lionel messi parents biography

Lionel Messi Biography

Birthday: June 24 , 1987 ( Cancer )

Born In: Rosario, Argentina

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Nick Name: Atomic Flea

Also Known As: Lionel Andrés Messi, Leo Messi

Age: 37 Years , 37 Year Old Males

Spouse/Ex-: Antonella Roccuzzo (m. 2017)

father: Jorge Messi

mother: Celia María Cuccittini

siblings: Maria Sol Messi, Matias Messi , Rodrigo Messi

children: Ciro Messi Roccuzz, Mateo Messi, Thiago Messi

Football Players Argentine Men

Height: 5'7" (170 cm ), 5'7" Males

Ancestry: Argentine Spanish

City: Rosario, Argentina

You wanted to know

What are some of lionel messi's notable career achievements.

Lionel Messi has won multiple FIFA Ballon d'Or awards, numerous La Liga titles with FC Barcelona, and holds the record for most goals scored in a calendar year.

Can Lionel Messi speak English?

Yes, Lionel Messi can speak English, although he is more comfortable conducting interviews and interactions in Spanish.

How many children does Lionel Messi have?

Lionel Messi has three children with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.

Does Lionel Messi have any tattoos?

Yes, Lionel Messi has several tattoos on his body, including dedications to his family and his personal beliefs.

What is Lionel Messi's playing style?

Lionel Messi is known for his exceptional dribbling skills, vision on the field, and ability to score goals from various positions.

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Lionel Messi’s Family: Parents, Siblings, Wife & Kids

Football is more than just a game; it’s a lifestyle, requiring unparalleled commitment and sacrifice. This article delves into the personal life of Lionel Messi, focusing on his family bonds and domestic life.

A Look at the Lionel Messi’s Family Tree

Even on the gridiron, familial ties run deep, and Lionel Messi’s roots are a testimony to that fact. From Rosario, Argentina, Messi hails from a humble, hardworking family that has played a vital role in his rise to global stardom. Let’s begin our dive into Messi’s family tree.

Like every significant tree’s structure, Messi’s family tree has several robust branches, each with its own unique contribution to the celebrated footballer’s journey. This tree includes his parents, his siblings, his wife, his children, and a host of relatives and close friends who share invaluable bonds with Lionel Messi.

Starting with Messi’s parents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, they have been the pillars of support throughout his life. Jorge, a factory steelworker, and Celia, a part-time cleaner, instilled in their son the values of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Their unwavering belief in Messi’s talent and potential propelled him forward, even during the toughest times.

Messi’s siblings, Rodrigo and Matias, have also played significant roles in his life. Growing up in a small apartment in Rosario, the three brothers shared a deep bond and spent countless hours playing football together in the streets. Rodrigo, the eldest, always encouraged Messi to dream big and supported him in pursuing his passion. Matias, on the other hand, acted as Messi’s confidant, providing a listening ear during challenging moments.

As Messi’s fame grew, so did his circle of close friends. One of his closest friends, since childhood, is Ezequiel Fernandez, who has been by his side through thick and thin. Ezequiel, a talented footballer himself, often joined Messi in training sessions and friendly matches, pushing each other to become better players. Their friendship has stood the test of time and continues to thrive to this day.

Of course, we cannot forget Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, whom he married in 2017. The couple first met as children in their hometown of Rosario and reconnected years later. Antonela has been Messi’s rock, providing unwavering support and stability amidst the whirlwind of fame and success. Together, they have three beautiful children – Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro – who are the pride and joy of their lives.

Expanding beyond immediate family, Messi’s extended relatives have also played a significant role in shaping his journey. His maternal grandparents, Antonio and Celia, were his biggest fans from the beginning, attending every match and cheering him on with pride. Their unwavering support and love provided Messi with a strong sense of belonging and motivation to excel.

As Messi’s career skyrocketed, so did his impact on the global football community. He became an inspiration to millions of aspiring young athletes around the world. Countless fans, from Argentina to Barcelona and beyond, have formed an unbreakable bond with Messi, idolizing his talent and admiring his humility.

In conclusion, Lionel Messi’s family tree is not just a mere collection of names and relationships. It is a testament to the power of love, support, and determination. Each branch of this tree has contributed to Messi’s success, both on and off the field. As we continue to witness his remarkable journey, let us not forget the people who have stood by him, shaping him into the legendary footballer he is today.

Father – Jorge Messi

Jorge Messi, a factory steel worker, is Lionel Messi’s father. From a young age, Jorge recognised his son’s talent and made every effort to nurture it. This involved taking the young Messi to his first football club, Grandoli, where he began developing his stellar skills.

Jorge’s role did not stop at being a facilitator; he also guided Messi through his career, serving as his manager and mentor. His father’s influence is clear in Messi’s life, both professionally and personally.

Jorge Messi’s dedication to his son’s football career is truly remarkable. Despite working long hours at the steel factory, he always found time to support Messi’s passion for the sport. Whether it was driving him to training sessions or cheering him on from the sidelines, Jorge was always there, providing unwavering encouragement.

As Messi’s talent continued to flourish, Jorge took on the role of his manager. He negotiated contracts, handled media relations, and ensured that his son’s best interests were always protected. It was a challenging position, but Jorge embraced it wholeheartedly, determined to give Messi the best opportunities to succeed.

Off the field, Jorge Messi played an integral role in shaping his son’s character. He instilled in Messi the values of humility, hard work, and perseverance. Despite Messi’s fame and success, he remains grounded, a testament to the upbringing provided by his father.

Jorge’s influence extends beyond the football pitch. He has been a pillar of support for Messi during the ups and downs of his personal life. Through thick and thin, Jorge has been there to offer guidance, love, and understanding. Their bond as father and son is unbreakable, serving as a source of strength for both of them.

It is evident that Lionel Messi owes a great deal of his success to his father, Jorge Messi. Without his unwavering belief in his son’s abilities and his tireless support, Messi’s journey to becoming one of the greatest footballers of all time would not have been possible. Jorge’s dedication and love for his son have played a significant role in shaping Messi’s career and life as a whole.

