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Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, a forward for Inter Miami CF, is one of the world’s greatest soccer players and helped the Argentina national team win its third FIFA World Cup in 2022.

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1987-present

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

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

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

Quick Facts

Early life of a soccer prodigy, club teams: barcelona, psg, and inter miami, argentina national team, tax fraud scandal, wife and children, charity and unicef, who is lionel messi.

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer player who has played for FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and currently, the MLS club Inter Miami CF as well as the Argentina national team. As a teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona agreed to pay for medical treatments related to his growth hormone disorder. At the club, he earned renown as one of the greatest players in history, helping FC Barcelona win more than two dozen league titles and tournaments. In 2012, he set a record for most goals in a calendar year and, a decade later, helped the Argentina national team win its third FIFA World Cup. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and in July 2023, he joined Inter Miami.

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

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

Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth. Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided on a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it soon proved impossible to pay several hundred dollars per month for the medication.

So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered the chance to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, and have his medical bills covered by the team, Messi’s family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain. Although he was often homesick in his new country, Messi moved quickly through the junior system ranks.

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

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

FC Barcelona

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

Messi steered Barcelona to a wealth of success, most notably in 2009, when the left-footer’s team captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his first FIFA World Player of the Year honor, as well as his first Ballon d’Or award, the top European individual honor in football.

Messi became the first Argentinian player to win the Ballon d’Or. Even the great Maradona gushed about his fellow countryman. “I see him as very similar to me,” the retired player told the BBC. “He’s a leader and is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different than any other player in the world.”

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

Messi embarked on an all-out assault on the record books in 2012. He became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match in 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 of the year, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and international play, eclipsing the 85 netted in a single calendar year by Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke another record when he was named the Ballon d’Or winner for the fourth consecutive time.

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

After helping Barcelona achieve a historic second treble in 2015, he was honored with his fifth Ballon d’Or trophy. Four years later, following another La Liga title, Messi again established a new standard for excellence by claiming his sixth Ballon d’Or.

On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona announced it couldn’t resign Messi due to the team’s budget constraints and La Liga restrictions. Despite having voiced his desire to leave the club the prior season, Messi bid a teary farewell after 17 seasons: “This is really difficult for me after so many years spent here, being here my entire life. I’m not ready for this.”

Paris Saint-Germain

Four days after the shocking news from FC Barcelona, Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old inked a two-year contract with the French club. The move saw him reunite with former teammate Neymar as well as the talented Kylian Mbappé.

Messi made his debut for the club on August 29, 2021, and scored his first goal that September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi but twice failed to advance beyond the round of 16 in the Champions League finals.

Although his contract allowed for an optional third year at PSG, the team announced it would release Messi as a free agent when the deal expired on June 30, 2023. Earlier in the year, the club suspended and fined Messi after he visited Saudi Arabia on an unauthorized trip. This all but sealed fate on the soccer legend’s widely expected move.

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

Inter Miami CF

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

A little over a month later, on July 16, the team officially welcomed him on a 2.5-year contract that runs through the 2025 season. The deal was reportedly worth around $150 million , including an annual salary between $50 million and $60 million , a signing bonus, revenue sharing with the league’s media partner, and team equity upon retirement.

Inter Miami immediately benefitted on and off the field from their new team captain’s presence. 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, with Messi injured late in the season, Inter Miami went winless in seven straight and failed to qualify for the playoffs. He was named the club’s 2023 MVP in November.

Messi has directly boosted revenue for the team, as well. Attendance at home games spiked 40 percent , the most in the MLS. According to The Athletic , the least expensive Inter Miami season ticket prices rose from $485 to $884 per seat from 2023 to 2024. Even with the price jump, Inter Miami announced 2024 season tickets sold out at the end of November, two months out of the start of the preseason. Not surprisingly, his jersey became the top seller in the MLS .

Messi and Inter Miami open the 2024 MLS regular season on February 21.

In summer 2005, Messi quickly made a name for himself on his native country’s under-20 squad. He led Argentina to the title in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria. Less than two months later, he made his pro debut with Argentina in an August friendly match against Hungary but played less than two minutes before receiving a red card and being ejected from the game.

For all his success with Barcelona, Messi repeatedly came under fire for his inability to help Argentina’s national team win a major title. In the 2014 World Cup, Argentina lost to Germany in the final, though Messi was named player of the tournament that year. In 2016, following Argentina’s second consecutive loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced he was ending his run with the national team.

The soccer great eventually reversed his decision, but his participation in the 2018 World Cup did not bring that elusive title, as hoped. After Messi scored an early goal in a 2-1 win over Nigeria that helped his team advance from the group stage, he was largely kept in check by France, his two assists not enough to stave off a 4-3 defeat that sent Argentina packing.

The following year, after Messi heavily criticized the referees in the wake of a 2-0 loss to Brazil in the Copa America semifinals, the Argentine captain was slapped with a three-game ban by the South American Football Confederation.

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

Argentina captured the World Cup trophy on December 18, 2022, after a thrilling game against France that ended in a penalty shootout. Messi was named the Best FIFA Men’s Player for a second time and broke the record for most World Cup appearances with 26 games. Six jerseys that Messi had worn during the victorious championship run later sold for more than $7.8 million at auction.

In fall 2023, Messi scored three goals in qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup. However, as he nears the twilight of the his career, the soccer legend has adopted a realistic attitude about his future. “As long as I feel that I am fine and I can continue contributing, I am going to do it. Today, the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa America well and being able to compete in it,” Messi said of the 2024 tournament. “Then time will tell if I am [at the World Cup] or not. I’m going to be at an age (39) that normally doesn’t allow me to play in the World Cup.”

Messi won FIFA’s World Player Trophy five times, including four consecutive wins between 2009 and 2012, and has collected 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 record eight times. When he won the Ballon d’Or in October 2023, Messi became the first active MLS player to do so. He’s also won the European Golden Shoe for top scorer six times, two more than his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo .

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

In July 2016, Messi suffered a blow off the soccer field when a Barcelona court found him and 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 in prison. Under Spanish law, first offenses under two years are suspended so they did not go to jail, but Messi was ordered to pay a fine of 2 million euros. His father was required to pay 1.5 million euros.

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

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

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

• Every time I start a year, I start with the objective of trying to achieve everything, without comparing it to how I’ve done in other seasons.
• Whether it’s a friendly match, or for points, or a final, or any game—I play the same. I’m always trying to be my best, first for my team, for myself, for the fans and to try and win.
• I am competitive, and I feel bad when we lose. You can see it in me when we’ve lost. I’m in a bad way. I don’t like to talk to anyone.
• I made sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to start a new life. I changed my friends, my people. Everything. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream.
• I have fun like a child in the street. When the day comes when I’m not enjoying it, I will leave football.
• I’ve never stopped being Argentine, and I’ve never wanted to. I feel very proud of being Argentine, even though I left there. I’ve been clear about this since I was very young, and I never wanted to change.
• Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win. I’ve always had this ability to get up and get on with it.
• I wasn’t teased as a child for my size. In fact, I think I had more affection because I was small.
• I am lucky, I live by my passion, and there are a lot of people who work, doing what they don't like and are badly paid for that.

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Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of the modern generation. He plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He has won FIFA world player of the year five times (2009–12 and 2015) . He has often been described as Diego Maradona’s successor because of his prolific goal scoring record and ability to dribble past opponents.

“I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius, and he can become an even better player.”

His potential is limitless, and I think he’s got everything it takes to become Argentina’s greatest player.”

– Diego Maradona

Short Biography Lionel Messi

He began playing from an early age, and his talent was soon apparent. However, at the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This was a condition that stunted growth and required expensive medical treatment, including the use of the drug Human growth hormone.

His local club, River Plate were interested in signing Messi but didn’t want to pay for his medical treatment. However, Messi was given a trial with Barcelona, and coach Carles Rexach was impressed – offering Messi a contract (written on a paper napkin!) which included paying for Messi’s treatment in Spain. Messi moved to Barcelona with his father and became part of the prestigious FC Barcelona youth academy.

“I made a lot of sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to start a new life. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream. That’s why I didn’t go out partying, or do a lot of other things.”

– Lionel Messi

In the 2009-10 season, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo’s record total for Barcelona. As the seasons have progressed, Messi kept improving and breaking his own records. In the calendar year of 2012, he broke the all-time world record for most goals scored in a calendar year. His final total of goals in 2012 was 91 – beating the previous record of 85 by German Gerd Muller, and Pele’s milestone of 75 in 1958.

“My record stood for 40 years – 85 goals in a year – and now the best player in the world has broken it, and I’m delighted for him. He is an incredible player, gigantic.”

– Gerd Muller

At the start of 2013, in club football, Messi has scored 292 goals from a total of 359 appearances, and in international football, 31 goals from 76 appearances.

At the end of 2012, Messi turned down a very lucrative offer to play for an unnamed Russian side. It would have given Messi a salary of €20 million a year and made Messi the most expensive player in the world (Barcelona would have been paid €250 million). He turned down the offer because he was unsure if he would be playing in major European championships and the difficulties in moving to Russia. Instead, he signed a contract with Barcelona until the end of 2018. When asked about moving to the English Premier League, Messi revealed his sense of commitment to Barcelona.

“ Barcelona is my life. They have brought me to where I am today. I could not leave, I don’t want to leave. I know the Premier League is very good. But I cannot see myself playing in England because my heart is with Barcelona, always.”

International Career

Because Messi was brought up in Spain, since he was 11 years old, he has Spanish nationality. In 2004, he was offered the chance to play for Spain’s Under 20 side, but Messi decided to play for Argentina, the country of his birth. He led Argentina to victory in the 2005 FIFA Youth Championship. Messi made his full international debut in August 2005, during a friendly against Hungary. In his first game, Messi was sent off for allegedly elbowing a player. The decision was contentious and not in keeping with Messi’s style of play which is generally clean and in the spirit of fair play; he has very rarely been accused of diving.

In 2006, he participated in the World Cup, becoming Argentina’s youngest player to play in the world cup. Argentina were eliminated in the quarter-finals. In 2008, he won an Olympic gold medal for Argentina in football at the Beijing Olympics. Initially, Barcelona had not allowed him permission to play, but new coach Pep Guardiola allowed him time off.

In the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the number 10 shirt and played well to help Argentina reach the quarter-finals, but Messi struggled to score, and Argentina disappointingly lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-final. Messi has admitted he is desperate to play in a world cup final. Success for Messi in the World Cup would be the last test of greatness. Pele , by contrast, was part of Brazil’s three times winning World Cup side ’58, ’62 and ’70.

Messi is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players of the modern age – in fact, any age. He has a peerless ability to dribble and take on opponents. Maradona has described his ball control as supremely good. “ The ball stays glued to his foot; I’ve seen great players in my career, but I’ve never seen anyone with Messi’s ball control.” Messi has said he wishes to retain the joy of how a child plays football

“I have changed nothing, my style of play is still that of a child. I know that above all it is my job and that I should approach it in another way, but one must not lose sight of the fact that football is a game. It is imperative one plays to amuse oneself, to be happy. That is what children do and I do the same thing.” (total Barca)

After winning the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time in January 2013, Messi said:

“To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words. ” ( BBC )

Messi and Ronaldo

Messi has often been compared to prolific Real Madrid goalscorer Christiano Ronaldo, but both have been keen to downplay the rivalry.

“Messi has his personality and I have mine. He has his game and I have mine. I also play in a big club like him. We are different in every aspect. But right now, he is the best.”

— Christiano Ronaldo , in September 2011

Messi’s goalscoring record

Source: Christopher Johnson, Barcelona FC. CC-SA-2.5

By any standards, Messi’s goal scoring record is exceptional. By June 2019, he has scored 419 goals in 445 official matches for Barcelona FC.

