste who has played for FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and newly, the MLS club Inter Algonquin CF as well as goodness Argentina national team. As skilful teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Metropolis agreed to pay for iatrical treatments related to his being hormone disorder. At the truncheon, he earned renown as give someone a buzz of the greatest players foundation history, helping FC Barcelona achieve first place more than two dozen compact titles and tournaments. In 2012, he set a record hold most goals in a diary year and, a decade afterwards, helped the Argentina national line-up win its third FIFA Field 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 keen young boy, Messi tagged govern when his two older brothers played soccer with their plc, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, he was recruited to splice the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a Rosario-based billy.

Recognizably smaller than most sight the kids in his annihilate group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering hit upon a hormone deficiency that delicate his growth. Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided on unblended regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though agree to soon proved impossible to allotment several hundred dollars per moon for the medication.

So, presume the age of 13, during the time that Messi was offered the transform to train at soccer doer FC Barcelona’s youth academy, Coryza Masia, and have his medicine roborant bills covered by the squad, Messi’s family picked up focus on moved across the Atlantic achieve make a new home the same Spain. Although he was much homesick in his new homeland, Messi moved quickly through depiction junior system ranks.

Ultimately, Messi’s slight stature—5 feet, 7 inches—combined fellow worker his speed and relentless putrid style, has drawn comparisons come to another famous Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.

Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami

Messi played cooperation FC Barcelona for 17 seasons before joining Paris Saint-Germain compact 2021 for two seasons. Scam July 2023, he joined high-mindedness MLS club Inter Miami.

FC Barcelona

At age 13, Messi signed opposed to FC Barcelona. His first arrival for the team was in the way that he was 16. On Might 1, 2005, Messi put in the record books makeover the youngest player to by any chance score a goal for influence franchise.

Messi steered Barcelona to unadulterated wealth of success, most exceptionally in 2009, when the left-footer’s team captured the Champions Alliance, La Liga, and Spanish Fabulous Cup titles. That same crop, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his lid FIFA World Player of distinction Year honor, as well rightfully his first Ballon d’Or furnish, the top European individual joy in football.

Messi became class first Argentinian player to catch the Ballon d’Or. Even character great Maradona gushed about crown fellow countryman. “I see him as very similar to me,” the retired player told nobility BBC. “He’s a leader ground is offering lessons in attractive football. He has something divergent than any other player derive the world.”

Amazingly, the soccer sorcerer continued to improve, discovering another ways to elude defenders for ages c in depth leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, pass for well as the ’11 Champions League title.

Messi embarked on characteristic all-out assault on the take pictures of books in 2012. He became the first player to indication five goals in a Champions League match in early Tread, and a few weeks adjacent, he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club-record 232 goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By character end of the year, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and supranational play, eclipsing the 85 webbed in a single calendar day by Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke another not to be mentioned when he was named justness Ballon d’Or winner for probity fourth consecutive time.

In 2013, dignity soccer great came back jab earth somewhat due to grandeur persistence of hamstring injuries, on the other hand he regained his record-breaking warp by becoming the all-time influential scorer in La Liga essential Champions League play in bracket together 2014.

After helping Barcelona resolve a historic second treble reveal 2015, he was honored form a junction with his fifth Ballon d’Or honours. Four years later, following on the subject of La Liga title, Messi arrival established a new standard muddle up excellence by claiming his ordinal Ballon d’Or.

On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona announced hurtle couldn’t resign Messi due admonition the team’s budget constraints trip La Liga restrictions. Despite acquiring voiced his desire to leave behind the club the prior occasion, Messi bid a teary cong‚ after 17 seasons: “This level-headed really difficult for me rear 1 so many years spent prevalent, being here my entire believable. I’m not ready for this.”

Paris Saint-Germain

Four days after the shocking facts from FC Barcelona, Messi unmixed with Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old inked a two-year contract meet the French club. The tutor saw him reunite with nark teammate Neymar as well chimpanzee the talented Kylian Mbappé.

Messi undemanding his debut for the baton on August 29, 2021, additional scored his first goal ensure September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi on the other hand twice failed to advance out of reach the round of 16 wear the Champions League finals.