Mother – Celia Cuccittini

Celia Cuccittini, Lionel Messi’s mother, has been the player’s biggest cheerleader from the sidelines. She played a crucial role in his development and continues to embody an unyielding source of love and support.

From the early days of Messi’s childhood, Celia recognized her son’s passion for the beautiful game. She would often be seen in the stands, brimming with pride as she watched him dribble past opponents with ease. Her unwavering belief in his abilities fueled Messi’s determination to succeed, providing him with the confidence to chase his dreams.

Although less involved in the technical dimensions of Messi’s career, Celia has been instrumental in grounding him and reminding him of his roots. Growing up in Rosario, Argentina, Messi faced numerous challenges and obstacles. It was Celia who instilled in him the importance of staying true to his values and never forgetting where he came from.

As Messi’s fame and success grew, Celia remained a constant presence in his life, ensuring that he remained humble and grateful for his blessings. She would often share stories of their humble beginnings, reminding him of the sacrifices made by their family to support his footballing ambitions.

Beyond being a supportive mother, Celia also played a vital role in shaping Messi’s character. Her strong sense of family values and unconditional love have become the pillars of his identity. Messi has often spoken about the profound impact his mother has had on his life, crediting her for his humility and grounded nature.

While the world may know Lionel Messi as a global superstar, it is Celia Cuccittini who knows him as her beloved son. Behind the scenes, she remains his guiding light, offering unwavering support and guidance through every twist and turn of his extraordinary journey.

Siblings – Rodrigo Messi, Matías Messi, María Sol Messi

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, is not just a sporting icon but also a devoted family man. He shares a special bond with his three siblings: Rodrigo Messi, Matías Messi, and María Sol Messi. Together, they have formed an unbreakable bond, built on love, support, and a shared passion for the beautiful game.

While Lionel Messi’s name reverberates around the world, his siblings have chosen to lead relatively private lives. However, their influence on his life and career cannot be understated. Rodrigo Messi, the eldest of the siblings, has been a pillar of support for Lionel throughout his journey. As a loving brother, Rodrigo has always been there to offer guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear during both the highs and lows of Lionel’s career.

Matías Messi, the middle child, has also played a significant role in his brother’s success. A talented footballer himself, Matías has shared Lionel’s love for the sport since they were young boys. While he may not have achieved the same level of fame as his younger brother, Matías has made his mark in the football world by working behind the scenes. Currently, he serves as a key figure in the management team of Messi’s brand, ensuring that Lionel’s global image remains true to his roots and family values.

María Sol Messi, the youngest of the Messi siblings, brings a refreshing perspective to the family dynamic. As the only sister, she has always been a source of joy and laughter for her brothers. While not directly involved in Lionel’s football career, María Sol’s unwavering support has undoubtedly played a crucial role in his personal life. Her presence serves as a reminder to Lionel of the importance of family, love, and balance amidst the demands of his professional commitments.

Together, the Messi siblings form a tight-knit unit that has weathered the storms of fame and fortune. Their unwavering support, shared experiences, and mutual admiration have created a solid foundation for Lionel’s success. While the world may know Lionel Messi as an extraordinary footballer, it is his siblings who have witnessed his journey from the very beginning and continue to stand by his side, ensuring that he never loses sight of his roots.

Wife – Antonela Roccuzzo

In June 2017, Lionel Messi married his childhood sweetheart, Antonela Roccuzzo. The pair have known each other since Messi was five years old. Antonela has been a constant in Messi’s life, providing him with stability and fervent support through his meteoric rise.

From their early days of playing together on the streets of Rosario, Argentina, to their grand wedding celebration, Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo’s love story is one for the ages. Their bond was forged in the neighborhood where they grew up, their shared experiences shaping their connection from a young age.

As Messi’s talent on the football field became evident, Antonela was always there, cheering him on from the sidelines. Her unwavering belief in his abilities and her unwavering support have been instrumental in his journey to becoming one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Together, they’ve stood strong in the face of professional victories and losses. Whether it was Messi’s historic four Champions League titles or his heartbreaking defeats in major tournaments, Antonela has been his pillar of strength, offering solace and encouragement during both triumphs and tribulations.

Antonela’s steadfast companionship and dedication have undeniably had a positive impact on Messi’s career and personal life. She has been his rock, providing him with a sense of grounding amidst the whirlwind of fame and success. Their love story is not just about two individuals, but about the power of unwavering support and the strength that comes from having someone by your side through thick and thin.

Off the field, Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo are loving parents to their three beautiful children. Their family life is filled with joy, laughter, and the simple pleasures of spending quality time together. Despite their fame and fortune, they remain down-to-earth and prioritize the values of love, family, and humility.

Antonela’s influence extends beyond her role as Messi’s wife. She is also a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist in her own right, using her platform to make a positive impact on the world. Together, Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo are not just a power couple, but a force for good.

As Messi continues to dazzle the world with his extraordinary skills on the football pitch, Antonela will undoubtedly be there, supporting him every step of the way. Their love story is a testament to the power of childhood sweethearts who grow together, face challenges together, and ultimately, achieve greatness together.

Children – Thiago Messi Roccuzzo, Mateo Messi Roccuzzo, Ciro Messi Roccuzzo

Further enriching Messi’s life are his three children: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. These young seeds from the Messi family tree are not only a joyous part of his life but also possible future torchbearers of the Messi legacy within football.

Despite their young age, they often feature on Messi’s social media platforms, each moment reflecting the depth of Messi’s love for his family and only reinforcing his image as a dedicated father.

Lionel Messi Cousins and Close Friends

Like any family tree, Messi’s branches extend beyond his immediate family. His cousins and close friends also form an integral part of his support system. They’ve been part of his journey, either sharing the podium with him during his victories or standing by his side during his challenges.

Family Support in Lionel’s Football Journey

The support network of Messi’s family has been significant throughout his football journey. From his parents’ early recognition and nurturance of his talent, to his wife and children’s unwavering support during his most challenging periods, the Messi family unit has been a cornerstone of his success.

Moreover, the unity portrayed by his siblings through their varied contributions to Messi’s brand symbolizes the strength of his family ties and their collective commitment to his success.