• In 2012/13, Messi set an all-time world record of scoring in 21 consecutive games (33 goals from 21 games)
• He holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year – 91 goals during 2012.
• He is the only player to score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns.
• His international record for Argentina is 68 goals from 133 appearances.

Messi major honours

• Spanish La Liga title (*10) : 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Spanish Cup (*6) – Copa del Rey
• Supercopa de España (*6)
• UEFA Champions League ( *4 ) : 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014-15
• UEFA Super Cup ( *3 )
• FIFA Club World Cup ( 3 )
• Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
• 2006 World Cup – QF
• 2010 World Cup – QF
• 2014 World Cup – Runners-up.
• 2018 World Cup

Wealth and income

Messi has frequently been the target of other football clubs with big transfer budgets, but he has remained loyal to Barcelona FC. He is one of the highest paid footballers in the world. His base salary is estimated at €40 million per year. His combined income 2018 from all sources was €126m. This made him the highest paid sports star – according to Forbes. From 2018, his weekly salary from Barcelona is $667,000 per week.

Private life

By the standards of modern football, Messi has a relatively private and modest lifestyle. He makes efforts to keep links to his hometown of Rosario. He has an Argentinian girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo, and they have two children. His first child Thiago was born in November 2012.

Lionel Messi – Real Bios at Amazon by Marie Morreale.

Messi acts as an ambassador for Unicef, and also runs his own charitable foundation – supporting access to education and sport for children. Because of his own expensive medical treatment, he has also helped Argentinian hospitals with paying for similar treatment to his own.

World Cup 2014

Many commentators have stated that Lionel Messi has performed at his best in all competitions, except the World Cup. In both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup, Argentina were knocked out in the quarter-finals, with Messi not at his best.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is an opportunity for Messi to make an impact on the highest stage of them all. In the opening game against, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Messi scored a great goal to give Argentina a winning start. He scored four goals to help Argentina reach the World Cup Final. In the final, Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany. Messi was awarded ‘Golden Ball’ player of the tournament, though the decision was not universally supported. After the tournament, Messi replied:

“I do not care about the Golden Ball. I am just upset by the wasted chances. We had the best chances. We knew we could not dominate the game but we knew what we wanted to do. Right now I do not care about my prize. I just wanted to lift the cup and bring it to Argentina. The pain is very great.”

In June 2016, a very disappointed Messi announced his retirement from international football, after missing a penalty as Argentina got knocked out of the Copa America final. However, Messi later reversed his decision, saying he loved playing for Argentina too much, and “I see there are many problems in Argentinian football and I don’t intend to create another one.”

However, Messi returned to international football and led Argentina in the 2018 World Cup. Despite carrying the weight of expectation of a nation, the World Cup was considered a great disappointment. However, in the 2018/19 season, Messi returned to his usual scintillating performance with Barcelona.

World Cup 2022

After a disappointing first game, when Argentina unexpectedly lost to Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi was key to firing Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Mexico, with Messi scoring an excellent goal. If Messi has lost something of his speed and top level fitness, he remains just as potent in front of the goal, with the capacity to make match winning contributions. The goal took him to 8 world cup goals, 2nd overall and level with Diego Maradona.

Published 10 January 2018. Last updated 30 November 2022

• Full name Lionel Andrés Messi
• Date of birth 24 June 1987 (1987-06-24)
• Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
• Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
• Playing Position: Forward
• Total club appearances 684. Total Goals 578 (Dec. 2018)
• Total international appearances 151. Total Goals 81 (Dec. 2018)
• La Liga titles with Barcelona (9)
• UEFA Champions League (4) 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• FIFA Ballon d’Or/Ballon d’Or (5)
• Guinness World Record as top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year: 91 goals in 2012

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Lionel Messi”, Oxford, UK.  www.biographyonline.net . First published 26 June 2012. Last updated 26 June 2019.

The Amazing Story of Leo Messi

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Lionel MESSI

Born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1987, Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, and his illustrious career proves why. The Argentinean footballer, who holds a record eight Ballon d'Or awards , has displayed his talent early on and has always been destined for greatness.

When Messi was 13 years old, he and his family moved to Barcelona, where the club assisted him in treating his growth hormone deficiency . He started playing for FC Barcelona's U14 team. The Argentinean quickly rose through the ranks, impressing everyone with exceptional skills and talent. At 17, he made his first senior appearance for the club and became a vital player for the Blaugranas.

The Rosario's native relationship with Barcelona has been very successful. During his 17-year career with the team, he helped them win numerous titles, including 10 La Liga titles , four Champions League crowns , and seven Copa del Rey trophies . He is also the all-time leading scorer in La Liga , with an incredible 474 goals to his name. He left the Spanish club in 2021 to join French powerhouse Paris Saint Germain , where he played two years before joining Inter Miami in the MLS.

On the international stage, the former Barca star has been a standout player for his country. He was instrumental in helping them win the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where he won the Golden Ball , awarded to the competition's best player. He was also part of the team that won Olympic gold at the Beijing 2008 Games, which remains one of his most treasured career highlights.

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Leo Messi 's footballing career started in 1995 at Newell's Old Boys, where he played until the year 2000. At the age of 13, Lionel Messi crossed the Atlantic to try his luck in Barcelona, and joined the Under 14s. Messi made spectacular progress at each of the different age levels, climbing through the ranks to Barça C, followed by Barça B and the first team in record time.

From a young age Messi stood out due to his vision and his goalscoring ability, especially with his left foot, an endless source of magical inspiration. 

In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Do Dragao stadium.

The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1). 

That very season Messi became a regular member of Frank Rijkaard's first team squad. However, it was in the 2005/06 campaign that the Argentine really came to centre stage as he helped the team to their second Champions League victory and their 18th league title. With the departure of Ronaldinho in 2008, Messi became the focal point of the Barça forward line. 

Getting better every season, Messi and Barça won 35 trophies during the Argentine's time at the Club, including the six won in 2009 and the treble in 2015. 

Leo Messi and the treble trophies from 2009: Copa del Rey, Champions League and Liga

Messi’s individual achievements are also unprecedented: six Ballon d’Or awards, six times Champions League top scorer, six times Golden Shoe winner, eight times ‘Pichichi’ (top scorer) in La Liga, Ballon d’Or winner at the 2014 World Cup, FIFA World Player of the Year in 2009 and FIFA The Best winner in 2019. 

On an individual level Messi began to set records as a youngster and never looked back. The Argentine has made more appearances than anyone, 778, scored more goals, 672, provided most assists, 305 and won most trophies, 35. 

Other records included 91 goals in a calendar year, beating Gerd Müller's record from 1972 as well as surpassing Pelé's record for one club total of 643 goals.  

With the Argentina national side Messi played in four World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) as a Barça player, losing in the final in 2014 in Brazil against Germany. He has also played in six Copa Américas (2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021), losing in the final in both 2015 and 2016 to Chile on penalties before finally claiming a major honour for his country with the win over Brazil in the 2021 final. In the summer of 2008 he also played at the Beijing Olympics, and came home with a gold medal.

In the summer of 2021 the love affair between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi came to an end and the Barça number 10 brought an end to his career which has been him become a life long legend for FC Barcelona. 

• Seasons at the Club: 2003-2021
• Appearances: 778

Honours with FC Barcelona

• 3 FIFA Club World Cups (2009, 2011, 2015)
• 4 UEFA Champions League (2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15)
• 3 UEFA Super Cups (2009/10, 2011/12, 2015/16)
• 10 Spanish leagues (2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19)
• 7 Copas del Rey (2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2020/2021)
• 8 Spanish Super Cups (2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17, 2018/19)
• 4 Catalan Cup (2004-05, 2006-07, 2012-13, 2013-14)
• 2 Catalan Supercup (2014-15, 2017-18)

Honours with Argentina

• 1 Olympic gold (2008)
• 1 Copa América (2021)

Individual awards

• 1 Laureus (2020)
• 1 FIFA World Player (2009)
• 1 The Best FIFA Football Award (2019)
• 2 UEFA Player of the Year (2010/11, 2014/15)
• 1 World Soccer Award Best Player (2015)
• 6 Ballons d'Or (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019)
• 4 Golden XI (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018)
• 6 Golden Shoe (2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19)
• 8 La Liga top scorer (2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21)
• 6 Top scorer UEFA Champions League (2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12 i 2018/19)
• 9 MVP LaLiga (2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19)
• 1 Golden Boy (2005)
• 1 Bravo Trophy (2007)

Most important individual records 

• Only player to win Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player, La Liga top scorer and Golden Shoe in same season (2009/10)
• Player with most Ballons d'Or 
• Player with most Golden Shoes
• Player with most Pichichi Trophies
• Top goalscorer in a season in official competition (73 goals in 2011/12)
• Top goalscorer in calendar year (91 goals in 2012)
• Top goalscorer at one club Club (672 goals)
• Longest scoring streak in La Liga (33 goals in 21 consecutive matches 2012/13)
• Player with most matches  for Argentina
• All time top goalscorer in La Liga (474 goals in 520 matches)
• Top goalscorer in a single La Liga season (50 goals in 2011/12)
• Player with most hat-tricks in La Liga (36)
• Player with most goals form a free kick in La Liga (39 goals)
• Player with most wins in official competition (542 wins in 771 matches)
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Lionel Messi: The life and times of the Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina legend

Lionel Messi has wasted little time in making an impact at Inter Miami, the third club he has played for in his illustrious career.

The deal taking him to Miami, after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired, was only finalized on July 15. The World Cup winner has already added the Leagues Cup to his trophy cabinet , scoring 10 goals in seven games to fire his new club to their first piece of silverware.

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For Messi , it is major trophy number 44.

Despite turning 36 in June, he is as influential as ever. Here is the complete story of Lionel Andres Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport, as told by 30 of our award-winning team of reporters, from Adam Crafton to Oliver Kay, from Michael Cox to John Muller, as well as many, many more. It will be continuously updated to reflect Messi’s ongoing Inter Miami career .

The early life of Lionel Messi

It started with a videotape . Horacio Gaggioli, an agent in Argentina, was sent footage of a 12-year-old Lionel Messi playing for the oxymoronic Newell’s Old Boys youth teams. A year later and Messi arrived in Barcelona with Gaggioli and his father for a trial that would change the course of history for both player and club.

Messi played only for the youth sides of Newell’s Old Boys and yet he is a bona fide club legend by virtue of what he would go on to achieve. In Rosario, as early as the late 1990s, he was already cutting in from the right flank and bending the ball into the far corner with his left foot. The skills were already astonishing but, naturally, there were doubts as a result of the youngster’s diminutive frame.

This was around the time Messi was being seen by a pediatric endocrinologist (a glands and hormones specialist) because of having been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10. His was a middle-class family and the Messis lived in a modest two-story home located on the Calle Lavalleja in Rosario. Lionel’s father worked as a supervisor at a steel manufacturing plant while his mother worked at a shop that specialised in magnetic coils.

It was, in fact, Messi’s grandmother who encouraged him to join a club rather than simply play informally with other children in the neighbourhood. His trademark goal celebration of pointing both index fingers to the sky is a tribute to that late grandparent, a key formative influence whose importance has never been forgotten .

Messi was a shy and introverted child and, during one early match, he played with stones he found on the pitch while the game went on around him. Naturally, when the ball came to him, it was a very different story and the raw talent was there for all to see. This reserved nature, quite uncommon in elite athletes, might explain why the young Lionel ultimately decided to let his father, Jorge, become his agent . After an agonising wait during which the hierarchy debated the best course of action, Barcelona eventually agreed to sign the player and cover his treatments, the latter something Newell’s Old Boys could or would not do. History is written by the winners, however, so Messi is a hero at the Argentine club despite making his professional debut elsewhere.