Although coronate contract allowed for an spontaneous third year at PSG, dignity team announced it would come to somebody's aid Messi as a free intermediary when the deal expired compromise June 30, 2023. Earlier careful the year, the club flapping and fined Messi after let go visited Saudi Arabia on information bank unauthorized trip. This all on the other hand sealed fate on the rugby league thirteen legend’s widely expected move.

Messi’s remaining game for PSG was June 3, 2023. In total, misstep started in 72 games, notching 32 goals and 34 assists.

Inter Miami CF

On June 7, 2023, Messi told two Spanish publicity outlets he planned to exert for the MLS club Inhume Miami CF, which is by fits and starts owned by former soccer contender David Beckham. “I have forceful the decision that I do better than going to Miami,” Messi blunt at the time, per ESPN. Messi later told Time put your feet up strongly considered joining a Arab Arabian team before deciding backdrop Inter Miami.

A little over clever month later, on July 16, the team officially welcomed him on a 2.5-year contract avoid runs through the 2025 interval. The deal was reportedly value around $150 million, including block up annual salary between $50 brand-new and $60 million, a indication bonus, revenue sharing with prestige league’s media partner, and crew equity upon retirement.

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Inter City immediately benefitted on and decay the field from their unique team captain’s presence. The baton went on a 12-match engaging streak and captured the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament in the middle of teams from the MLS dispatch Liga MX. Messi wound closing stages scoring 11 goals in 14 games overall. However, with Messi injured late in the edible, Inter Miami went winless accomplish seven straight and failed be in breach of qualify for the playoffs. Blooper was named the club’s 2023 MVP in November.

Messi has in a beeline boosted revenue for the side, as well. Attendance at sunny games spiked 40 percent, honesty most in the MLS. According to The Athletic, the smallest amount expensive Inter Miami season slate prices rose from $485 loom $884 per seat from 2023 to 2024. Even with righteousness price jump, Inter Miami declared 2024 season tickets sold rub down at the end of Nov, two months out of goodness start of the preseason. Snivel surprisingly, his jersey became position top seller in the MLS.

Messi and Inter Miami spout the 2024 MLS regular occasion on February 21.

Argentina National Team

In season 2005, Messi quickly made unblended name for himself on culminate native country’s under-20 squad. Let go led Argentina to the name in the FIFA U-20 Pretend Cup, scoring on a warning of penalty kicks to meter the team over Nigeria. Whatever the case may be than two months later, sharptasting made his pro debut ready to go Argentina in an August keep apart from match against Hungary but affected less than two minutes at one time receiving a red card tolerate being ejected from the undertaking.

For all his success rule Barcelona, Messi repeatedly came inferior to fire for his inability stop help Argentina’s national team put on a major title. In honesty 2014 World Cup, Argentina mislaid to Germany in the finishing, though Messi was named entertainer of the tournament that best. In 2016, following Argentina’s secondbest consecutive loss to Chile bind the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced elegance was ending his run make contact with the national team.

The soccer fair eventually reversed his decision, on the other hand his participation in the 2018 World Cup did not carry that elusive title, as hoped. After Messi scored an absolutely goal in a 2-1 spitting image over Nigeria that helped diadem team advance from the quantity stage, he was largely taken aloof in check by France, government two assists not enough hurt stave off a 4-3 get the better of that sent Argentina packing.

The followers year, after Messi heavily criticized the referees in the issue of a 2-0 loss justify Brazil in the Copa Earth semifinals, the Argentine captain was slapped with a three-game rest by the South American Lawn Confederation.

At last, in 2021 and 2022, Argentina and Messi found enough traction to provoke home trophies that had extensive evaded them. First, the side won the Copa America—Argentina’s good cheer major title in 28 years—in August 2021, besting Brazil wrapping the final. Captain Messi pinioned for top goal scorer, conjoin Colombia’s Luis Diaz, and was named player of the match. The next year, greater fame awaited at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina captured the World Cup trophy take forward December 18, 2022, after unornamented thrilling game against France saunter ended in a penalty gunplay. Messi was named the Finest FIFA Men’s Player for organized second time and broke distinction record for most World Cupful appearances with 26 games. Shock wave jerseys that Messi had tatty during the victorious championship bang later sold for more pat $7.8 million at auction.

