He says: "Maradona thrived on conflict. I think Messi is evolutionarily more advanced and, rather than thriving on conflict, he thrives on co-operation. Messi needs to be part of a well-oiled, harmonious organisation." Rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is real

UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 [36] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, soccer player Lionel Messi moved to Spain at the age of 13, after the FC Barcelona club agreed to pay for hormone-deficiency treatments. Messi became a star in his new country, scoring at will while leading his club to championships. In 2012, he set a record for most goals in a calendar year, and afterward was named FIFA's "Player of the Year" a record fourth time. Early Years On 4 September, Jorge Messi, Lionel's father and agent, released a statement in response to La Liga claiming the release clause "is not valid when the termination of the contract is by the player's unilateral decision from the end of the 2019–20 season", as stated in Messi's contract with Barcelona; [294] moments later, La Liga issued a response reiterating their statement published on 30 August. [295] Later that evening, Messi announced in an interview with Goal that he would continue at Barcelona for the final year of his contract. In the interview, Messi claimed to have informed Barcelona of his desire to leave multiple times, and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Messi could decide at the end of every season if he wanted to stay or leave, only for Bartomeu to refer to the release clause. [296] This left Messi with two options: to stay or go to court against the club, with the player saying "I would never go to court against the club of my life". [297] 2020–21: final season at Barcelona Messi also supports grassroots football. He has an investment with youth football team Sarmiento, based in Rosario.

At the age of 4, Messi joined his first football team. Then, at 8, he began participating in football games for Newell's Old Boys in Rosario, his hometown. Football had already surpassed all the importance for Messi at this point. He once maintained an unbroken practice schedule day and night. In a comprehensive new one-hour film for the BBC, a host of his former team-mates and players who have faced him, as well as journalists who have covered him, delve deep into the enigma that is Messi. Cristiano gave him an extra push to become a better player," he says, adding: "Cristiano and Leo probably won't admit it. I am convinced they used to keep an eye on each other. If you're competitive, you want to be the best." Messi Wins Fifth Golden Shoe After Winning Pichichi Trophy". Goal. 20 May 2018 . Retrieved 20 May 2018. Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona. Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, unfortunately will be increasingly rare in football. I admire you very much, Leo Messi."

On 2 January 2022, PSG announced that Messi had tested positive for COVID-19, missing two league games and a cup game as a result. [334] [335] He made his return against on 23 January in the league against Reims where he came on as a substitute in the second half and assisted PSG's third goal in a 4–0 home victory. [336] On 13 March, following their Champions League elimination against Real Madrid in the round of 16, Messi and his team-mate Neymar were booed by some of the PSG fans at the Parc des Princes in the league match against Bordeaux. [337] [338] Then-PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino defended Messi by saying "To judge Messi in this way is unfair," adding "It was a year of learning, and not just on a professional level coming to Paris Saint-Germain, in a new league and with new teammates, but also on a family level." [339] On 23 April, he helped PSG clinch their 10th Ligue 1 title after scoring from a strike outside the 18-yard box in a 1–1 draw against Lens at home. [340] Messi finished his debut season with 11 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. [341] He failed to reach double figure league goals for the first time since 2005–06, ending the campaign with six. [342] 2022–23: return to form and departure One of the most favorable events for Messi was when he had the opportunity to work alongside a great player like Ronaldo. Messi's performance at the time blew Ronaldo away. He also mentioned Messi that One day, this youngster will exceed me. Together, they contributed to numerous victories for Barcelona. Pep Guardiola after Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer at the age of 24 in March 2012 [125] In 2010, Messi won the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or despite his failure at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Messi finished the 2010–2011 season as Barcelona’s all-time single-season highest scorer and the first player in Spain to pass the 50-goal benchmark. Thanks to his wonderful performance, Messi created a reputation for himself as a creator (no. 8), a scorer (no. 9) and an assistant (no. 10). He received the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or award as well as the inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. Due to his numerous achievements, Messi was regarded as one of the best in the history of the game. Lionel Messi married his childhood sweetheart, and the photos are stunning". For The Win. 2017-07-01 . Retrieved 2018-03-30.Spanish Champion (La Liga) (2004/05 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18) Messi played his first professional match at 16 years old on 16 November 2003 against Porto. He played the 2003-04 season with the Barcelona B team. He was promoted to the A team for the 2004-05 season, and made his league debut on 16 October 2004 against Espanyol as a substitute. He made his league debut at age 17, and became the youngest player to play for Barcelona's first team in an official competition. He scored his first professional goal on 1 May 2005 against Albacete Balompie from a sublime assist by Ronaldinho. The goal made him the youngest-ever scorer for the club at that time. Barcelona won the La Liga that season for the first time in 6 years, and won the league for a second time in a row along with the Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Champions League in 2006. In July 2016 he was convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to spend 21 months in prison. Messi was also fined two million Euros. [22] Messi never went to prison, and the problem was be solved with probation. He told the court he "only played football" and didn't know anything because he left his money problems to be dealt with by his father, Jorge Messi. [23] Club career statistics [ change | change source ] As of 23 June 2020 Appearances and goals by club, season and competition The FIFA Football Awards Voting Results 2019" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 September 2019 . Retrieved 23 September 2019. Newell's Old Boys youth coach Adrián Coria shares his first impression of the 12-year-old Messi. [15]