Future Prospects and Family Continuity

As Messi navigates football’s unpredictable landscape, family continuity remains an essential part of his journey. As his children grow, the prospects of another Messi carrying his legacy proudly into the future instills hope and excitement among football fans.

In conclusion, Lionel Messi’s story cannot be told without acknowledging his family’s role in shaping his career. Their profound influence, ongoing support, and unbreakable bonds reinforce the importance of family within his life, making Messi’s story a testament to both personal triumph and familial unity.

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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

Apple TV+ is giving soccer fans more behind-the-scenes access to soccer star Lionel Messi and Argentina’s memorable 2022 World Cup championship in a new docuseries. Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend debuts on the streaming service February 21. The four-part series promises the most personal interviews to date with Messi and “an intimate and unprecedented look at his quest for a legacy-defining World Cup victory.”

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.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

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.

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

The Amazing Story of Leo Messi at Amazon

Lionel Messi: The Rise to Stardom. at Amazon

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External links

• Lionel Messi at Amazon.com

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Super biography

• February 03, 2019 2:09 PM
• By V.sukumar

Lionel Messi Biography Facts, Childhood, Career, Life

Lionel Andres Messi Cuccittini (born June 24, 1987) is an Argentine professional football player, who despite the odds against him, turns things around and brings out a miracle when it’s least expected. He captains and plays forward for Barcelona (Spanish club) as well as the Argentina national team. Ever since he was a kid, he has entertained many with his prodigious skills, amazing dribbles, astounding swiftness and powerful shots. Now a global icon, he still adds to the thrill of the beautiful game of football. We discuss the life of Lionel Messi, fondly referred to as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in our Lionel Messi biography facts, childhood, career and personal life. 

Our analysis includes Messi’s rise from being a football enthusiast at a tender age to now becoming the modern-age face-of-the-game, and how he overcame the seemingly insurmountable challenges that stood between him and his dreams.

Table of Contents

Lionel Messi Biography Quick Facts, Age

Here are some quick biography facts you should know about the Argentine professional football player.

Lionel Messi Childhood & Early Life

Lionel Andres Messi Cuccittini was given birth to on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, to a steel factory manager, Jorge Messi and his wife Celia Cuccittini. Messi was the third of four children they gave birth to. He grew up in a family where the game of football was adored.

At a tender age, he played with his elder brothers before joining a local club, Grandoli, before moving on to Newell’s Old Boys. At Grandoli, Messi was coached by his father, but his grandmother accompanied him to his matches as well as training. He was thus affected by her. His unique style of celebration which involves looking up and pointing to the sky is a tribute to his late grandmother.

Messi’s dream of becoming a professional footballer was threatened when he clocked 10 years. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. As a result of his family’s inability to bear the expense of his treatment, they resorted to football clubs who saw Messi as a potential to bear the cost. After several setbacks, Messi’s treatment cost was paid for by Barcelona. After his transfer to Barcelona, he did not make appearances regularly in matches due to transfer issues with Newell as well as the unusual signing of foreign plays by European Clubs. After joining the Royal Spanish Football Federation, he began playing for Barcelona. Upon completion of his growth hormone deficiency treatment, he became a force to reckon with in the Barcelona youth team.

Lionel Messi Club Career

Fc barcelona.

Messi progressed through the ranks of Barcelona’s junior team, leading to his move to the senior team. He debuted for five teams in a season. During the international break, Messi was among the few players who helped strengthen the first team in the absence of the players. Messi finally debuted for the senior team at the age of 16. Messi’s wondrous performance earned him the friendship of Barcelona’s star Ronaldinho, who enabled him to have a smooth transition into the first team. His remarkable antics earned him a juicy contract in 2004 set to expire in 2012, the first professional contract he signed, had a buyout clause of 30 million euros which increased to 80 million euros.

In the 2004–2005 season, he became a regular starter in Barcelona’s B-team. However, he was a substitute player in the A-team, debuting for them in the league on October 16 against Espanyol. Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona as a senior team player on his 18th birthday. The contract was set to expire in 2010, with a buyout clause of 150 million euros. Messi caught the attention of European top clubs, one of such Inter Milan indicated interest in Messi, offering to triple his wages as well as pay his 150 million euros’ buyout clause. However, Messi opted to stay. In September of that season, his contract was updated and was set to expire in 2014. After acquiring Spanish citizenship Messi began playing alongside Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho forging a powerful attacking trio.

During the 2006–2007 season, at the age of 19, Messi became one of the best players in the world. Despite suffering injuries, Messi proved his similarity to Argentina’s legend Diego Maradona after several comparisons. A notable event which speaks of this truth was the 2006–2007 Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe, where he scored a goal similar to Maradona’s 1986 FIFA World Cup goal dubbed as the Goal of the Century. Following the decline of Ronaldinho, Messi became Barcelona’s new star, with Spanish media calling him “Messiah”. He emerged second third in the 2007 Ballon d’Or and second in the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. Following the departure of Ronaldinho, Messi was given the no.10 jersey and signed a new contract with an annual salary of 7.8 million euros, Barcelona’s highest.

In 2008, he came second in the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year Award.

He However won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of the year in 2009, at the age of 22. That season Messi had a successful campaign, winning the second consecutive La Liga title.

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.

Messi’s incredible form continued, in 2012, he was bestowed with the Guinness book of record title for most goals scored in a calendar year as well as the FIFA Ballon d’Or Award.

In the 2013–2014 season, Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona which will see him at Camp Nou until 2018. After Messi sustained an injury and deemed unfit for Barcelona’s champions league match against Bayern Munich, the Catalan Giant were defeated 7-0 on aggregate. Barcelona was heavily criticized for their dismal performance which shows their dependence on the Argentine star. His campaign that season was the worst he had in five years. He signed a new contract with Barcelona which saw his salary increase from 20 million euros to 36 million euros. Under the leadership of new coach, Luis Enrique. Messi became La Liga’s all-time top-scorer. He came second in the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or awards for the second time in a row. Messi established an attacking trio with teammates Suarez and Neymar which prove to be deadly to opponents. At the end of the season, he received the UEFA Best Player in Europe.