Jorge’s (third from left, above) involvement in his son’s career is a fascinating aspect of the Messi story . His first organised involvement was helping as coach at the local Grandoli club, where little Leo played his first games. While the family was relatively comfortable, they did not have the $900 a month required for the hormone treatment. The Barcelona move was essential but it was not until December 2000 that Barca director Charly Rexach famously signed a contract written on a napkin that confirmed the Argentine’s move to La Masia . The romantic element of the tale belies the truth of the negotiations. In reality, neither father nor son were willing to return to Spain until they were sure they were going to be paid the 100 million pesetas per season they felt they were worth.

This kind of steeliness would be a recurring theme in Messi’s early days at the Camp Nou. After a year at Barcelona, a new general manager questioned why somewhere in the region of €120,000 a year was being paid to a youngster yet to play a competitive game. Jorge responded by making enquiries about a move to Real Madrid and ultimately the Messi men got their way before it was obvious quite what a talent the club had on their hands. Indeed, at that fledgling stage, the Messis were able to negotiate three new contracts within just 18 months. Within three years of making his Barcelona debut, Messi replaced no less a player than Ronaldinho as the highest earner on the club’s books.

When Messi signed for Barcelona in 2001, the whole family moved to the Catalan capital, but mother Cecilia and siblings Rodrigo, Matias and Maria-Sol soon moved back to Rosario and left father and son in a relatively small apartment close to the Camp Nou. Like sitcom room-mates, the pair largely ate takeout food and played video games but, more crucially, developed a remarkable bond rare even for kin .

When the Messi family left Argentina at the turn of the century, they neglected to tell even those closest to them about the move. In a sense, that insular nature and distrust of outsiders has remained with the player throughout his career. Those on the inside have repeatedly suggested Jorge is a difficult man to deal with but perhaps he is just a father who understood the extraordinary value of his son before the world caught up. When you’ve got an asset like Lionel, it tends to give you the upper hand in most negotiations around money.

• Messi, Rosario and Newell’s: The love between a superstar, his hometown and boyhood club
• Jorge Messi: The agent father behind Leo’s fortunes
• Lionel Messi and Rosario’s narco wars: ‘We are waiting for you’

Messi’s record-breaking Barcelona career

Two things come up time and again when any team-mate is asked about Messi’s early days at Barcelona; the young Argentine was extremely shy and prodigiously gifted . In the words of Victor Vazquez:

“From day one, it was crazy how good he was out on the pitch. Me and the other players in the academy — like Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas — were always talking about how incredible a player he was. We couldn’t believe how good he was and the whole dressing room agreed we had to do everything we could to help Leo adapt to living in Barcelona.”

On the pitch, there were no issues. Messi’s rise through the youth ranks was one of the fastest the club had ever seen. In his first full season, he scored 38 goals in 31 games while playing at under-16 level. Barcelona moved the 16-year-old to the under-18s for the 2003-04 season. His time in that side did not last long, however, as the teenager set a club record that has never been equalled: he played for five different Barcelona teams in one season .

The first-team manager, Frank Rijkaard, was impressed enough to call Messi up for a friendly against Porto (at that time managed by Jose Mourinho) in November 2003. His 15-minute cameo was ultimately remarkable enough to see the Argentine play for Barcelona’s B and C teams for the remainder of the season. He would never return to the academy or look back in any way.

In October 2004, aged 17 years, three months and 22 days, Messi made his competitive debut for Barcelona as a substitute against Espanyol. That was the first of nine appearances he made that season, the last of those featuring his first goal for the club in the very final minute of the season with a terrific lob.

Messi could not start playing the following season until September 2005 when a citizenship issue was finally resolved. The Argentine helped his side to their second successive league title with eight goals and five assists in 25 games. The only disappointment was a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Champions League final victory over Arsenal despite the fact the player felt he was fit enough to start.

That 2006 European triumph signalled the end of an era at Barcelona and the next couple of years were difficult and culminated with the dismissal of Rijkaard in 2008 and the appointment of Pep Guardiola, a decision that altered the course of the club’s history. Ronaldinho was sold and Messi inherited the number 10 shirt as the central figure in arguably the greatest club side in the history of the game.

In the 2008-09 season, everything went right. The Argentine managed 38 goals and 19 assists in 51 games while helping Barcelona secure the Copa del Rey, La Liga and Champions League titles. It was a banner year for Messi in which he played his first game as a false nine and won the Ballon d’Or (the first of an astonishing seven).

The numbers tell their own story, with Messi and Guardiola combining with devastating effect. Thirty-eight goals seems an astonishing number for a player whose game was about far more than simply finding the back of the net and it’s even more staggering when one considers he would go on to score even more goals in each of the next 10 seasons. Messi and his manager ensured Barcelona picked up 14 trophies in four seasons before Guardiola suddenly stepped down in the summer of 2012 .

With Guardiola gone, Barcelona managers came and went (three in successive years) with it becoming understood that the star man had more power than whoever was sat in the dugout. Indeed, Gerardo Martino actually said to Messi during his brief tenure : “I know that if you call the president and ask for my head, he would fire me the next day but, please, I don’t need you to prove it to me every day.”

To call Messi a club legend doesn’t even begin to do justice to his extraordinary feats. As a way of adding context, consider the fact that, in 2021, according to government data, Leo was the fifth most common name given to newborn children in Catalonia and the only name in the top six without a Catalan origin. Ultimately, Barcelona’s struggles on and off the field in recent years saw the relationship between the player and the club break down and, instead of a fairytale ending, the denouement was a tearful press conference in the summer of 2021 .

One intriguing aspect of the Messi farewell is that his salary deferrals of 2020 and 2021, aimed at easing Barcelona’s financial troubles, mean he continues to be paid by the club and will be until 2025 . Many of the Camp Nou faithful believed he might return after his time in Paris came to an end and the noises from the club suggested they believed it was a genuine possibility. Messi’s name was chanted at matches and there was real hope right up until the moment he decided to sign for Inter Miami.

At Barcelona, Messi became arguably the greatest player in history while plying his trade for arguably the greatest team in history, so perhaps he was wise to heed the old adage about never going back .

• Lionel Messi at Barcelona: The pain and glory of a 20-year love affair
• Barcelona’s Lionel Messi love story is finally over (but some will forever live in hope)
• Why Barcelona have to pay Lionel Messi until 2025 – even though he is moving to Inter Miami

Why Messi struggled at Paris Saint-Germain

Messi’s time in Paris was every bit as complicated as the negotiations that led to his leaving the place he considered home for pastures new. Things started so brightly at PSG with Messi emerging from the airport in August 2021 in a shirt emblazoned with the words, ‘Ici C’est Paris’ (This Is Paris). If the footballing great was missing his friends in Barcelona then he certainly did a good job hiding it.

The player was paid a sign-on fee of €25million and agreed a two-year contract with a net salary of €25million per year. The deal included an option of a third year at the same rate but ultimately Messi was able to secure an even more lucrative deal in the United States.

Before arriving in France, the general perception of the Argentine great was that he was a man who let his football do the talking. Controversies off the field were rare and the headlines tended only to come as a result of his extraordinary ability. Perhaps it was inevitable but things were different in the French capital despite continued success on the field. Ultimately, the transfer was about more than just Messi’s ability with the ball at his feet and there was a nagging feeling that remained the case throughout his Parisian sojourn.

The deal made sense for all parties in the summer of 2021 . Barcelona could no longer afford to keep their prize asset and PSG could offer outstanding money and Champions League football. The club had been sniffing around Messi for years and felt his commercial value was as significant as his talent on the field. As if to underline this point, the club’s Twitter account gained 800,000 followers in a single month after he signed.

When the history books are written, Messi’s first season at PSG will not go down as a vintage year. Eleven goals and 15 assists from 34 games in all competitions is certainly not a bad return but undoubtedly underwhelming when compared to the player’s own impeccably high standards. Let’s not forget the Argentine moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 and stayed there for two decades, so a period of acclimatisation was to be expected. He had to adapt to a new coach and team-mates as well as an entirely new environment for his family in a city with a very different way of life to Catalonia.

PSG won Ligue 1 in both of Messi’s seasons at the club but that should be considered the bare minimum. The club has gone from just two domestic titles to 11 in the decade since Qatar Sports Investments started their bankrolling project. The player was brought in to get the club over the line in the Champions League and, while the hierarchy might have been happy from a commercial standpoint, PSG were still eliminated in the round of 16 in both of Messi’s seasons at Parc des Princes.

In Messi’s second season at PSG, he notched up 41 goals and assists from 40 games in all competitions and helped his side to their second successive league title. The failure in Europe had far more to do with poor recruitment than the Argentine’s performances and yet he was not entirely blameless. What is undeniable is that his output was considerably reduced after the World Cup. This is understandable given Messi gave everything to ensure he finally won the ultimate prize and the competition took place, for the first time, in the middle of a domestic season. For the people who paid his wages, however, the Champions League was a more important target.

Messi’s relationship with the PSG fans never came close to the bond he had with the Barcelona supporters and there was a certain inevitability about it ending in tears. At the start of May, he was suspended for a fortnight and fined for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia as part of a commercial agreement to promote tourism in the area. The player missed a training session and the general consensus amongst the PSG faithful was that the player who has won everything did not care enough about the shirt of the club, a feeling exacerbated by nine defeats in all competitions after the turn of the year.

The iconic great of the game came to be viewed as symptomatic of a strategy that prioritised star names over cohesion. He was one of a number of players viewed as looking to earn huge sums of money without truly caring about the project . Ultimately the club took a stand and, the day after he was suspended, it was reported that Messi would leave at the season’s close. He apologised for his conduct but the damage had been done. Still, in his penultimate game for PSG, the Argentine’s goal helped the club secure a second league title in a row as he became the player with the most goals in the history of Europe’s top five leagues – an astonishing 496.

It might not have been a Parisian fairytale but, by any measure, Messi still produced the goods in Ligue 1.

• How Paris Saint-Germain signed Lionel Messi
• Lionel Messi PSG project ends here – and it’s the right call
• Messi’s time at PSG was a success for him and the business – but not as a football transfer

How Messi and Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar 

In 2016, at the age of 29, Messi announced his retirement from international football . Despite being at his peak for Barcelona, he was reeling from a third international final defeat in as many years (his fourth in total). As if to underline quite how different things were for the player in an Argentina jersey, the country’s talisman missed his penalty in the shootout to decide the Copa America, uncharacteristically blazing the ball high and wide. Enough was enough.

A couple of months later and the decision had been reversed, much to the relief of just about every person in Argentina. There was a sense in some quarters that the player had just one more mountain to scale if he wanted to be considered on a par with his compatriot, Diego Maradona, and that was lifting the World Cup for his country . Messi had come close in 2014 and won the player of the tournament award for his efforts, but ultimately Argentina were defeated by Germany in a close final.

In 2022, at 35, Messi knew this was his last chance. He spoke of “the anxiety within my family and the country as a whole. Particularly my wife Antonela and son Thiago who watches all the national team games and knows all the possible match-ups, the opponents. ‘When are we going?’ he asks. ‘When’s the first game? When’s the second game?’ He’s nervous and the truth is that it puts terrible pressure on me.” This was exacerbated when, in Argentina’s opening game, Messi’s penalty gave his team an early lead but Saudi Arabia fought back in the second half to win 2-1. This was one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history and some felt the Argentina captain would conclude his career without emulating Maradona.

It took Messi 64 minutes to break the deadlock against Mexico in the second group game and Pablo Aimar was so overwhelmed on the sidelines he broke into tears. The game ended 2-0 and another 2-0 victory, in the final group game against Poland, ensured Argentina topped their group despite that early setback. In the round of 16, against Australia, Argentina edged a tight match and Messi finally scored in the knockout stages of a World Cup. It also happened to be the 1,000th game of a storied career.

