Lionel Messi recently won his first world cup, Daily News24 brings you a biography of the world champion.
Lionel Andrés Messi born 24 June 1987 is an Argentina national team and Paris Saint-Germain soccer player. He has set goalscoring records and won individual awards on his way to being recognized as one of the best soccer players in the world.
Early life
Messi was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, the third of four children to steel factory manager Jorge Messi and magnet manufacturing workshop worker Celia Cuccittini.
Because the Messi family had relatives in Catalonia, they attempted to set up a trial with Barcelona in September 2000.
His family moved to Barcelona in February 2001, where they settled in an apartment near the club’s stadium, Camp Nou. Messi rarely played for the Infantiles during his first year in Spain due to a transfer conflict, as he could only be used in friendlies and the Catalan league.
He found it difficult to fit in without football. He was already reserved by nature but so quiet that his teammates thought he was deaf. He suffered an illness and his mother later returned to Rosario with his brothers and little sister, Mara Sol, while he stayed in Barcelona with his father.
Messi joined Barcelona’s greatest-ever youth team, the “Baby Dream Team,” after finishing his growth hormone treatment at the age of 14. During his first full season (2002-03), he led the Cadetes A to an unprecedented treble of the league, the Spanish and Catalan cups, with 36 goals in 30 games.
Senior team career
On November 16, 2003, Messi made his first-team debut at the age of 16 when he came on in the 75th minute of a friendly against José Mourinho’s Porto.
His performance, which included two chances and a shot on goal, impressed the technical staff, and he began training daily with Barcelona B as well as weekly, with the first team.
Ronaldinho, Barça’s new star player, told his teammates after his first training session with the senior squad that he believed the 16-year-old would become an even better player than himself. Ronaldinho quickly befriended Messi, whom he referred to as his “little brother,” which aided his transition into the first team.
Messi signed his first senior team contract on June 24, his 18th birthday. It extended his contract with Barcelona until 2010, two years less than his previous deal, but increased his buyout clause to €150 million.
After two disappointing seasons in 2008/09, Barcelona needed a change, which resulted in the departures of Rijkaard and Ronaldinho. Messi was given the number 10 shirt after the latter left. In July, he signed a new contract worth €7.8 million per year, making him the club’s highest-paid player.
Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions in the 2009-10 season, matching Ronaldo’s record for Barcelona. Messi continued to improve and break his own records as the seasons progressed. He broke the all-time world record for the most goals scored in a calendar year in 2012. His 91 goals in 2012 broke the previous record of 85 set by German Gerd Muller and Pele’s milestone of 75 in 1958.
Messi turned down a lucrative offer to play for an unnamed Russian club at the end of 2012. It would have paid Messi €20 million per year, making him the most expensive player in the world (Barcelona would have paid €250 million).
By the end of 2012, Messi had scored 91 goals in club and international play, breaking Gerd Muller’s 1972 record of 85 goals in a calendar year. In January 2013, he broke another record when he was named the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner for the fourth time.
He returned to earth somewhat that year due to hamstring injuries, but he regained his record-breaking form in late 2014, becoming the all-time leading scorer in La Liga and Champions League play.
He received his fifth FIFA Ballon d’Or trophy after assisting Barcelona to a historic second treble in 2015. Four years later, after winning another La Liga title, Messi set a new standard for excellence by winning his sixth Ballon d’Or.
Messi joined French club Paris Saint-Germain on August 10. He agreed to a two-year contract extension until June 2023, with an option for an additional year. Messi chose 30 as his squad number, the same number he wore when he made his senior debut for Barcelona as a teenager.
National team struggle
Despite his success with Barcelona, Messi has come under fire for his failure to help Argentina win a major championship. He did lead “La Albiceleste” to the 2014 World Cup final, where he was named player of the tournament despite his team’s loss to Germany.
Following Argentina’s second consecutive loss to Chile in the Copa America final in 2016, Messi announced his retirement from the national team.
The soccer legend eventually changed his mind, but his participation in the 2018 World Cup did not result in the elusive title. After scoring an early goal in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Nigeria, Messi was largely held in check by France, with his two assists not enough to prevent a 4-3 defeat that sent Argentina packing.
On Sunday, December 18th 2022, Messi won the 2022 FIFA world cup and also announced his retirement from international football.
Messi’s major honours
Barcelona
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)
Argentina
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
2006 World Cup – QF
2010 World Cup – QF
2014 World Cup – Runners-up.
FIFA World Cup (1) 2022
Networth
According to reports, Lionel Messi’s net worth exceeds 620 million US dollars, making him the world’s wealthiest footballer.