In the 2015–2016 season, Messi became the youngest person to make 100 appearances in the champions league. Messi also helped Barcelona claim the 2015 Club World Cup Final, where he was awarded the tournament’s Silver Ball. Messi emerged a runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2016 Ballon d’Or award as well as the 2016 Best FIFA Men’s Player Award, he also claimed the Pichichi and European Golden Boot.

Messi also had a spectacular and incredible performance in the 2017–2018 season, but not spectacular enough to earn him the Ballon d’Or award. Messi was handed the captaincy in the 2018–2019 season following the departure of Andres Iniesta.

Lionel Messi National Team Career

The ace footballer has scored 65 goals in 128 appearances for the Argentina National team. He, however, has failed to extend his successful run with Barcelona to the La Albiceleste. Though he has always put up a good performance, every time he leads the La Albiceleste to a tournament, they end up crashing out in the quarter-final, semi-final or final.

In the 2006 World Cup, Messi who was pretty young was part of the Argentine squad who were knocked out in the quarter-final. Eight years later, on South-American soil, Messi led the La Albiceleste to a wonderful run in the world Cup before seeing his World Cup dream dashed after a late lone strike by their German opponents. The Copa America tournament has also been the same, emerging runners-up successively.

Lionel Messi Family & Personal Life

Lionel Messi is known to be an introvert as well as a reserved individual.

He began his relationship with his wife who he had known since the age of 5, at the age of 20. They got married in Rosario, in 2017. They gave birth to their first son Thiago in 2012, their second Mateo in 2015 and last Ciro in 2018.

Messi has a tight-knitted relationship with his mother, Celia whose face he tattooed on his hand. Messi’s father has been his agent since the age of 14, while his elder brother manages his daily schedule and publicity, his mother and brother, Matias runs his charitable organization, The Lionel Messi Foundation. Since 2010, Messi has been a goodwill ambassador for the UNICEF.

Messi also supports grassroots football. He has an investment with youth football team Sarmiento, based in Rosario.

Messi has also had his fair share of tax evasion charges. In 2013, he was investigated for benefiting in a network of offshore companies to evade taxes. Despite pleading ignorance for the tax evasion charges, Messi was found guilty of tax evasion along with his father and was sentenced to a suspended 21-month prison term and fined 1.7 million euros and 1.4 million euros.

Lionel Messi Highlights, Achievements & Awards

Tournaments won.

• U-20 World Cup champion (2005)
• Spanish Super Cup (Supercopa) (2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17, 2018/19)
• Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) (2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17,2017/18)
• FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011, 2015)
• UEFA Supercup (2009/10, 2011/12, 2015/16)
• Olympics Medalist (2008/09)
• Spanish Champion (La Liga) (2004/05 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18)
• UEFA Champions League (2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15)

Individual Awards

• Golden Boot (2016/17)
• Striker of the Year (2014/15)
• Player of the Year (2014 World Cup, 2014/15 La Liga, 2015 Copa America)
• UEFA Best Player in Europe (2009, 2011, 2015)
• Top-scorer (2008/09, 2010/11 & 2013/14 Copa del Rey, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14 & 2014/15 UEFA Champions League, 2009/10, 2010/11 & 2011/12 Supercopa, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13 & 2016/17 La Liga, 2011 FIFA Club World Cup)
• Top-10 Highest-Paid Football/Soccer Players 2019
• Top-20 Best Football Academies In The World 2019

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Lionel Messi’s Family: Parents, Siblings, Wife & Kids

By: Author Connor Smith

The great Argentinian trickster Lionel Messi may well be the greatest player to have ever graced the game, and with him just a few short years away from leaving the beautiful game forever we know so much about the little man from Rosario.

While so much is known about Lionel Messi, some of you will be less familiar with the other members of the Messi family that helped to raise and support one of the most famous sportspeople in history. 

Today we will be doing just that though, by looking into the family tree of Lionel Messi and telling you everything you need to know about his parents, siblings, wife, and kids.

After reading this piece you should feel far more familiar with the wider Messi family than you previously did, so let’s get into it. 

Parents 

• Father: Jorge Messi
• Mother: Celia María Cuccittini

When a young Lionel left for Europe aged just 13 he left behind a strong and stable family back in Rosario, Argentina.

Messi himself is very proud of his heritage and still speaks in the Rosarian accent that he picked up from living and learning in the region as a child and despite being in Europe for so long he still cares very much for his homeland. 

The parents of Lionel knew from a young age that their son was a talented soccer player and encouraged him to pursue this talent by joining a local youth soccer team called Grandoli, he would later move to Newell’s Old Boys a team his remains in contact with to this day, with many expecting Lionel to end his career with the club. 

Messi’s father was the main instigator of his son chasing his dreams of being a great soccer player and to this day is still closely involved with Lionel’s career. Jorge Messi is currently the agent of Lionel Messi, meaning he is still in constant contact with his son as both a loving father and business partner.

Many believe that Jorge pulls many of the strings in Messi’s career and was crucial to his son’s transfer to PSG a couple of years ago. 

On the other hand, Messi’s mother is the one he is closest to out of anyone in his immediate family and this is shown by the prominent tattoo that he has of his mother on his arm. Celia Messi is known to be a very charitable woman and helps to run her son’s foundation alongside her other son Mathias. 

As touched upon, Messi still remains loyal to his local area and will certainly return there in some capacity one day. The Argentinian still owns his family own in Rosario as well as a lavish penthouse that his mother currently resides in, and an entire estate in the suburbs of the city of Buenos Aires. 

• Brothers: Rodrigo Messi, Matias Messi
• Sister: Maria Sol Messi

Lionel Messi has three siblings that are all very close to their superstar brother, the first that is involved with Lionel’s career is Mathias who as we mentioned earlier is a key member of his brother’s foundation.

Mathias is actually very similar looking to his brother, with some often mistaking them for each other when they were younger. 

His other brother is named Rodrigo, with him being perhaps the most involved in the development and later flourishing of Lionel’s career.

Rodrigo was instrumental in getting his brother to play soccer despite his small size and has been a big part ever since, he is now Lionel’s manager of public relations who deals with the media and other inquiries. 