The quarter-final clash with the Netherlands would prove remarkably dramatic. Messi’s pass for Nahuel Molina’s opening goal somehow took out six Dutch players in one fell swoop and all seemed well until Wout Weghorst came off the bench and scored two late goals to make it 2-2 and take the game to extra time. Argentina won on penalties but it was a spectacularly ill-tempered affair, with Messi taunting both Weghorst and Louis van Gaal, the latter visibly angry after Messi provoked him by cupping his ears.

The semi-final was a relatively straightforward 3-0 win over Croatia (Messi opening the scoring with another penalty) before a final for the ages, perhaps the greatest there has ever been . For the first hour, however, it looked as though it would be a routine victory for Messi and co against the reigning champions France. They were 2-0 up at half-time and the French had contributed nothing of note in an attacking sense. It appeared as though Messi’s dream was finally about to come true with relative ease.

With 10 minutes remaining, France were awarded a penalty and Kylian Mbappe converted before adding another just 97 seconds later with a stunning volley that levelled the scores. The game went to extra time where Messi scored again and gave his team the lead and that appeared to be that until Mbappe, with two minutes remaining, completed his hat-trick and took the final to a penalty shootout. Naturally, both Messi and Mbappe scored their penalties and the shootout concluded with Argentina triumphing 4-2. The defining image of the celebrations was the Argentina great accepting the honour of the robe and rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of lifting the trophy. He was hoisted aloft by his team-mates in a manner that recalled his idol, Maradona, at the conclusion of the 1986 final.

In the immediate aftermath of the match, Messi confirmed it was his last World Cup but he would not be retiring from international football, stating, “I love what I do, being in the national team, and I want to continue living a few more games being world champion.” It might seem surprising that he has been willing to take part in international friendlies having achieved everything there is to achieve but, in the words of the man himself, “What I do is play football, which is what I like. I do it because I love it — and that’s all I care about.”

• The night Messi won the World Cup – told with some help from the man himself
• The story of the greatest World Cup final: Di Maria’s tears, Macron’s hugs… and Salt Bae
• How the ‘Catalan Argentine’ escaped the shadow of Maradona
• The cult of Lionel Messi: From the pitch, to Buenos Aires, to the pilgrims of Doha

The story of Messi’s move to MLS and Inter Miami

When discussing signing Messi for Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club he co-owns, David Beckham is unequivocal :

“This will be up there with the biggest moves in American sporting history… And we’re talking about the biggest sporting market in the world. Bringing Leo Messi to Inter Miami, to MLS, the year after he wins the World Cup, to a team that is three years old… it’s a hell of an achievement. I never thought I would have the same feeling as an owner as I had when I was a player. When I got the phone call, I had the feeling I had when I walked out at Old Trafford or Wembley. I was like, ‘We’ve just beaten all competition to sign the greatest player to ever play our game’.”

Messi’s arrival in the States is so much more than a boost for a solitary club. Most MLS teams hosting Miami are seeing significant upticks in gameday revenue. Messi shirts are selling out. Apple have announced that three games the week of Messi’s debut set records in viewership. Social media numbers are through the roof, especially given the player’s strong start underlined by an exquisite goal on debut .

It was yet another perfect moment in a career positively littered with them. Inter Miami were drawing 1-1 with Mexican side Cruz Azul in their first Leagues Cup game of the season, a competition that sees MLS teams play against Liga MX sides. Messi, on as a 54th-minute substitute, was fouled and everyone watching knew he was going to take the resultant free kick, about 25 yards from goal in prime territory. Could the icon mark his first match in Florida with a 93rd-minute winner? Everyone watching knew the answer to that one, too.

Messi curled the ball past the goalkeeper and was wheeling away in celebration before it had even hit the back of the net . The Argentine’s set-piece ability is legendary and he tends to deliver when it comes to the crunch. After the game, he reflected on what is already the most memorable goal ever scored for an MLS side:

“It was set up for me at the end. I went for it like I always do. I was lucky that it was on target, that the goalkeeper didn’t get to it and… that it was a goal… I saw the goal and I tried to convert. I knew it was the last play. I was hoping to score in order to avoid going to penalties.”

Messi has already scored 10 goals for Inter Miami, his side winning all of the games he’s taken part in on their way to Leagues Cup triumph. In the process, Messi has become the all-time top scorer in the competition. There is a feeling that, if the player can continue at this rate against far weaker defences than he’s been accustomed to facing throughout his career, the ripple effect for the league could be astronomical.

Commercially, the impact of Messi in America is almost unprecedented . By way of example, DeAndre Yedlin recently arrived at a press conference in a pair of Beats by Dre headphones gifted by Messi, something he revealed each one of the Argentine’s team-mates had been presented with. Beats by Dre is owned by Apple, so this was a visible reminder of the partnership between one of the biggest companies in the world and one of the biggest figures in sport. It is quite clear there is a symbiotic relationship between the sports and business aspects of this deal .

In truth, the repercussions for soccer in the country could be felt long after Messi has left the Sunshine State. Daniel Kirschner is the CEO of Greenfly, a platform used by over 500 sports organizations to optimise digital content. He feels this could be a turning point for the league:

“When we look at athletes active on social, by carrying sponsors with them, jerseys sponsors, arena sponsors, there is an incredible amount of value in that and that value attaches itself to Inter Miami and their sponsors. Inter Miami’s reach and impact, the number of people seeing those logos, has expanded exponentially. For MLS more broadly, it brings value by showing who he is playing against, awareness of teams, awareness of the league. It carries that value to a much broader fan base.”

Like Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia , Messi has been brought in for huge money to boost the league at large and give the whole project a sense that it should be taken more seriously than it currently is. Inter Miami had not won a game in 11 before the player’s arrival and yet, under manager Gerardo Martino ( who Messi played under previously for Argentina and Barcelona ), the club have a serious chance of making waves this season. And the better the player and club perform, the better it will prove for the sport in America ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

• David Beckham, the interview: Miami, Messi, Manchester United – and more
• Messi and money: The ripple effect for MLS, its teams and sponsors
• Who gets Messi’s shirt? Inside the the locker room jockeying for one of sports’ rarest items
• Is Lionel Messi really good or are the defences Inter Miami play against really bad?
• For Messi vs Ronaldo, read U.S. vs Saudi Arabia – a new twist in a famous rivalry

The evolution of Messi’s playing style

Broadly speaking, Messi has played three different roles throughout his career : as a right-winger, as a false nine up front, and as a classic No 10 behind a proper striker. At his best, he combines elements of these three roles and thus defenders can watch endless hours of footage and still find him impossible to stop .

At the start of his career , Messi was a right-winger noted for his ability to dribble past opponents when cutting inside onto his left foot. His ability with the ball at his feet drew comparisons with Maradona from the very start, not least that immortal goal in the 1986 quarter-final match against England. When a teenage Messi scored a goal against Getafe that felt like a carbon copy of perhaps the most famous goal ever scored by an Argentine, one former youth team coach remarked: “The other day I saw him score this goal — they say it was like Maradona. I think he is better. When I watch him play like that, I cry.”

Ronaldinho left Barcelona in the summer of 2008, around the same time Messi turned 21. Guardiola made the decision to hand his young star the number 10 shirt and build the team around him . Messi’s first season in the role was a great success as he regularly cut inside behind Samuel Eto’o up front to undo defences, scoring and assisting more than almost any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. This, however, was only the start.

In May 2009, Guardiola took a bold gamble that paid off in spades. In a game away at bitter rivals Real Madrid, the manager told Messi and Eto’o they should swap positions early in the game leaving the Real defenders unable to decide whether to follow the Argentine into midfield or not. Ultimately Barcelona triumphed 6-2 on the day with Messi scoring two and assisting the opener while playing as a false 9 – neither as a poacher in the box nor just behind the striker. This tactic was equally effective a few weeks later in the Champions League final, Barcelona beating Manchester United 2-0 and Messi securing the trophy with a header twenty minutes from the end .

Messi was as crucial dropping off and joining Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets at the tip of the diamond as he was in the box finding the back of the net. The club and player were both at their peak and records were consistently broken with ease. Most sides don’t use their centre-forward as a spare midfielder but that’s simply because most teams don’t have peak Messi as an option.

Raul Garcia, who faced Messi 33 times between 2004 and 2021, has talked about the difficulties of facing a player devastating in every attacking area : “When you saw him up close, you realised just how great a player he was. He was the best midfielder, the best when he took the ball from the wing, and the best at finishing.”

Messi’s ability to play a one-two and carve out space is unprecedented in the game’s history, no doubt aided by having extraordinarily gifted team-mates, especially during the Barcelona years. As a finisher, the Argentine scored 44 per cent more goals over the course of his career in the top five leagues than an average shooter would have produced from the same chances. Messi has always been a master at finding himself in the right positions to get a shot away but his freakish ability to convert is unlike any other player ever to have lived.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of Messi’s style has been his tendency to stroll around the pitch in a casual manner whenever he doesn’t have the ball, seemingly at odds with the guidance given to young people when they first start playing football. The player has explained that this is, obviously, not a result of laziness but actually a way of conserving energy when it comes time to dribble and score goals. Further still, like a coach on the pitch, he is closely monitoring the movements of the defenders to calculate his next move. Not for nothing did Louis Vitton depict Messi as a chess grandmaster in that famous advertisement with Ronaldo.

In Paris, an ageing Messi took a leaf out of Beckham’s book (the man who concluded his playing career at PSG and was integral in bringing the Argentina great to the U.S.) and adopted the quarterback role . While he continued to take players on at times, the diminutive genius developed a penchant for through balls in his mid-30s that suggested time does, indeed, affect us all in the end. If his rival Ronaldo moved further up the pitch as he aged, Messi went in the opposite direction as his pace diminished over the years.

Ironically, penalties are just about the only thing Messi does not excel at on a football pitch and yet, when it mattered most, at the 2022 World Cup, he delivered time and again from the spot. His game has evolved since he burst onto the scene at Barcelona but the one constant has been that otherworldly ability .

• Lionel Messi: The evolution of the greatest footballer of all time
• Lionel Messi’s ten stages of greatness
• This is how you can stop Lionel Messi
• What it’s like to play with and against Lionel Messi: A privilege and a nightmare
• Inter Miami’s Messi may have declined physically, but his brain is as sharp as ever
• Watching Lionel Messi: Our writers, former players and managers share their favorite memories

Messi’s salary and finances in focus

One anonymous figure who worked at one of Messi’s clubs in the last decade was very clear about the man’s hierarchy of interests : “His number one passion is money. Not far behind is football. Everything he does is geared towards money.” An experienced agent echoed these sentiments with the suggestion that Messi and his father are too concerned with the bottom line: “If you manage a player well, you manage it well all-round. If he ends up with serious tax issues, it suggests they just look to capitalise on everything financially to the maximum without looking to the consequences.”

Messi’s tax issues represent an issue for those who have sought to characterise the rivalry with Ronaldo, the other great of the modern game, as a battle between good and evil. The easy narrative is that Ronaldo is the preening egotist in stark contrast with the shy, introvert who loves nothing but playing football. As it happens, both players have had tax issues, so perhaps they are not quite such different characters after all.

The Spanish authorities decided to clamp down on financial impropriety in football around 2013. Leo and Jorge were amongst the first to be targeted with both accused of having evaded more than €4million in taxes between 2007 and 2009 by routing image rights income through offshore tax havens Uruguay and Belize, then through others in the UK and Switzerland. Giving testimony in court in 2016, Messi senior claimed: “Since my son’s career started, I am talking about 2000 when we arrived in Barcelona, I have always tried to make his life easier. He played football, and I accompanied him how I could.”

