Lionel Messi, commonly known as simply “Messi” is a professional footballer from Argentina currently playing for PSG in Ligue 1.
He’s widely recognized by the media and fans alike to be one of if not the world’s greatest football player.
He has cemented himself as one of the greatest football players in history, and this year he is on course to win his seventh Ballon D’Or.
With an impressive list of accomplishments, he has set records for scoring goals and earning assists during his time with Barcelona’s team.
Lionel Messi Biography
Lionel Messi is not just a soccer player, but rather the best-known athlete in all of Argentina.
Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in the north-eastern part of Rosario. He is the third child of Jorge Messi, he has three other siblings.
Messi’s father was a steel mill manager, and his mother worked in an industrial facility that manufactured magnets.
Messi moved to Spain when he turned 13 years old; the reason for this decision was because he wanted to join Barcelona.
As a child, Leo always loved football and would play with his brothers or cousins.
Always one step ahead of everyone else in terms of physical skillset, he eagerly anticipated the next football game.
Messi’s love for the game of soccer was born in Rosario when he joined Newell’s Old Boys at six years old.
However, his professional career suffered setbacks due to health issues that arose during childhood.
The Argentine had growth hormone deficiency and underwent surgery at the age of ten.
After the completion of his growth hormone therapy at age 14, Messi became an essential part in Barcelona’s greatest-ever youth team- the “Baby Dream Team.”
Lionel Messi Education
Leo Messi is a self-made man without any formal education. He finished elementary school and that’s it.
Career
Lionel Messi made his debut for FC Barcelona at age 17 against RCD Espanyol, becoming just the third-youngest person ever to play for the Spanish side.
He was not just the third youngest player to ever play for Barcelona, but became the youngest ever player to score a goal for Barca.
The Barcelona star was an integral part of the team for years, but it wasn’t until he became a Spanish citizen that Messi really felt at home.
The 34-year old got his Spanish citizen card in the 2005-2006 season and he started getting paid as a first team member of barca’s team.
After becoming the youngest footballer to appear for Barca, Messi quickly established himself as one of its most impressive players.
His debut match was met with an enthusiastic reception from fans cheering on as he even scored alongside Ronaldinho.
In 2006, Messi became the youngest Argentine player to ever play and score in the FIFA World Cup history.
He also scored six league goals for Barcelona out of his first seventeen appearances for Barcelona with his first in the Champions League coming that same year.
Messi’s 2006-2007 season was cut short after the World Cup, when he injured his metatarsals which took three months to heal.
After recovering from the injury, he was back in-game against Racing Santander as a second hand substitute.
In March of that season he scored his first ever hat trick against rivals, Real Madrid.
With his hat trick against Madrid, he became the first player since Ivan Zamorano to score three goals in El Clasico.
Messi led Barcelona into the top four of La Liga in 2007-2008, winning a nomination for being one of their best forwards which he won.
The media also named him as the best player of the year, Marca newspaper labelled him as the best player in the world.
More and more newspapers were calling for Messi to be awarded the Ballon d’Or, so many people said he deserved it.
The young soccer star finally won his first ballon d’Or in 2009, at age 22. He went on to win three more each year for a total of four by 25 years old.
He also triumphed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal. In 2012, he achieved La Liga and European scoring records by netting 91 goals.
Messi scored 59 goals in the Spanish League, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey and 2 in the Super Cup and 12 with his home country Argentina.
That year, Messi sealed his fate as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer.
The next two seasons, he was named the club’s captain and, although he finished behind Cristiano Ronaldo at the ballon d’Or awards.
Messi was never too far from his perch at the top echelons of world football.
In 2014, the PSG star made headlines as his performance during the World Cup led Argentina to the finals
Earning him the Golden Ball as the most outstanding player.
In 2016 he retired from international football but announced his return one year later.
Leading his team to the 2018 FIFA world cup qualification at Russia that following year.
Argentina also clinched the third place at the 2019 Copa America. That same year, Lionel Messi won his 6th Ballon d’Or.
PSG
In the summer of 2021, Lionel Messi completed his much speculated free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Lionel Messi was paid a €25 million sign-on fee when he signed this contract in 2021.
He will play for 2 more years from 2021 to 2023, earning an annual salary of €25 million each year.
The contract includes an option for the third year that is locked in at the same rate.
The player took back the jersey number he used during his first spell with Barcelona.
Personal Life
Lionel Messi has been in a relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo since 2008. They met when they were both five years old, growing up in Rosario, Argentina.
In 2009, Messi and Roccuzzo confirmed their romance publicly. In 2007, the pair got married in Rosario.
The couple are blessed with three children: Thiago, Matero and Ciro. Messi is close with his family members, especially his mother.
Lionel Messi’s professional career is mostly run as a family business.
His father is his agent – having represented him since Messi was 14 years old.
He also has an older brother, Rodrigo, who is the one tasked with managing the public’s image of the superstar.
Charity
Leo Messi is the founder of the Leo Messi Foundation.
An organization that aspires to give as many underprivileged children as possible the chance to pursue their dreams and receive a quality education.
In 2007, following a visit to a local children’s hospital, Messi wanted to do something.
For those that he saw suffering from the illnesses and health problems that they had been born into.
His foundation helps with the distribution of funds for medical treatment, safe transport to and from various places of recovery.
And any other costs associated with medical recovery for children who suffer from life-threatening diseases.
Also, in March 2020, Messi and his fellow Barcelona Football Club players took a cut in their salaries in order to fight coronavirus.
In addition, Messi made a $1 million dollar donation to the cause.
Networth
Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world.
He has been well ahead in the highest-paid players at different times.
For example, in 2020 his pay was reckoned to be $130 million.
Roughly half that amount came from endorsements, the other half from base payments.
Lionel Messi is one of the famous footballers in the world and the PSG forward has a net worth of $400 million.
He has earned his net worth by playing striker and winger for teams like FC Barcelona, the Argentine national team.
And of course, Paris Saint German [PSG], where he currently plays after making the move during the 2021 transfer window.
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