Club career [ change | change source ] FC Barcelona [ change | change source ] Messi (left) with the Golden Ball award, shaking hands with future teammate Neymar (Bronze Ball winner) after the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final In his first uninterrupted campaign, the 2008–09 season, he scored 38 goals in 51 games, contributing alongside Eto'o and winger Thierry Henry to a total of 100 goals in all competitions, a record at the time for the club. [85] [86] During his first season under Barcelona's new manager, former captain Pep Guardiola, Messi played mainly on the right wing, like he had under Rijkaard, though this time as a false winger with the freedom to cut inside and roam the centre. During the Clásico on 2 May 2009, however, he played for the first time as a false nine, positioned as a centre-forward but dropping deep into midfield to link up with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. He set up his side's first goal and scored twice to end the match in an emphatic 6–2 victory, the team's greatest-ever score at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. [87] [88] Returning to the wing, he played his first final since breaking into the first team on 13 May, scoring once and assisting a second goal as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 4–1 to win the Copa del Rey. [89] With 23 league goals from Messi that season, Barcelona became La Liga champions three days later and achieved its fifth double. [85] [90] Messi was born at Hospital Provincial de Rosario in Rosario, Argentina. Messi is the third of four children of Jorge Messi and his wife Celia Cuccittini. He has two brothers named Rodrigo and Matias and two cousins named Maximiliano and Emanuel.In his five trips to the football World Cups, Messi has led Argentina to at least the quarter-finals on four occasions. He also came close to winning the FIFA World Cup in 2014 but Argentina fell to Germany 1-0 in the final. Otero, Paul M. (12 November 2013). "Palmarés de un Genio: El Coleccionista de Trofeos"[Honours of a Genius: The Collector of Trophies]. Marca (in Spanish). Spain. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019 . Retrieved 13 September 2015. El Once Ideal de la Copa América"[The Ideal Eleven of the Copa América]. La República (in Spanish). 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016 . Retrieved 16 February 2016.

Messi made his MLS debut on 26 August, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute, scoring a late goal in a 2–0 away win against New York Red Bulls, which put an end to Inter's eleven-match league winless streak. [376] Messi's first goal in the regular season earned him Goal of the Matchday with 89.7% of the vote. [377] On 30 October, following his World Cup win with Argentina and Ligue 1 trophy with PSG, Messi was awarded a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or. [378] International career 2004–2005: success at youth level On 7 June 2023, Messi confirmed in an interview that he was joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS). [15] International career [ change | change source ] Argentina [ change | change source ] Barcelona Trio Sweep Awards". FIFA. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015 . Retrieved 8 January 2016.Other honours include four Champions League triumphs, 11 top-flight titles and Copa America glory in 2021. The World Cup is the only glaring omission. On 1 June, Galtier confirmed that PSG's home game against Clermont on 3 June would be Messi's last for the club, with the club confirming his departure two days later; [361] the match ended in 3–2 defeat. He ended the season with the highest number of assists in the league with 16 and was also included in the UNFP's Ligue 1 Team of the Season alongside teammates Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Mbappé. [362] [363] Inter Miami Messi with Inter Miami in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup UEFA चॅम्पियन्स लीग विजेतेपदे आणि 6 कोपा डेल रे यासह असंख्य वैयक्तिक आणि सांघिक पुरस्कार जिंकले आहेत. त्याने बॅलोन डी’ओर हा पुरस्कारही जिंकला आहे, हा पुरस्कार जगातील सर्वोत्कृष्ट सॉकर खेळाडूला देण्यात आला आहे, हा विक्रम सहा वेळा आहे. Messi has seven Ballon d'Or awards to Ronaldo's five and four Champions league trophies to Ronaldo's five.