The player has maintained his father handles everything and pleaded ignorance throughout . In that same Barcelona courtroom, the footballer claimed: “I didn’t know anything, I only worried about playing football.” His argument was that he assumed Jorge always had his best interests at heart and thus would sign any contract put in front of him without thinking too deeply about it. He went as far as to say he had only a vague grasp of the amounts of money involved.

The Messis thought the matter was concluded when they were ordered to pay €5m euros to cover unpaid taxes plus “reparations”, but they did not get off that lightly. They were eventually found guilty on three counts of defrauding the tax department and handed suspended jail sentences of 21 months. They also received astronomical fines — €2million for Leo, €1.5million for Jorge. The verdict led many to suggest the player’s carefully cultivated public persona was exactly that and he was far from the squeaky-clean figure of the popular imagination. But is that a fair assessment?

The truth is probably that Messi is neither hero nor villain but a man who has taken little to no interest in anything beyond football since childhood. He had no problem taking money to promote tourism in Saudi Arabia and is almost certainly not too knowledgeable on the region’s appalling human rights record. At the age of 36, however, perhaps he should know better and care about things beyond the pitch. He would, after all, be a millionaire many times over even if he turned down such offers.

The Argentine has certainly given money to worthy causes over the years, but journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo, who has followed Messi’s career from the start, feels he deserves neither credit nor blame for any of his financial dealings:

“I doubt he has a political ideology. I know he endorses a lot of humanitarian projects, but in his head, I don’t know if he thinks of it as any different to selling razor blades for Gillette. He just likes football. He’s never pretended to be anything else.”

It is quite possible that a man noted for his gargantuan football brain simply doesn’t consider anything else in his life all that deeply. Indeed, the very fact that his father was handed and retained control of his affairs tells its own story. Tellingly, even as his career progressed, the Messis chose to stick with this arrangement .

One source has said: “Having Jorge as his manager is an advantage for Leo in some ways, as you can always rely on your father. But maybe also a disadvantage as sometimes you need someone more experienced. Jorge was not a specialist in business and suddenly he ran a big company called Lionel Messi Limited.”

Nobody with a background in business would have had sufficient training to cope with the demands brought about by Messi’s exploits on the pitch. To throw someone into the role purely by virtue of fathering a football genius seems like madness. The tax fraud situation was inevitable if a man earns that much money without paying proper attention to the world around him. Messi has only ever cared about what happens on the field and, almost inevitably, that has led to some difficulties off it.

• Lionel Messi’s millions: The man, the brand and the money
• ‘He sold himself to the devil’ – Messi, 2030 and a very uncomfortable deal with Saudi Arabia

Written by Darren Richman. Contributors: Pol Ballus, Luke Brown, JJ Bull, Felipe Cardenas, Mark Carey, Laia Cervello Herrero, Dermot Corrigan, Michael Cox, Adam Crafton, Michael Dominski, Sebastian Fest, Dominic Fifield, Jay Harris, Raphael Honigstein, James Horncastle, Simon Johnson, Oliver Kay, Sam Lee, Pablo Maurer, Nick Miller, John Muller, Caoimhe O’Neill, David Ornstein, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Peter Rutzler, Daniel Taylor, Paul Tenorio, Michael Walker.

(All photos: Getty Images; design: Sam Richardson)

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A timeline of Lionel Messi’s career at Barcelona

Lionel Messi’s incredible 17-season career at Barcelona appears to have come to an end.

Here are some of its most important dates:

June 24, 1987 — Messi is born in Rosario, Argentina.

Dec. 14, 2000 — After his start at Newell's Old Boys as a child phenom, Messi crosses the Atlantic to try out for a spot at Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy. Club official Charly Rexach writes and signs his first contract with Barcelona on a napkin after sharing a beer with an intermediary representing Messi.

Nov. 16, 2003 — Frank Rijkaard gives Messi his debut at age 16 in a friendly against a Porto side coached by Jose Mourinho.

Oct. 16, 2004 — Messi plays first official match for Barcelona at age 17.

May 17, 2006 — Messi wins first Champions League title even tough he misses the final against Arsenal due to injury. During the 2005-06 season he has earned a spot in Barcelona’s attack alongside Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o.

March 10, 2007 — Messi scores first hat trick for Barcelona in a 3-3 draw against Real Madrid.

May 27, 2009 — Messi wins his second Champions League after scoring to beat Manchested United 2-0 in the final. With the departure of Ronaldinho and the hiring of Pep Guardiola as coach, Messi has become the undisputed start of Barcelona. He has joined forces with Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández to drive Barcelona to a rare treble of European Cup, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles.

Dec. 1, 2009 — Messi wins his first of a record six Balon d’Or awards for the best player in soccer. He will win the award again in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.

May 28, 2011 — Messi wins his third Champions League to complete a season double with his fifth Spanish league titles. He scores from outside the area to take the winning goal in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the European final.

March 7, 2012 — Messi becomes first player to score five times in a Champions League match to fuel a 7-1 rout of Bayer Leverkusen.

March 20, 2012 — Messi becomes Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer at age 24 after surpassing Cesar Rodriguez’s 232 goals. He will go on to score 672 goals for Barcelona.

Dec. 9, 2012 — Messi surpasses Gerd Mueller’s 1972 record of 85 goals for club and country in a single year. He finishes 2012 with 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina.

Nov. 22, 2014 — Messi becomes the Spanish league’s all-time scorer after surpassing Telmo Zarra’s 251 goals. He goes on to score 474 goals in La Liga.

June 6, 2015 — Messi wins the Champions League for a fourth and final time after Barcelona beats Juventus 3-1 in the final.

July 6, 2016 — Messi and father Jorge Messi are found guilty of defrauding Spain’s Tax Office of 4.1 million euros (then $4.6 million) in undisclosed revenue from image rights. Messi and his father, who serves as his agent, are sentenced to 21 months in prison, but the sentence is waived by a judge because they are first-time offenders.

Nov. 25, 2017 — Messi signs his last contract with Barcelona, a five-year deal lasting through June 30, 2021. Spanish newspaper El Mundo reveals years later that the deal earns Messi 138 million euros ($168 million) per campaign, making him the highest wage-earner in world sports.

April 27, 2019 — Messi wins the Spanish league for a 10th and final time.

Feb. 5, 2020 — Messi lashes out at Barcelona sports director Eric Abidal for his questioning of the team's effort with it struggling following the firing coach Ernesto Valverde.

July 17, 2020 — Messi calls his team “weak and erratic” after it loses the league title.

Aug. 25, 2020 — Messi sends Barcelona board a fax saying he wants to leave following the club's first season without a title in over a decade. His request is denied and he later says that he will play out the final year on his contract before deciding his future.

Dec. 23, 2020 — Messi surpasses Pelé’s milestone of 643 goals scored for one club.

April 17, 2021 — Messi scores twice to lead Barcelona to a 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey. Messi’s seventh domestic cup takes his club record to 35 titles for Barcelona.

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Lionel Messi breaks MLS record in front of historic crowd in New England

• 65,612 in attendance at Gillette Stadium for Miami’s 4-1 win
• Messi has 16 goal contributions this season

Lionel Messi scored two goals to excite a record New England Revolution crowd, leading Inter Miami to a 4-1 victory on Saturday night.

Messi did not disappoint the crowd of 65,612 that filled Gillette Stadium, scoring with a left-footed shot from deep inside the box for his ninth goal of the season, putting his side 2-1 up in the 68th minute.

Messi made a little history, too. Miami posted on X that he was the first player in MLS history to record 16 goal contributions in his first seven games of a season.

In case you missed this Busquets to Lionel Messi's goal for Inter Miami pic.twitter.com/GLnesee9dp — Elias (@FCB_Elias1) April 28, 2024

“Obviously, he’s done it his whole life. We expect it from him,” said teammate Benjamin Cremaschi, who scored the third goal after Messi’s shot was blocked. “He makes it look so easy. We’re just happy that we have him by our side. When he has the opportunity, he takes it.”

The attendance beat the previous record of 61,316, when Revolution lost to LA Galaxy in the 2002 MLS final.

“I thought in the first half, after (our) goal, we had them locked up pretty good,” the New England coach, Caleb Porter, said. “They weren’t getting many chances, they weren’t getting a lot of time and space to operate. Then Messi did what he does, he found a crack.”

When the 36-year-old scored, loud cheers echoed around the stands in a match that featured the Eastern Conference’s first-placed Miami against bottom-placed Revolution.

Cremaschi and Luis Suárez both scored late for Miami and Messi was credited with an assist for Suarez’s goal.

Revolution had made it 1-0 in the opening minute when Tomas Chancalay beat a defender and chipped a shot over onrushing goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Even with the Boston Celtics and Bruins both in the playoffs, much of the sports landscape centred on Messi’s visit this week.

Entering the stadium about 90 minutes before the match were hundreds of fans, mostly kids, wearing the pink Miami Messi jersey. They were easily seen mixed in once the stadium was filled. Sprinkled in were some of the Messi No 10 Argentina white-and-blue-striped shirts.

“I am so excited,” said Stacy Mills, 31, a travelling nurse from East Tennessee, who was wearing one of the Messi Argentina jerseys. “I’ve actually followed him since he was playing with Barcelona.”

Her friend Caleadia Jessup, 53, also a travel nurse, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was proud to show off her Messi Argentina one, too. “I followed him when he played for the home country in the World Cup,” she said.

• Lionel Messi
• New England Revolution
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New England Revolution

Inter Miami CF

• Tomás Chancalay ( 1' )
• Lionel Messi ( 32', 67' )
• Benjamin Cremaschi ( 83' )
• Luis Suárez ( 88' )

Messi keeps scoring, nets brace in Miami win over New England

Messi stars for inter miami in 4-1 win in front of huge crowd.

Lions Messi scores twice and is involved in another two goals as Inter Miami beats the Revs in front of 65,000 people at Gillette Stadium.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami continued their imperious form in MLS , as the Argentine superstar scored twice in his team's 4-1 win over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday night.

Messi netted coolly from close range in the 32nd and 67th minutes as Miami overcame a first-minute Revs goal to cruise to victory in front of a record home crowd for New England of 65,612. The Revolution's previous highest attendance was the 61,316 who watched the team take on the LA Galaxy in the 2002 MLS Cup final.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

Messi now has a league-leading nine goals this season in just seven MLS games. Along with the goals, Messi also provided his seventh assist of the year, setting up former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez for Miami's fourth goal in the 88th minute.

Suárez's delightful pinpoint finish came five minutes after fellow substitute Benjamin Cremaschi had scored Miami's third. The young United States international followed up after a point-blank save denied Messi a hat trick.

"People in every stadium come to see and support Leo Messi, but after they want their team to win," Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said at a news conference after the match. "We are motivated by the atmosphere each city provides, but we know it incentivizes the rivals, as well. And we try to prepare for that.

"The excitement each team and their fan base has of facing Inter Miami with the players that we have, we've handed it well. This was all a lesson last year."

With the win, Miami has 21 points from 11 games and continues to sit atop both the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield standings.

New England, meanwhile, stays rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference, with just one win and four points from its nine games. Its hopes of getting anything against the league leaders were dented before the game when flu spread through the squad, with New England head coach Caleb Porter saying five players were impacted.

Porter added that midfielder  Matt Polster played 60 minutes despite being in the emergency room overnight.

Despite those problems, the Revolution had made it 1-0 after 37 seconds when Tomás Chancalay ran onto a ball over the top of the Miami defense and dropped a shot over goalkeeper Drake Callender , who was charging out.

Messi tied the game at 1 in the 32nd minute, taking a through ball from Robert Taylor and putting a left-footed strike in past keeper Henrich Ravas .