The final Messi sibling is Lionel’s sister Maria who is a prominent Instagram model and influencer back home in Argentina, with her having many followers on the platform. Maria may not be as involved with her brother’s soccer career as her other siblings but is said to watch most of Lionel’s matches whenever she can. 

• Wife: Antonella Roccuzzo

The story of Messi and his wife Antonela is a rather lovely one, especially when compared to the love lives of many of the Argentinian’s star teammates from years gone by.

The pair both come from the Rosario region and are known to have been introduced to each other at an incredibly young age, some believe the pair have been friends since they were as young as 5. 

Messi is said to have been close friends with Antonela’s cousin as a child, with the pair playing soccer together from time to time. After a short while, the pair became a couple and are known to have been with each other since they were children, making them an envied couple in the soccer world. 

As for Antonela’s personal upbringing, she also came from a supporting family that wanted her to achieve many things.

At first, Antonela wanted to train to become a dentist and even went as far as joining dentistry school when she was younger, though later she would leave this career behind in favor of becoming a model. 

Once she has become a star in Argentina, Antonela began to make waves in Europe and has worked alongside a number of high-profile fashion brands across her modeling career.

Nowadays she has a close working relationship with Luis Suarez’s wife, with the pair being in business together.

It is known that Messi and Suarez are close friends after their successful stint at Barcelona played together, they were of course two parts of the famous ‘MSN’ strike force alongside Brazilian star Neymar Jr. 

• Thiago Messi Roccuzzo (Born 2012)
• Matteo Messi Roccuzzo (Born 2015)
• Ciro Messi Roccuzzo (Born 2018)

Lionel and Antonela have three children, all of which are boys . The Messi kids are all of a similar age and are showing promising signs of being top class soccer players themselves.

It is no secret that as young children go they have enjoyed a closeness to legends of the game like few others have, their godfather is Sergio Aguero who happens to be married to the daughter of the great Diego Maradona. 

The eldest of the three Messi boys is Thiago, with him being born back in 2012 while his father was arguably enjoying the greatest days of his career in Spain.

With Thiago now aged 10, he is rapidly progressing through the youth ranks at Barcelona and has been pictured performing some tremendous skills and scoring fabulous goals during his time in the youth team. Time will tell if he is to become the next great Messi in history. 

The next eldest son of the Messi family is Matteo, who was born a few years after Thiago and is now aged 7. Less is known about the younger Messi children for obvious reasons, but I think it is fair to assume that all three are going to be decent soccer players.

With this in mind, the youngest son of Lionel Messi is called Ciro with him being born in 2018. Given Ciro’s incredibly young age, it is far to early to say whether he has inherited his fathers’ talent.

Charitable Work and Initiatives by the Messi Family

Venturing beyond the pitch, the Messi clan has a heart as big as their reputation. Jorge and Celia, along with their children, have embedded generosity into their legacy. The Lionel Messi Foundation, established in 2007, is a testament to their commitment to philanthropy, focusing on access to education and health care for vulnerable children. This isn’t just a side project; it’s a full-fledged mission to give back, and the results are nothing short of inspiring. Through this foundation, the Messi family has funded numerous projects, from refurbishing a hospital ward in Rosario to supporting a pediatric cancer center in Barcelona.

Dive deeper, and you’ll discover the family’s involvement in global initiatives. Whether it’s UNICEF campaigns or collaborations with other charities, the Messis are on a quest to make a world of difference. Their charity work is not just a footnote; it’s a headline of their family story.

Public Appearances and Media Coverage of Messi’s Family

Now, shifting gears to the glitzier side of things, the Messi family isn’t a stranger to the limelight. Their lives, interwoven with Lionel’s astronomical fame, are part of the broader narrative that captivates fans and media alike. When it comes to stepping out in public, they do so with a blend of style and subtlety. From glitzy events like the Ballon d’Or ceremonies to the more somber charity events, the Messi family navigates the spotlight with grace.

Jorge and Celia, while protective of their private life, have occasionally shared the stage with Lionel during pivotal moments of his career, reflecting a united front. Rodrigo, Matias, and Maria Sol, despite each carving their own path, are often caught in snapshots cheering from the stands or gracing red carpets. Their presence in media coverage extends the Messi brand beyond football, showcasing a family united in both triumphs and trials.

Messi Family’s Involvement in Local Community Projects in Rosario

Back in their hometown of Rosario, the Messis are not just a name but a force of community development. They haven’t forgotten their roots and have actively contributed to the growth and upliftment of their local neighborhoods. The family’s efforts range from supporting small businesses to fostering local sports talent. It’s clear that for the Messis, Rosario isn’t just a dot on the map; it’s the heart of their identity.

Local initiatives, especially those involving children and sports, often bear the Messi hallmark. From sponsoring youth soccer tournaments to funding community centers, they’ve made sure Rosario’s next generation has a fighting chance for success. These acts of kindness resonate with the townsfolk, creating an enduring bond between the Messi name and the city’s cultural fabric.

The family’s touch can also be felt in educational outreach, with scholarships and school programs designed to keep kids in school and dreaming big. It’s not just about creating the next superstar on the field, but empowering the leaders, thinkers, and creators of tomorrow.

There we have it, that is all you need to know about the family of Lionel Messi. The little man has enjoyed a happy life all in all and looks set to raise three talented children. Perhaps there will be more on the way, and maybe even a talented women’s soccer player with the name Messi?

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• THE MESSI STORE
• ACHIEVEMENTS
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Web oficial Leo Messi jugador del Inter de Miami - messi.com

Web oficial de Lionel Messi, jugador del Futbol Profesional y campeón mundial con la selección Argentina

As a child, I always had a ball nearby. I liked every sport, but football was the one I liked the most. At home, everybody was crazy about football: my brothers, my cousins... everyone. We all played football — it was the most important thing in our lives. At the age of four, after playing for my neighborhood’s team, I decided to go to Grandoli Club which was nearby. At the age of eight, I got the opportunity to join Newell’s Old Boys as my brother, Rodrigo, was already playing for them and invited me to play at their lower youth division.

We did not live in Argentina for very long. I left when I was 13, way before I started playing for Barcelona, a team which I had been following for a long time. I had huge expectations and was very excited to play for them since it seemed impossible.

