Lionel Messi: The Journey of a Legendary Football Icon

7 min readNov 4, 2023

Introduction

Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, he grew up alongside his older brothers, often joining them in football games. At the age of eight, he became a part of the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a club based in Rosario. While local club River Plate hesitated to cover his medical expenses, Messi received a trial with Barcelona. Coach Carles Rexach was so impressed that he offered Messi a contract, scribbled on a paper napkin, which included treatment coverage. Messi and his father moved to Barcelona, where he joined the FC Barcelona youth academy and the beginning of his journey with the club.

Lionel Messi: Stats and Achievements

Personal Information:

Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Date of Birth: 24 June 1987
Place of Birth: Rosario, Argentina
Height of Messi: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing Position: Forward

Club Career:

Total Club Appearances: 684
Total Goals: 578 (as of December 2018)

International Career:

Total International Appearances: 151
Total Goals: 81 (as of December 2018)

Honors and Achievements:

La Liga Titles with Barcelona: 9
UEFA Champions League Titles: 4 (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)
FIFA Ballon d’Or/Ballon d’Or Awards: 5

Guinness World Record:

Top Goalscorer for Club and Country in a Calendar Year: 91 goals in 2012

Messi’s Remarkable Career Highlights and Loyalty to Barcelona

Lionel Messi has outstanding career accomplishments and an unwavering commitment to FC Barcelona.

Early Achievements:

He made his debut in the 2004/05 season, becoming the youngest player to score a league goal.
Part of the 2006 double-winning team (La Liga and Champions League).
Emerged as an essential striker for Barcelona in the 2006–07 season.

Record-breaking Performances:

Scored 47 goals in the 2009–10 season, matching Ronaldo’s Barcelona record.
Continuously improved and shattered records, including the world record for most goals in a calendar year (91 in 2012).

Impressive Goal Tally:

In club football by 2013, amassed 292 goals from 359 appearances.
In international football, scored 31 goals from 76 appearances.

Loyalty to Barcelona:

Declined a lucrative offer from a Russian club in 2012 to remain with Barcelona.
Signed a contract until the end of 2018, displaying unwavering commitment.
Expressed dedication to Barcelona, dismissing the idea of moving to the English Premier League.

Lionel Messi’s journey is marked by remarkable achievements, including record-breaking performances and unwavering loyalty to FC Barcelona.

Lionel Messi: Record-Breaking Stats and Achievements

Club Career with Barcelona:

Games Played: 520
Goals Scored: 474
Trophies Won: 35
La Liga Championships: 10
Copa del Rey Championships: 7
UEFA Champions League Titles: 4

Transition to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG):

Games Played: 39
Goals Scored: 13
Focus on Playmaking and Assists teammates like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr.

Individual Records and Achievements:

Most Goals in La Liga: 474
Most Goals in a La Liga and European League Season: 50
Most Hat-tricks in La Liga: 36
Most Hat-tricks in UEFA Champions League: 8
Most Assist in La Liga: 192
Most Assist in a La Liga Season: 21
Most Assists in the Copa América: 17
Most Goals Scored outside of South America by a Male Player: 95

All-Time Goal-Scoring Record:

Most Goals by a Player for a Single Club: Over 750
Total Goals in Professional Career for Club and National Team: 672

Retirement from Barcelona:

Messi retired from Barcelona in 2021 after spending his entire professional career with the club and winning numerous titles and accolades.

Record-Breaking Performances for Argentina

International Career:

Games Played: 170

Goals Scored: 95 (a record-breaking feat)

Lionel Messi’s outstanding performances for Argentina have helped him become their all-time leading goal scorer. With 170 appearances, he has showcased his incredible talent and contributed a remarkable 95 goals to his national team’s success. Messi’s goal-scoring skills make him a key member of the Argentina football Squad.

A glimpse into Lionel Messi’s international journey and achievements representing Argentina.

Choice of Nationality:

Offered the chance to play for Spain’s Under 20 side in 2004.
Opted to represent Argentina, his country of birth.
Led Argentina to victory in the 2005 FIFA Youth Championship.

Full International Debut:

Made his full international debut in August 2005 against Hungary.
Unfortunate debut, as he was sent off for allegedly elbowing a player.