Then, in the 68th minute, the Argentine gave Miami a 2-1 lead, picking up a Sergio Busquets through ball and striking a left-footed shot.

"Good start, after the goal we had them locked up and they weren't finding many chances," Porter said. 

"They were not finding much time and space to operate. But then Messi found a crack and did what he does. It was a great pass and obviously a great turn and finish. I still think that yes, he's the best in the world at finding gaps and scoring goals, but our detail could've been better."

With the two goals, Messi became the first player in MLS history to have five straight games with multiple goal contributions. With nine goals, Messi is one goal up on Cristian Arango for the MLS league lead.

Suárez, meanwhile, is just two behind on seven goals for the year. The Uruguayan striker only entered the game in the 64th minute, with Martino saying he wasn't at 100% physically.

After its disappointing Concacaf Champions Cup exit at the hands of Monterrey, Miami has now won three straight MLS games, scoring 10 goals in the process.

"The key moment was the match against Sporting Kansas City," Martino said. "Because we were coming in after facing elimination from Monterrey, and the team had to show character and they did it well.

"Now, we have three consecutive victories, two of them away. We are more solid every game. The rivals are reaching our box less and less, and meanwhile, we find ourselves top of the league as players return from injury."

Information from ESPN's Lizzy Becherano and Field Level Media contributed to this report.

Game Information

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Sounders open big lead, hold off Union

Raul ruidiaz catches the gk out with 50-yard goal for sounders, gomez: messi makes every mls opponent look amateur.

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Lionel messi biography: the maestro of modern football.

Table of Contents

Lionel Andrés Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, was born on June 24, 1987, in the city of Rosario, Argentina. His journey from a humble upbringing in South America to becoming a global sports icon is a testament to his unwavering determination, incredible talent, and unyielding passion for the beautiful game. In this blog, we will look at Lionel Messi biography, his journey, goals, clubs, wife, children, net worth, facts, social media, etc.

Lionel Messi Biography

Poverty and a deep passion for football marked Lionel Messi’s early life. Raised in Rosario, Argentina, by his father, a steel factory manager and mother who worked in magnet manufacturing workshop, he fell in love with the sport from a young age and displayed exceptional natural talent. At just four years old, Messi started playing for a local club called Grandoli, where his extraordinary dribbling skills shone. He soon joined Newell’s Old Boys, a respected club in Rosario with a rich football tradition.

However, adversity struck when he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11, jeopardizing his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Despite financial challenges, his grandmother, Celia, played a crucial role in supporting him by sewing footballs and seeking opportunities to secure his future.

Professional Career

Lionel Messi, often regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, had a remarkable professional career. He spent the majority of his career with FC Barcelona. Messi made his first-team debut for the club in 2004 and quickly rose to prominence. His incredible dribbling skills, close ball control, and goal-scoring prowess made him a sensation.

During his time at Barcelona, Messi won numerous titles, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. He became the club’s all-time top scorer and is known for his incredible consistency in scoring goals.

In addition to his club success, Messi has won multiple Ballon d’Or awards, symbolizing his status as the world’s best player. He consistently broke records for goal-scoring and assists in various competitions.

After over two decades with Barcelona, financial constraints forced Messi to transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021. His move to PSG marked a significant change in his career, where he continued to perform at an elite level alongside other football stars. Messi joined American club Inter Miami in July 2023 and also won the Leagues Cup in August 2023.

International Career

Lionel Messi’s international career with the Argentine national team has been a mix of triumphs and challenges. Despite his extraordinary success at the club level, Messi initially faced criticism for not achieving the same level of success with Argentina. He consistently led the national team to major tournaments but fell short of winning titles.

However, the turning point came in 2021, when Messi played a pivotal role in Argentina’s victory at the Copa America, securing his first major international title. His performances, including scoring crucial goals and providing assists, silenced critics and cemented his status as one of Argentina’s greatest football legends.

In collaboration with his national team, he achieved victory in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Renowned for his remarkable goal-scoring abilities and creative playmaking, Messi boasts an impressive list of records, including the highest number of goals in La Liga (474), the most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and the UEFA Champions League (eight), as well as the highest number of assists in La Liga (192) and the Copa América (17).

Lionel Messi: Net Worth

It is reported that Lionel Messi is worth $600 million. After spending the majority of his career at Barcelona and increasing his wages even further by joining big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, the Argentina captain has garnered enormous financial benefits. Lionel Messi has endorsed various renowned brands including Adidas, Pepsi, Lay’s, Budweiser, Air Europa, Jacob and Co, and OrCam.

Lionel Messi: Clubs

Messi has played for the following clubs in his professional career:

• Grandoli (1992-1995)
• Newell’s Old Boys (1995-2000)
• Barcelona (2000-2021)
• Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023)
•   Inter Miami (2023-current)

Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi isn’t just a player; he’s a legend. The Argentine magician has dazzled the world with his unparalleled skills and unrivaled consistency, capturing the prestigious Ballon d’Or award like no other. Lionel Messi won 8 Ballon d’Or so far in the year (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023).

Lionel Messi: Awards and Honors

• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
• Supercopa de España: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2021–22, 2022–23
• Trophée des Champions: 2022

Inter Miami

• Leagues Cup: 2023

U20 Argentina 

• FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005

U23 Argentina 

• Summer Olympics: 2008
• FIFA World Cup: 2022
• Copa América: 2021
• CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
• Ballon d’Or/FIFA Ballon d’Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019, 2022
• European Golden Shoe: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
• FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
• FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
• FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2018–19
• Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
• Copa América Top Goal scorer: 2021
• La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
• Pichichi Trophy: 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21
• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020, 2023
• Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Lionel Messi Family

Argentine soccer player Lionel “Leo” Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo have been married for six years and have been together for nearly ten years. Together, they have three handsome sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.

Lionel Messi Facts

• At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which could have ended his football career. His family moved to Spain to seek treatment, where Barcelona FC offered him a place in their youth academy, La Masia.
• Messi holds numerous goal-scoring records, including being the all-time top scorer for both FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He’s renowned for his remarkable consistency and ability to score a wide variety of goals.
• Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award multiple times, with a particularly remarkable streak from 2009 to 2012, when he won the award four times in a row, setting a new record for consecutive wins.
• In addition to his on-field success, Messi is involved in several charitable initiatives. He established the Leo Messi Foundation, which supports education and healthcare projects for vulnerable children. His philanthropic efforts have made a positive impact beyond the football pitch.

Messi’s Legacy

Lionel Messi’s legacy in the world of football is unparalleled. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, his impact extends far beyond the field. Messi’s legacy is characterized by:

• Unprecedented Skill: Messi’s extraordinary dribbling, close ball control, and goal-scoring prowess have set new standards for excellence in football. His ability to create magic on the field is a testament to his exceptional talent.
• Consistency: Throughout his career, Messi has consistently delivered remarkable performances. He maintained his status as one of the world’s best players over a long period, breaking numerous records for goal-scoring and assists.
• Club Loyalty: His long-standing association with FC Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his professional career, is a rare example of loyalty in modern football. He became the club’s all-time top scorer and helped Barcelona achieve remarkable success.
• Philanthropy: Messi’s philanthropic efforts through the Leo Messi Foundation showcase his commitment to giving back to society. He has supported various charitable causes, particularly focusing on children’s education and healthcare.
• Inspiration: Messi’s journey, from a young boy with a growth hormone deficiency to an iconic figure in football, serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide. His humility and dedication to the sport resonate with fans of all ages.

Lionel Messi Social Media

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

In the grand tapestry of football history, Lionel Messi’s name shines as a beacon of excellence. His unparalleled skill, unwavering dedication, and philanthropic endeavors have left an indelible mark. From his humble beginnings in Rosario to global stardom, Messi’s journey is a testament to the power of talent and resilience. His legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats transcends borders, inspiring generations and reminding us that true greatness extends beyond the pitch. Lionel Messi’s impact on football and society will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

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Lionel Messi Makes MLS History in Thrilling Inter Miami Win at Sold-Out Gillette Stadium

• Author: Kristen Wong

The magic of Messi Mania entranced a sold-out crowd at Gillette Stadium, as over 65,000 wide-eyed soccer fans watched the Argentinian superstar make an iconic piece of MLS history.

In Inter Miami’s 4-1 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday, Lionel Messi became the first MLS player to record multiple goal contributions (goals or assists) in five straight matches. His 16 goal contributions is also the most by any MLS player in the first seven games of a season, surpassing Thierry Henry and Carlos Vela, who each had 13 in that span. 

The one-time World Cup winner scored the first two goals for his team and also assisted former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez’s goal in the 88th minute. 

The 65,612 fans at Gillette additionally set a new attendance record for a Revolution home game, surpassing the previous mark of 61,316 in a 2002 MLS final against the LA Galaxy. Tickets to catch a glimpse of the Argentinian delight set fans back at $285 a piece , $10 more than the average ticket for a 2023 New England Patriots home game.

Messi’s dual record-breaking performance comes on the heels of him playing at another sold-out stadium at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City , where Miami won, 3-2, against Sporting KC.

After Saturday’s win, Inter Miami sits first in the Eastern Conference with a 6-3-2 record. Messi, who bagged his eighth and ninth goals of the season, is chasing Gonzalo Higuain’s all-time scoring record for the club (29); he currently reigns as the top scorer in the MLS with nine goals in seven games. 

“People come to every stadium to see Leo, that’s true, but they also want their team to win,” Miami coach Gerardo Martino said Saturday. “We’re motivated by the atmosphere we always find where we play and this also incentivizes the opponents a lot.”

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Lionel Messi gets 2 goals in front of record New England crowd as Miami beats Revolution 4-1

F OXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Lionel Messi scored two goals to excite a New England Revolution-record crowd, leading Inter Miami CF to a 4-1 victory on Saturday night.

Messi didn’t disappoint the crowd of 65,612 that filled Gillette Stadium, scoring on a left-footed kick from deep inside the box for his ninth goal of the season, breaking a 1-all tie in the 68th minute.

In fact, he made a little history, too. Miami posted on the social platform X that he was the first player in MLS history to record 16 goal contributions in his first seven games of a season.

“Obviously, he's done it his whole life. We expect it from him,” said teammate Benjamin Cremaschi, who scored the third goal after Messi's shot was stopped. “He makes it look so easy. We're just happy that we have him by our side. When he has the opportunity, he takes it.”

The attendance beat the previous record of 61,316, when the Revolution lost to the LA Galaxy in the 2002 MLS final.

In the opening half, he was a few feet inside the box, scoring on a left-foot kick to tie it at 1-1 in the 32nd minute.

“I thought in the first half, after (our) goal, we had them locked up pretty good,” New England coach Caleb Porter said. “They weren’t getting many chances, they weren’t getting a lot of time and space to operate. Then Messi did what he does, he found a crack.”

When the 36-year-old 2022 World Cup winner scored, loud cheers echoed around the stands in a match that featured the Eastern Conference’s first-place Miami against the last-place Revolution.

Cremaschi and Luis Suarez both scored late for Miami. Messi was credited with an assist on Suarez's goal.

The Revolution had made it 1-0 in the opening minute when Tomas Chancalay beat a defender and dropped a shot over goaltender Drake Callender, who was charging out.

Even with the local winter professional teams — the Celtics and Bruins — both in the playoffs, much of the sports landscape centered around Messi’s visit this week.

Entering the stadium about 90 minutes before the match were hundreds of fans, mostly kids, wearing the pink Miami Messi jersey.

They were easily seen mixed in once the stadium was filled.

Sprinkled in were some of the Messi No. 10 Argentina white-and-blue-striped jerseys.

“I am so excited,” said Stacy Mills, 31, a traveling nurse from East Tennessee, who was wearing one of the Messi Argentina jerseys. “I’ve actually followed him since he was playing with Barcelona.”