I had a growth problem and was used to being the shortest player on the field, but I knew that I would eventually grow — albeit, it would be a slow process. Consequently, I had to administer a daily injection on my legs as part of the treatment process. At the beginning it was painful, but sometimes certain things must be endured in order to achieve your dreams.

EVERYTHING I’VE EVER ACHIEVED IN MY CAREER

I OWE TO SACRIFICE, GIVING MY ALL, AND ALWAYS BEING GRATEFUL FOR HAVING THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY

When I arrived in Barcelona, my dream was to play in the first team, but I never could’ve imagined what would happen next! We visited the city like tourists — Barça’s stadium is beautiful, and I still remember the emotion I felt the first time I stepped foot onto the Camp Nou.

As soon as I arrived in Barcelona, I started training. I didn’t sleep at La Masía , but I went to León XIII (an elementary school), where all the kids from other cities where studying at. I spent every afternoon with those kids, many of them from Barcelona and the rest from other Spanish provinces, like Iniesta. They also knew what it was like to be far away from their families and friends, so we had a lot of things in common. I had a hard time during the first two seasons. I couldn’t play for months because my immigration paperwork had not cleared and I got injured in my very first match.

The real change occurred at the cadet category , as we had a great team and the good fortune of winning everything. We had Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fábregas, Víctor Vázquez and didn’t concede a single match. Today, after so many years, I understand the Barcelona philosophy which made me stronger as a football player and as a person.

When I was sixteen, I got called up and was informed that I would become a professional player — I was so excited! I was going to be part of the first team! My first minutes at Barcelona transpired in a match against Porto and my father was told that I might travel with the team; I didn’t tell anyone and my family found out while watching the news. That day, my dream had come true.

My official debut was for La Liga , in a derby against Espanyol . I was playing for Barça B, but also alternated between Barça C and, at times, with Juvenile B — my corresponding age category. From one day to the next, I was told to report to the first team’s locker room and start training with them. The first day, I walked in shyly, and it felt like my first days at the club, just being there and seeing all those legends — so many great players and wonderful people as well! They treated me very well and I adapted to the team very quickly.

We were a young group with a strong appetite for victory, and it was easy to be a part of the team because Ronaldinho, Deco, Silvynho and Motta made me feel like one of them. As did Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol — all of them showed to be truly exceptional human beings. Dinho was our leader, the best player in the squad, and I learned a lot of things from him. I feel grateful of how he treated me since the first day I arrived and all the assistance he gave me. I feel very lucky to have lived so many great moments with him and to have conquered so many things together.

My first goal was an indescribable feeling. I went to dispute the ball against a defender, won it, passed it back to Ronaldinho and remained in my position waiting for his magic. Ronaldinho chipped it over to me and the ball landed just in front of me — I faked a power shot and lobbed it over the goalkeeper. I ran to the crowd, and when I turned back, there came Dinho, running to hug me. He lifted me up and all my teammates joined in the celebration.

Coming to Barcelona was a big step for me and the most important decision of my life — not only career-wise, but personally as well. I grew up in this club and lived so many happy moments with my family.

I’ve always wanted to play for the national team and living far away made that dream even stronger. I thought that it was going to be very hard, that people in Argentina wouldn’t know or recognize me. But one day, when I was sixteen, I was called up to play in two friendlies with the U- 20 team against Paraguay and Uruguay — the beginning of my journey. We won the U-20 World Cup in Netherlands, one of the biggest achievements of my career.

I would trade all my personal achievements just to win the World Cup with the national team. I’ve always said it: it can’t be compared to anything else. We all want to win, and I want to win more than anyone, because I’ve been struggling with this common dream — to win a championship with Argentina.

How is it like to be Leo Messi? Most of the time it’s nice, but there are moments when I would like to be anonymous and be able to roam the streets unnoticed. Football is always going to be very special for me, but I understand that life is not just about football.

The birth of my first son changed my life and altered my perspective altogether — providing me a greater sense of tranquility. I still love playing football, but when the match is over I dedicate that time to my family.

I lead a peaceful and normal life. My day starts early: we take Thiago to kindergarten, I train at the club, come back home, have lunch and take a short nap before picking him up from school. He doesn’t care a lot about football, and I don’t buy balls or force him to play. Mateo is still very little…but when they grow up, they’ll probably see and hear about what I’ve done.

I appreciate that some may consider me as one of the best footballers in the world, but I try not to think about that. My old man would always give me a critique or two after every game. Even if I scored four goals, he’d always have some advice, and we always ended up laughing because I knew there were no reproaches, just things he considered I needed to improve...you know, dad stuff. I’ve always wanted to improve, it’s still one of my greatest motivations.

I try to focus on maintaining my level of play and I am lucky to be part of a spectacular team — a team that always fights hard and I’ll try to continue enjoying all of this. Having Ballon D’Or nominees in the locker room is truly a privilege, a clear testament to the caliber of players that we have at Barcelona.

I don’t care about personal awards, I am lucky to have won almost everything. What I care about is to keep winning with my club and Argentina. Everyday I give my best in order to obtain more titles with Barcelona and win important things with Argentina. I hope this lasts for many more years to come.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me all this time: Those who believe, like me, that great things are yet to be achieved. Those who encourage me to keep playing football no matter what. None of this would have been possible without their support.

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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 was 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 Barça 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 also won the Golden Ball , awarded to the competition's best player. He was also part of the Argentina under-23 team that won Olympic gold at the Beijing 2008 Games, which remains one of his most treasured career highlights.

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Lionel Messi

Interesting Biography Facts

Lionel Andrés Messi

Football player

June 24, 1987

Zodiac Sign

Rosario, Argentina

Nationality

Argentinean

Lionel Messi family members

Father's Name

Jorge Horácio Messi

Mother's Name

Celia María Cuccittini

Siblings names

Rodrigo Messi (older brother), Matías Messi (older brother), María Sol Messi (younger sister)

Is Lionel Messi a gay/bisexual?

What is Lionel Messi marital status?

Who is Lionel Messi wife?

Antonella Roccuzzo

When did get married?

June 30, 2017

How many children does he have?