World Cup Participation:

Became Argentina’s youngest player in the World Cup in 2006.
Argentina reached the quarter-finals but was eliminated.
Played in the 2010 World Cup, helping Argentina to the quarter-finals.
Struggled to score, and Argentina lost 4–0 to Germany.
Lionel Messi guided Argentina to the 2014 World Cup Finals. By giving its best efforts, Germany beat Argentina 1–0 in the 2014 World Cup Finals
In a historic showdown, Argentina emerged victorious over defending champions France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, securing their third title in a thrilling 4–2 penalty shootout triumph after a captivating 3–3 draw

Olympic Gold Medal:

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lionel Messi achieved Olympic glory, securing a gold medal for Argentina in football.

Strong performance in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final

In the final match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 held in Qatar on 18 Dec 2022, Messi made Argentina the world champion for the third time due to his strong performance. During this, Messi was also the captain of Argentina.

Messi has won many trophies as a captain in football but now he has got the FIFA World Cup trophy in his hands.

Messi made his last match in the World Cup very memorable and scored a total of 2 goals, although he could not win the Golden Boot. However, he gave his best performance in this tournament and also won the Golden Ball title. Messi scored 7 goals in the tournament. Before this match, Messi had announced that this was his last World Cup.

Lionel Messi’s international career showcases his commitment to representing Argentina and his pursuit of World Cup success. Despite facing challenges and falling short in certain tournaments, Messi’s exceptional skills and dedication have established him as one of the most exciting players of any era.

Wife of messi: Antonela Roccuzzo

Lionel Messi has been in a romantic relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo, a fellow Rosario native, since 2008. Interestingly, Roccuzzo is the cousin of Messi’s childhood best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who is also a football player. Messi and Roccuzzo have been acquainted since they were just five years old. Despite keeping their relationship under wraps for a year, Messi finally acknowledged it during an interview in January 2009. Shortly after, during a carnival in Sitges, they publicly revealed their love following the Barcelona-Espanyol derby.

Messi and Roccuzzo have three sons: Thiago (2012) Mateo, (2015), and Ciro (2018). On June 30, 2017, Messi and Roccuzzo exchanged vows at the magnificent Hotel City Center in Rosario, sealing their commitment to each other in a joyous celebration.

The Messi–Ronaldo Rivalry: A Comparison

The Messi–Ronaldo rivalry captivates football fans worldwide, pitting Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo against each other. Their similar records and sporting achievements have fueled debates about who is the better player.

Playing Careers:

Messi and Ronaldo competed against each other for nine seasons during the prime of their careers. Messi represented Barcelona, while Ronaldo played for Real Madrid, intensifying the rivalry.

Impressive Achievements:

Combined, Messi and Ronaldo have won an astounding 76 major trophies throughout their careers. Messi has secured 42 major titles, while Ronaldo has claimed 34. Both players consistently surpassed the 50-goal mark in multiple seasons, showcasing their remarkable scoring prowess. They are the only players to score over 800 goals each for both their clubs and national teams. Ronaldo holds the record for the most official goals in a career.

Debate and Comparison:

Critics and fans constantly compare Messi and Ronaldo, acknowledging them as generation-defining players. Ronaldo excels physically, in goals and leadership, while Messi shines in dribbling, playmaking, passing, and scoring.

Impact of the 2022 FIFA World Cup:

Messi’s leadership in guiding Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup has influenced the rivalry’s narrative. Many football critics, commentators, and players believe that Messi’s win settles the debate in his favor. Messi’s World Cup win cements his status as a football great, favoring him significantly.

The Messi–Ronaldo rivalry has sparked passionate discussions and comparisons between the two footballing giants. While opinions may differ, their remarkable achievements and impact on the sport make them two of the greatest players of all time.

Conclusion

Lionel Messi’s rise from humble beginnings in Rosario to global stardom has made him a legendary player in football. With unwavering loyalty to FC Barcelona, he has achieved remarkable success, setting numerous records along the way. Messi’s 2022 World Cup win solidifies his status among football’s greatest players in history. The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has sparked debates, but Messi’s World Cup success has strengthened his claim as the superior player. With his consistent brilliance and immense impact on the game, Lionel Messi remains an inspiration to aspiring footballers worldwide.