Her friend, Caleadia Jessup, 53, also a travel nurse, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was proud to show off her Messi Argentina one, too.

“I followed him when he played for the home country in the World Cup,” she said, smiling.

For many kids, it was a chance to watch a soccer great at the former home of a player that is referred to as NFL’s GOAT (Greatest of all time), Tom Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.

“I’ve been playing since I was young. He’s my favorite player,” Cameron Howell, 14, from Halifax, Massachusetts, said about the Miami star.

Inter Miami: At New York on May 4.

New England: Hosts Chicago on May 4.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Here is everything Lionel Messi did against the New England Revolution

• Updated: Apr. 27, 2024, 11:35 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 27, 2024, 11:32 p.m.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) retrieves the ball from the net after scoring in the first half of an MLS soccer match against the New England Revolution, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell) AP

• Gage Nutter | [email protected]

FOXBOROUGH — For the first 30 minutes of Inter Miami’s game against the New England Revolution on Saturday, Lionel Messi didn’t do much.

Then, over the next hour of game time, he did almost everything.

The four-time UEFA Champions League winner and one-time World Cup champion finished the game with two goals and an assist, leading Miami to victory, 4-1.

Here is a minute-by-minute breakdown of Messi’s performance on Saturday.

29th minute

Messi got his first shot on goal from the top of the penalty box in front of the New England Revolution’s supporters’ section.

The play started with the Argentine nutmegging a defender and pushing the ball out wide to a winger on the right side. The ball eventually got back to Messi at the top of the box for a shot, but it was pushed wide.

🎯 Asistencia de Robert Taylor en su regreso a un Messi que NO falla 👊 #VamosMiami pic.twitter.com/jBKLCVNTF6 — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 28, 2024

32nd minute

Messi got his first goal on the board in the first half .

Robert Taylor slid a through ball in from the top of the penalty box into Messi. In one-on-one with the goal, Messi settled the ball and shot toward the far post and past the out-stretched hands of New England goalkeeper, Henrich Ravas, to make it 1-0, Miami.

58th minute

Messi had a breakaway opportunity down the middle of the field with only one defender to beat, but New England center back Henry Kessler made a smart tackle to slow down Messi and push the ball outside and out of danger.

64th minute

Messi received the ball inside the penalty box to the left of the goal and tried to sneak it inside the near post, but missed wide.

Que bien se conocen! 🤩 Busi ➡️ Messi ⚽ pic.twitter.com/xbo5ZAOIrL — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 28, 2024

66th minute

Messi gets his second goal from another slick through ball down the middle of the penalty box, this time from his former FC Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets.

Messi got on the end of the ball while one-on-one with Ravas and calmly placed it into the back of the net to make it 2-1, Miami.

82nd minute

Messi took a shot on net from the middle of the penalty box that was slapped away from Ravas, but the ball fell onto the feet of Benjamin Cremaschi, who then quickly shot it back on net and in to put Miami ahead, 3-1.

85th minute

While the game started to come to a close, Messi waved to the fans and clapped near midfield, leading to a “Messi” chant to breakout across Gillette Stadium.

Cerrando la noche con broche de oro 💫 Golazo de Suárez tras asistencia de Messi 🤩 pic.twitter.com/JxiRNAvP71 — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 28, 2024

87th minute

Messi got his assist with a smooth pass to his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suraez, at the top of the penalty box. Following the goal, the two embraced before the final minutes of the game ticked off the clock.

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#10 Lionel Messi

• Date of birth/Age: Jun 24, 1987 (36)

• Height: 1,70 m
• Position: Right Winger
• Caps/Goals: 180 / 106

Last update: Mar 25, 2024

8x The Best FIFA Men's Player

8x Winner Ballon d'Or

3x UEFA Best Player in Europe

23x Top goal scorer

10x Player of the Year

4x TM-Player of the season

1x World Cup winner

1x Copa América winner

4x Champions League winner

3x FIFA Club World Cup winner

10x Spanish champion

2x French champion

3x Uefa Supercup winner

7x Spanish cup winner

8x Spanish Super Cup winner

1x Leagues Cup Winner

1x Under-20 World Cup champion

1x CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions winner

1x French Super Cup winner

1x Olympic medalist

Lionel Messi (two goals, two assists) delivered and then some in front of a record crowd at Gillette Stadium. Here’s how it happened.

A record crowd of 65,612 filed into Gillette Stadium on Saturday night to see the Revolution take on Inter Miami, most of whom were hoping to catch a glimpse of a little magic from Lionel Messi.

They ended up catching more than a few.

The 36-year-old Argentine star started for Inter Miami, and after a quiet first 30 minutes — which included a Revolution goal in the opening minute — Messi exploded into life after the half-hour mark, coolly slotting home the equalizer and drawing the biggest roar of the day thus far.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the world’s best player dominated proceedings after halftime, running the show for a rampant Inter Miami team. He ghosted in behind the Revolution defense in the 67th minute, collected a perfect Sergio Busquets pass with a perfect first touch, and smashed home a second with his left foot to put the visitors ahead for good.

Messi wasn’t done, and it took a brilliant Henrich Ravas save to deny him what looked like a certain hat trick — despite Ravas’s stop, Benjamin Cremaschi made it 3-1 with a tap-in from close range with Messi credited with the assist.

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And as the icing on the cake, Messi assisted old friend Luis Suarez — a teammate at Barcelona for six seasons as part of world soccer’s best forward line — for a picturesque fourth.

That record crowd got its money’s worth, and came together for a chant of “Messi! Messi!” late in the game as the little Argentine waved to the crowd.

See how it unfolded below.

Read more Revolution stories from the Globe here.

Revolution coach Caleb Porter: “Messi did what he does.” — 10:10 p.m.

After a perfect start on a night where the attention was focused firmly on the opponent, things went south for the Revolution in a hurry, as they controlled much of the first half hour.

“Then Messi did what he does, and he found a crack,” Porter said. “Even though, yes, he’s the best in the world at finding those cracks and scoring goals, our detail in that moment could’ve been better.”

Things went south after the Messi equalizer, as New England found itself under plenty of pressure. Porter thought the Revolution still had a chance at 1-1, but once Messi put the visitors in front in the 68th minute, it was all Miami.

“That’s Messi,” Porter said. “He finds two goals out of nowhere, and it exposes the detail in those moments from us.”

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino: “People come to see Leo.” — 10:00 p.m.

For Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the spectacles in MLS stadiums when Lionel Messi is in town aren’t that new, having coached Messi in Barcelona a decade ago. But the environment is one of a kind in this league, something he has no problem with.

“Yes, it’s true, the people in all the stadiums come to see Leo, in every city we play [in],” Martino said. “But then they want their team to win. The atmosphere we find motivates us. We have to be concentrated for 95 minutes.”

As for the Gillette Stadium turf that caused so much doubt about whether Messi would play at all?

“People come to see Leo.” Martino said. “The issue of the field is not a problem.”

Messi sets a record of his own — 9:50 p.m.

Messi has set a truckful of records in his time, and he added a new one to his resume on Saturday. With two goals and two assists, Messi became the first MLS player in history to record multiple goal contributions (goals and/or assists) in five consecutive games.

With a pair of goals against the New England Revolution -- his eighth and ninth goals of the season -- @InterMiamiCF 's Lionel Messi became the first player in MLS history to record multiple goal contributions in five consecutive games. pic.twitter.com/YEN4r2He46 — MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) April 28, 2024

Full-time at Gillette Stadium, and Messi delivered — 9:35 p.m.

At the final whistle here at Gillette Stadium, it’s 4-1 Inter Miami, courtesy of a brilliant performance from Lionel Messi.

He finishes with two goals and two assists, plus a hand in the other Miami goal. He gets a big ovation from the record Gillette crowd, which got all it could’ve hoped for tonight.

Messi to Suarez, and it’s 4-1 — 9:27 p.m.

Remember those Lionel Messi to Luis Suarez assists we talked about? Messi finds space in the box with a lovely one-two, lays it off for Suarez, and his old friends curls one into the top corner to make it 4-1 to Miami.

LUIS. SUAREZ. WOW. pic.twitter.com/coe7h5b5ll — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 28, 2024

Messi is running the show, and the crowd chants his name — 9:25 p.m.

Messi was a little quiet in the game’s first 30 minutes, but he’s been the star of the show since. He’s been at the center of everything Inter Miami has done in a big second half; dribbling past players, creating chances, and extending Miami’s lead.

He can play to a crowd, too. During an injury stoppage, Messi waved the crowd on and was greeted with a “Messi! Messi!” chant.

Messi nearly has his hat trick, but Inter Miami still scores — 9:20 p.m.

A brilliant Henrich Ravas save was all that stood between Lionel Messi and a brilliant Gillette Stadium hat trick, as the Argentine ripped a first time shot from point-blank range that Ravas parried with a diving stop; that was all the Revolution goalkeeper could do, as Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi could tap the ball into an open net to make it 3-1 to the visitors.

It’s Messi again, and it’s 2-1 — 9:07 p.m.

The guy is just special. Messi collects a beautiful pass from Sergio Busquets, settles just inside the box, and smashes his second goal of the game past a helpless Henrich Ravas for his second goal of the game. Messi’s had his quiet moments, but when he explodes into life, he’s been absolutely ruthless for Inter Miami.

Busquets --> Messi Just too good. pic.twitter.com/Q4yl0Qi1OO — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 28, 2024

Luis Suarez enters the game to a big ovation — 9:05 p.m.

Part of the fun of the Messi experience at Inter Miami has been the old friends he’s brought along. Luis Suarez, one of the best strikers of this century, replaces Leo Campana just after the hour mark — the Uruguayan scored 198 goals for FC Barcelona (more than a few courtesy of a Messi assist) in just six seasons at the club.

An hour in, the little left-footers are in the spotlight — 9:00 p.m.

All the attention for this one of course has been on Lionel Messi, but New England’s own diminutive playmaker has made a big impact. Carles Gil has been at the forefront of everything positive for the Revolution, creating multiple big chances — including the Revolution’s opener — to make sure New England isn’t overmatched in the creativity department.

It’s a record crowd, indeed — 8:45 p.m.

The Revolution announced the attendance after halftime, and it’s a new single-match record for New England: 65,612.

The previous record was set in 2002, in the MLS Cup against the Los Angeles Galaxy, when 61,316 fans filed into Gillette for the championship match.

We’re back underway, and Lionel Messi is indeed back out for the second half.

6️⃣5️⃣,6️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Largest crowd in @NERevolution history. 👏 pic.twitter.com/N7Eojv2gQW — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 28, 2024

It’s halftime of a good one at Gillette — 8:30 p.m.

It’s been everything the fans here could’ve wanted: a competitive game, an early goal, some Messi magic, a full-stadium wave that made three or four trips around the stands, and an inevitable goal from the Argentine superstar. It’s 1-1 at halftime here at Gillette Stadium, and the people are getting their money’s worth.

Messi scores, and we’re level at Gillette Stadium — 8:15 p.m.

You can’t keep him down for long. After a Revolution turnover, Messi picks up a pass in a pocket of space in the right channel and finishes past Henrich Ravas to level us at 1-1. He’d started to influence the game heavily over the last few minutes, and that’s how quickly he can turn a game.

Inevitable. Messi grabs his 8th goal of the season! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/iE0DNiKpGZ — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 28, 2024

First bit of Messi Magic — 8:10 p.m.

Messi has grown into the game over the 15 minutes to play some line-splitting passes, but he flashed his first moment of individual brilliance just before the half-hour mark, drawing oohs and aahs from the Gillette Stadium crowd.

Under pressure from multiple defenders, he escaped with a dribble through Mark-Anthony Kaye’s legs, then beat Kaye again with a feint one way and a touch the other before hitting a right-footed shot right at Revolution goalkeeper Henrich Ravas.