3 (Thiago Messi, Mateo Messi, Ciro Messi)

Lionel Messi wife

Antonella roccuzzo (wife since 2017).

photo instagram / antoroccuzzo88

Date of birth: February 26, 1988

In his recent interview to “Marca” Lionel Messi told, that he lives a normal family life, like any other human being. He tries to spend free time with a wife Antonella Roccuzzo and sons. And of course, he tries not to talk about football, when he is at home.

Antonella is known to all football fans in the world, although she is not a celebrity. But she is a woman, who managed to catch Lionel Messi’s heart. By the way, that was not an easy thing. They have been playing with one another since kindergarten age, cohabited together during 9 years, gave a birth to two sons and only then tied a knot officially. In spite of the status of international sports star wife, Anto prefers to stay in the shadow. So, what do we know about Messi’s wife?

She was born in Santa Fe, Argentinean province. Their family lived 5 minutes walk from Jorge and Celia Messi. Since 5 years old Antonella’s brother played with small Lionel. It was he, who introduced Lionel to small Antonella.

They parted the ways, when Messi turned 13. He moved with his father to Spain to play for FC Barcelona. Antonella also lived her own life. She graduated from school and entered the National University of Rosario, where she studied dietetics.

Having graduated from the University, Antonella began working at a local fitness club. She was very beautiful, but was not going to become a model or an actress. The tiny girl (who is just 5 ft 3 in of height) led a very simple modest life. She could remain unknown to the wide audience, if Lionel Messi would go mad from her.

Having become the football superstar, Messi gained a large fan base. Of course, women followed him, and he could have a new affair each next day. But Lionel was not a Lovelace. For a short period he dated a model Macarena Lemos. Then his name was connected with Playboy star Luciana Salazar.

But in 2008 Messi, who kept his personal life in privacy, suddenly was noticed on a date with a mysterious woman. In 2009 he introduced his girlfriend officially.

Soon the girl moved with her boyfriend to Spain. He introduced Anto to his friends. Nowadays Rocuzzo is in good terms with another “football” wife Shakira. The singer’s husband is a Barcelona star Gerard Piqué.

In 2012 Antonella got pregnant. Her boyfriend Messi shared the news with his fans in a very strange way. While playing against Ecuador at Monumental stadium, Messi scored a goal and then put a ball behind his T-shirt, pretending pregnancy. Thus, he opened a secret about his baby with Antonella, who was on the way then.

The couple welcomed two sons before they finally decided to make it official. Leo and Anto wedded in their hometown. Cesc Fabregas, Javier Alejandro Mascherano, Luis Suarez and their wives were among the guests.

In March, 2018 Messi and Rocuzzo became parents for the third time.

Lionel Messi kids

photo instagram.com/leomessi

Thiago Messi (son with Antonella Roccuzzo)

Date of birth: November 2, 2012

The first son of one of the most talented soccer players in the world was born in Dexeus hospital in Spain. After that Leo opened up in his interview that becoming a father turned to be the sweetest thing in his life.

As for now, Thiago is a school pupil. His father takes the boy to school every morning and then picks him up. From time to time they play football together. Thiago has already started to visit soccer training. Probably, he would follow his father’s pace.

Mateo Messi (son with Antonella Roccuzzo)

Date of birth: September 11, 2015

Mateo saw the world for the first time in a picturesque city of Barcelona as well. To stay with his newborn son and wife, Leo made a pause in his work and came from USA to Spain. Currently Mateo is just 2, but he has already started to play football with his father and older brother.

Ciro Messi (son with Antonella Roccuzzo)

Date of birth: March 10, 2018

He is the only son, who was born after their marriage. Mrs. Messi uploaded the picture with a small round belly to Instagram, thus sharing her big baby news. The baby boy was born in Spain too. He is 4 months old as for now.

Who are Lionel Messi parents?

Jorge horácio messi (father).

photo leomessi / twitter

Date of birth: January 1, 1958

Probably, Leo Messi story started on that day, when his father Jorge Horácio Messi married a young attractive girl Celia María Cuccittini. They gave a birth to four kids, and one of them turned to be really special.

Jorge spent most part of his life in a big industrial city of Rosario. He was from a working class of the society and earned his living as a steel factory worker.

It was he, who taught his son to play football and noticed his talent to sports. He took Leo to the local sports club Grandoli and coached kids’ football team, where his son played.

Lionell Messi suffered from the lack of growth hormone, and his father took him to Spain to play for FC Barcelona. The managers of this club agreed to pay for costly treatment of Messi’s disease.

In spite of the fact that Jorge divorced with Messi’s mother, he remained the important person in his son’s life and served as his manger and agent.

In 2016 Lionel and his father were prosecuted for tax fraud. Jorge and his son were sentenced to 21 months of prison, but they both didn’t go to jail.

Celia María Cuccittini (mother)

photo instagram / leomessi

Date of birth: 1960 Celia Cuccittini can be proud of herself, as she brought up not just a sports genius Leo Messi, but also three other beautiful and talented kids.

In spite of the fact that Celia and her son Leo see each other not so often, they remain really close. Messi is always attentive to his mother. On the 57 th birthday he gave her a giant cake with a female high-heeled shoe on it and posted the pics with it in his Instagram. In addition, the football star tattooed his mother’s face on his shoulder.

Lionel Messi siblings

Rodrigo messi (older brother).

photo rodrigo.messi10 / instagram

Date of birth: February 10, 1980

Rodrigo is one of those, who helped Leo develope his athletics skills. When Leo and Rodrigo were in their early years, they played soccer together.

Till now brothers remain close. Rodrigo Messi works with Lionel. He manages his daily schedule and public relations.

Matías Messi (older brother)

photo matu_messi10 / instagram

Date of birth: June 23, 1982

Matias is also busy with developing Leo Messi professional brand. He runs his brother’s charity foundation, named “Leo Messi Foundation”.

Matias is widely known by his hot-tempered nature. Twice he was arrested by the police for misbehavior and threats of starting gun shooting. The last time was in 2017, when Matias was involved into a car crash, driving his Land Rover. Then he assaulted another car driver and threatened him with a gun. In Matias’s car two cannabis cigarettes were found. After that the young man spent a night at a police station.