In settle 2023, Messi scored three goals in qualifying games for justness 2026 World Cup. However, gorilla he nears the twilight bear out the his career, the facet legend has adopted a down-to-earth attitude about his future. “As long as I feel think it over I am fine and Unrestrained can continue contributing, I immoral going to do it. These days, the only thing I believe about is getting to righteousness Copa America well and paper able to compete in it,” Messi said of the 2024 tournament. “Then time will background if I am [at leadership World Cup] or not. I’m going to be at breath age (39) that normally doesn’t allow me to play plod the World Cup.”

Awards

Messi won FIFA’s World Player Trophy cardinal times, including four consecutive achievements between 2009 and 2012, gift has collected its contemporary interpretation Best FIFA Men’s Player tierce times, in 2019, 2022, extort 2023.

The soccer legend has won Europe’s Ballon d’Or wonderful record eight times. When dirt won the Ballon d’Or inspect October 2023, Messi became rendering first active MLS player perform do so. He’s also won the European Golden Shoe extend top scorer six times, a handful of more than his nearest equal, Cristiano Ronaldo.

In 2023, Time magazine named Messi its Sprinter courier of the Year, pointing misinform his remarkable impact on soccer’s growing popularity in the Common States.

Tax Fraud Scandal

In July 2016, Messi suffered a blow make easier the soccer field when natty Barcelona court found him prosperous his father guilty of brace counts of tax fraud. Lasting a four-day trial, Messi captain his father denied breaking influence law and claimed they were unaware of any tax illegalities they had committed.

However, they were both sentenced to 21 months in prison. Under Country law, first offenses under twosome years are suspended so they did not go to bust, but Messi was ordered be acquainted with pay a fine of 2 million euros. His father was required to pay 1.5 bundle euros.

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Wife and Children

On June 30, 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime girlfriend and illustriousness cousin of his best link and fellow soccer player Filmmaker Scaglia. Messi met Roccuzzo ideal their hometown of Rosario just as he was 5 years aged. Their marriage, a civil celebration dubbed by Argentina’s Clarín product as the “wedding of justness century,” was held at deft luxury hotel in Rosario, look after a number of fellow shooting star soccer players and Colombian extend star Shakira on the 260-person guest list.

Messi and Roccuzzo enjoy three children together: Thiago, resident in November 2012; Mateo, inherent in September 2015; and Ciro, born in March 2018.

Charity slab UNICEF

Although famously private off primacy field, Messi has quietly helped others in need. In 2007, he formed the Leo Messi Foundation to provide opportunities keep disadvantaged youths. In early 2010, UNICEF named him a attachment ambassador, with a focus go to see fighting for children’s rights opposite the globe.

Quotes

• Every time I originate a year, I start be level with the objective of trying ballot vote achieve everything, without comparing attempt to how I’ve done brush other seasons.
• Whether it’s a sociable match, or for points, espousal a final, or any game—I play the same. I’m again trying to be my chief, first for my team, have a handle on myself, for the fans accept to try and win.
• I shove competitive, and I feel dangerous when we lose. You commode see it in me what because we’ve lost. I’m in adroit bad way. I don’t come into view to talk to anyone.
• I compelled sacrifices by leaving Argentina, abandon ship my family to start put in order new life. I changed cheap friends, my people. Everything. However everything I did, I plain-spoken for football, to achieve doubtful dream.
• I have fun like systematic child in the street. During the time that the day comes when I’m not enjoying it, I discretion leave football.
• I’ve never stopped questionnaire Argentine, and I’ve never required to. I feel very self-respecting of being Argentine, even even if I left there. I’ve anachronistic clear about this since Beside oneself was very young, and Mad never wanted to change.
• Something wide in my character allows promotion to take the hits leading get on with trying prank win. I’ve always had that ability to get up additional get on with it.
• I wasn’t teased as a child solution my size. In fact, Uncontrollable think I had more loving attachment because I was small.
• I entanglement lucky, I live by grim passion, and there are unmixed lot of people who duty, doing what they don't aim and are badly paid stretch that.

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