Inter Miami has controlled the game over the last 15 minutes, and the Revolution are having to absorb lots of pressure as they hold a 1-0 lead.

Revolution stifling Messi through 15 minutes — 7:55 p.m.

All the attention from a capacity crowd is on Lionel Messi, and so is the attention from the Revolution — multiple New England players are swarming the Argentinian every time the ball comes to his feet, and the magician has struggled to get into the game as Inter Miami has only threatened the Revolution box once so far.

Every time Messi touches it, though, the crowd rises in voice with anticipation.

We’re underway at Gillette, and the Revolution lead inside a minute — 7:42 p.m.

That’s one way to upstage the greatest ever — the Revolution capitalize on an early turnover, Carles Gil plays a ball over the top to Tomas Chancalay, and Chancalay lobs a bouncing ball over the head of Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender after just 40 seconds. What a start.

It sure looks like a sellout crowd at Gillette Stadium — 7:40 p.m.

The teams are out on the pitch, and while there are still a few fans filtering in, it certainly looks like we’ve got a full house in Foxborough.

Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is also here, as the Revolution’s honorary captain. Maybe the Revolution can play him up front tonight.

Messi brought friends to Miami — 7:20 p.m.

Messi isn’t the only former FC Barcelona star to make the surprising move to Miami; he brought multiple former teammates along for the ride, helping make Inter Miami one of the league’s most fascinating team.

Also starting on Saturday is Spain’s Sergio Busquets, arguably the best defensive midfielder of his era, whose tempo-setting passing and one-of-a-kind press resistance has helped Inter Miami control games in midfield.

On the bench for this one is Luis Suarez, one of the best strikers of this century who was the only player not named Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top goalscorer between 2010 and 2019. There’s a good chance we see the Uruguayan tonight.

Messi takes the pitch to a big roar — 7:00 p.m.

If you didn’t see Messi come out of the tunnel for warmups with Inter Miami, you heard it, with big cheers and whistles from the crowd as Gillette Stadium continues to fill 30 minutes before kickoff.

There’s pink and black everywhere you look here at Gillette Stadium, and there’s no secret as to whom the majority are here to see.

On this day: Messi Magic — 6:45 p.m.

If you needed a reminder of what Lionel Messi has been capable of in his sparkling career, Saturday marks the 13th anniversary of one of his most famous goals, when he slalomed through the Real Madrid defense in a crucial Champions League semifinal in spectacular fashion.

13 years ago Sergio Busquets dropped the ball off to let Messi do his thing, and the result was a legendary solo goal in the UCL semifinals against Real Madrid 🥵 (via @ChampionsLeague ) pic.twitter.com/qcJijTJTGN — B/R Football (@brfootball) April 27, 2024

Messi’s in the starting lineup — 6:35 p.m.

The mystery is over: Lionel Messi is starting for Inter Miami against the Revolution.

The squad for tonight 🤝 #NEvMIA | 7:30PM ET | 📺 #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV : https://t.co/OoLQ84xohC pic.twitter.com/2RMN53xC7J — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 27, 2024

Serious security at Gillette Stadium — 6:30 p.m.

Since he landed stateside, the world’s greatest soccer player has been the subject of more than a few pitch invasions, with rabid fans desperate to get a moment — or a photo — with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

He’s even got his own personal security guard , who shadows Messi from the sideline scanning for any unwelcome guests.

Gillette Stadium is taking no chenaces tonight: there are two rows of security facing each side of the stands, plus another security guard posted at the foot of each aisle. If anyone tries to get onto the pitch tonight, they’ll face plenty of obstacles on their way.

For local Argentinians, it’s a big night — 6:00 p.m.

By Maddie Khaw

Ana Videla Sola Montoya remembers Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win fondly.

Four million people flooded the streets of her home city, Buenos Aires, she recalled. Argentina is a “very difficult country to be living in,” fraught with high rates of inflation and unhappiness, according to Montoya, an Emerson College student. But after the World Cup, “everyone was happy,” she said.

At the center of it all? Lionel Messi.

The international soccer sensation, argued by many as the greatest of all time, is the focus of many Argentinian football fans’ fervor.

“Messi is kind of like our God over there,” Montoya said.

Read more here

Carles Gil is one Revolution player who has firsthand experience against Messi — 5:45 p.m.

By Frank Dell’Apa

Not many MLS players go back as far with Lionel Messi as Revolution captain Carles Gil . In 2013-14, Gil’s first season in La Liga, he helped Elche CF hold Messi’s FC Barcelona to a 0-0 tie, spoiling Blaugrana chances for a title.

At the time, Gil was 21 years old and Messi in his athletic prime at 27. A decade later, Gil and Messi will be matched again when the Revolution face Inter Miami Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

“They have the best player in the world,” Gil said. “So we have to be very focused on him but try to do our job. To be strong at home, that’s what we want, to climb up in the league. I think it’s a good game to show that we want to win games.”

Read more here.

Video: The Messi effect — 5:20 p.m.

Inter Miami is staying at the Ritz-Carlton near Boston Common, and it appears fans have been gathering outside the hotel to get a look at Messi.

Here’s video from the team’s arrival:

¡¡LA LOCURA QUE DESPIERTA EL GOAT!! Inter Miami llegó a Boston para enfrentar este sábado al New England Revolution por la MLS y, en el arribo al hotel, hubo ovación para Leo y muchas camisetas de la Selección Argentina. 📹 @InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/d7Yxtu64rF — SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) April 27, 2024

And as they leave for the game today:

Going to school next to the Ritz Boston means I see tons of famous athletes leaving for games. I have seen crowds gather for stars like LeBron and Sidney Crosby… but no crowd is as big as Messi. #InterMiami pic.twitter.com/VYLdEEwRB2 — Danielle DuBois (@DanielleDuBois) April 27, 2024

Can the Revolution get back on track against the great Messi? — 5:00 p.m.

Diego Valeri expects the Revolution to be prepared for Inter Miami and Lionel Messi Saturday, partly because of first-year coach Caleb Porter’s competitiveness.

“He’s a fighter,” said Valeri, who will provide Spanish-language commentary for the game for Apple TV. “He’s won titles and he knows how to do it.

“When you go to a new place, you have to adapt and work hard. He needs time to adapt and get to know the roster and know the club better. But he’s very competitive and very energized as a coach. He knows how to motivate players, and they have a great roster, good names in the team.”

Valeri should know. He performed under Porter with the Portland Timbers for four years, winning the 2015 MLS Cup and earning league MVP honors in 2017.

In fact, Valeri knows both sides. Before joining the Timbers, Valeri competed against Messi in Spain’s La Liga and with Messi on Argentina’s national team.

“It’s going to be special,” Valeri said. “I was at Arrowhead and there were 73,000 watching Messi. It was a great game” — Miami defeated Sporting Kansas City, 3-2 — “and I expect the same at Gillette Stadium. Miami has a great team and is top of the table. With Messi and Luis Suarez, it should be special for all of those who have a chance to go.”

The Revolution have yet to recover in league play, compiling a 1-6-1 record, their worst start in 29 seasons. They also are the league’s lowest-scoring team (0.63 goals per game), while Inter Miami ranks second with 22 goals (2.2), behind the Los Angeles Galaxy (2.3).

Read the full story here.

Revolution game attendance history — 4:30 p.m.

Tonight’s attendance could break a record for the highest single-game attendance at a Revolution game, and could also break a Gillette Stadium record for attendance at a soccer game.

Here’s a look at the history.

Highest single-game Revolution attendance

1. Oct. 20, 2002: Revolution vs. LA Galaxy (MLS Cup 2002), 61,316

2. April 20, 1997: Revolution vs. Tampa Bay Mutiny (doubleheader with US/Mexico World Cup qualifier), 57,407

3. Oct. 17, 2015 : Revolution vs. Montreal Impact, 42,947

4. Oct. 21, 2023: Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union (regular-season finale), 41,355

Highest single-game attendance for a soccer game at Gillette

1. Sept. 12, 2007 : Brazil vs. Mexico, 67,584

2. June 4, 2011: US vs. Spain, 64,121

3. Sept. 10, 2013: Brazil vs. Portugal, 62,310

4. Oct. 20, 2002: Revolution vs. LA Galaxy (MLS Cup 2002), 61,316

The last time Messi played at Gillette — 4:15 p.m.

By Hayden Bird

Messi has played at Gillette Stadium before, leading Argentina to a 3-1 win over Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Copa América Centenario. Of course, that was a game played on a temporarily installed grass field as required by FIFA.

Messi’s performance that day? It was, by his own standards, routine excellence: An exquisite assist, and a give-and-go goal.

Game preview: What to know about Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution — 4:00 p.m.

By the Associated Press

The Revolution are 1-6-1 in Eastern Conference play, and Inter Miami enters 2-2-1. With 18 points, Inter Miami leads the East.

Lionel Messi is fresh off of a two-goal outing against Nashville. He’s scored six goals with three assists this season, and Luis Suarez has added six goals and four assists. Carles Gil, who leads New England, has three goals and one assist on the season.

The Revolution are eighth in the league drawing 49 corner kicks, averaging 6.1 per game. Miami is 10th, drawing 39 corner kicks, averaging 3.9 per game.

The matchup Saturday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.

Season stats

Revolution: Averaging 0.6 goals, 5.1 shots on goal and 6.1 corner kicks through eight games while allowing 1.8 goals per game.

Miami: Averaging 2.1 goals, 4.9 shots on goal and 3.9 corner kicks through 10 games while allowing 1.4 goals per game.

Not expected to play

Revolution: Peyton Miller (injured), Dylan Borrero (injured), Brandon Bye (injured), Jonathan Mensah (injured).

Miami: Federico Redondo Solari (injured), Ian Fray (injured), Facundo Farias (injured), Leonardo Campana (injured), Robbie Robinson (injured), Robert Thomas Taylor (injured), Sergey Krivtsov (injured).

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest is here — 3:30 p.m.

By Matt Porter

He walks the pitch far more often than he runs it these days, patrolling with choppy steps and waiting, waiting, waiting . . .

Until he sees what no one else can. Until he gets the ball at his feet and does what no one thought possible.

Lionel Messi, two months before turning 37, still has more magic in him than any other Major League Soccer player, and that is no slight. No offense to the Revolution, but everyone in the stands Saturday at Gillette Stadium will forever remember this above all else:

They saw Messi.

Assuming he plays for Inter Miami — likely, but not guaranteed , given his age and bothersome hamstring — spectators will witness one of the absolute masters of sport, in the flesh. Most fans attend games. Messi fans make pilgrimages.

“He’s really beloved because of how he plays,” said Miami Herald writer Michelle Kaufman, now full-time on the “Messi beat” in her 36th year covering soccer. “He plays differently than anyone. If you knew nothing about soccer, when he comes on the field . . . you would know immediately.

“There’s a certain energy field that when he comes on the field, everyone elevates their game. The same guys look like different players. It’s because Messi is there. There’s the promise of magic every time he touches the ball.”

To see a transcendent athlete in person is to be swept up in that possibility — one that Messi, even now, still carries.

Even at a slower pace, Messi, all 5 feet 7 inches and 148 pounds of him, remains a wizard on the pitch, a showstopper. In his first full season in MLS, the most decorated player in the world’s most popular sport is second in the league in goals (7) and tied for the lead in assists (6), despite starting only half of Miami’s games.

Perhaps only a handful of people are old enough to have watched Babe Ruth play. Those who saw Muhammad Ali and Pelé in person are probably well into retirement. Consider yourself one of the luckiest sports fans ever if you watched Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, or Serena Williams up close.

Can you close your eyes and see them, even today? Can you still feel the buzz? Read the rest of the story here.

Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected] .