María Sol Messi (younger sister)

photo mariasolmessi / instagram

Date of birth: November 30, 1993

Maria Sol is the only girl in Messi family. She is famous not just as Leo Messi’s sister, but also as an Instagram star with more than 200, 000 followers.

In her interview Maria told, that she couldn’t believe her eyes, when she watched her famous brother on TV for the first time. He looked the same as in everyday life, but she felt, that he was special for many people worldwide. She watches Messi’s matches from time to time. Although Leo and Maria don’t see each other very often, they speak on phone almost every day.

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Love you Messi. U are the best

Ever since I started watching football. I have been a huge fan of Messi. He always amaze me on the pitch I like his ball skills 🥉⚽. He can dribble from goal and end up scoring what a player. The goat

Fantastic player beautiful family 🙏

Messie one of the the good year you are going be coach for you team.

I never been a fan of football but after watching Messi play…I have never stopped watching him…..I love him so much 💖❤️💜🖤♥️… there’s no player in the world presently that can compete with him His literally a living legend 😮🙏🙊❤️💜 I am so happy I got to see him play..I just wish to meet him

i love messi so much gg

i love messi so much

Messi ❤️ is my number one footballer in the world plus the good heart he has🙏🙏

cool like messi

I LOVE MESSI HE IS MY GUY

Messi is the best

Love you messi

Messi is the best in the world. Despite all the tough times he always went pass the obstacles inspiring millions including me.

Messi is my boy

Leo my best footballer in the world

Messi is literally the best in the world

Messi is my favourite soccer player

Very comprehensive information about Lionel Messi. I love to read it, keep updating about Messi.

Keep shining my best and ever the best foot baller of world keep shining, Barcelona for for ever, I love you

Ua the champion, the greatest of all times, keep shining man, love u

I was born the same day as his son

The mountain will fall down, the water will flow, and you will never fall

He’s so good because he’s NOT A MUSLIM, so please stop asking him to convert to islam! So annoying… God bless u all

Leo messi I love you, you are unique with your families cool luv to u and your family I promise I will be morethan you in the name of Allah(GOD).

THANK L!€$ LIPORNHAM KONINHE MY FANS AROUND THE WORLD

Comment Lion messi I LIKE YOU MUCH Becuase you know how to futball

Lionel Messi is a football prodigy. If there is ever such a category.

The skills and abilities he displays on the field while playing football, cannot be emulated by many footballers.

There has to have some genetic foundation or influence. That is why he is so special.

He is the king maker of soccer &he is legend I love u so much buddy

The blessed family.king of soccer the unpredictable.love uuuuu.

Messi is the semi god of soccer.He’s my mentor. I love you,Senior Colleague.

I luv his work and d way he handles his family with luv and care

I love lionel messi story,me and friend isaac also want to become a footballer

Thanks to Leo Messi, he always keeps his family as much as possible together…you are such a genius man Leo!!!

Comment conguralition to your work doing the best football in the world

May god bless messi and his family.

LONG LIVE THE WORLD GREATEST PLAYER EVER LIONEL MESSI, BARCELONA 4 LIFE.

Leo Messi, The greatest of all times🎆 May he continue making us happy

may allah protect leo messi and his family guied him from his enemies

Hola messi siento molestarte estoy muy contento de tu familia y porfavor necesito tu ayuda para hacerme un contrato de un año para sacarme papel porqué no tengo trabajo porfavor??

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Lionel Messi Biography: Personal Life, Career and Achievements

Introduction

Quick facts about lionel messi, messi’s childhood and personal life, start of career of lionel messi, lionel messi’s career, what are lionel messi’s biggest achievements, stats and numbers.

To win recognition as one of the best to ever play the game is always an extremely hard goal, not only in soccer but in any sport . It’s even more challenging when other players have already won that reputation— let alone if someone from your own country did so.

Well, Lionel Messi defied the odds and did all of that. In a country where everyone thought that no one would ever come close to Diego Maradona , a relatively unknown teenager raised in Barcelona eventually proved them wrong. Argentina produced another legend after Maradona, and that’s Leo Messi. Here, let’s get to know more about him .

Lionel Messi normally needs no introduction, but for those who need context, he’s a professional footballer widely regarded as the best of all time , or at least one of them. He was born in Argentina but spent most of his life in Europe , where he played for Spain giants FC Barcelona since he was a kid. In 2021, Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain , which is just his second club in his fantastic career. Messi is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010.

• Full Name : Lionel Andrés Messi
• Nickname : Leo, La Pulga, La Pulga Atómica—The Flea, The Atomic Flea
• Birth Date : June 24, 1987
• Nationality : Argentina
• Height : 1.70 m (5 ft  7 in)
• Position : Winger, attacking midfielder, false nine
• Number : #10, #30

Lionel Messi’s Family

• Parents : Jorge Messi (father) and Celia María Cuccittini
• Siblings : Rodrigo (elder brother), Matías (elder brother), and María Sol (younger sister).
• Wife : Antonella Roccuzzo
• Children : Thiago, Mateo, Ciro

Lionel Messi’s Parents

Born and raised in Rosario , Lionel Messi comes from a working-class family that has been by his side throughout his entire life. His father Jorge worked as section manager in a steel factory, while her mother Celia worked in a magnetic oil workshop and occasionally cleaned houses for a living. Leo also has two elder brothers, Rodrigo and Matías , and a younger sister, María Sol .

Leo’s career, however, changed their lives . Jorge has acted as his agent since Messi joined the Barcelona youth academy, while his brothers eventually started to handle his businesses and professional brands. Still, his family—especially Jorge and Celia—has always kept a low profile despite the Argentine footballer’s rise to stardom.

Lionel Messi’s Wife and Kids

Lionel moved to Spain when he was only 13 , but he built his life with someone he knew from his childhood in Rosario: Antonella Roccuzzo , longtime partner and eventual wife. Having known each other since they were five, they got together as teenagers when Messi was already in Barcelona.

The couple has three kids: Thiago , Mateo , and Ciro . The first was born in November 2012, the second in September 2015, while the third in March 2018. Antonella became popular on social media , where he shares pictures of her family as well as her healthy lifestyle to millions of followers.

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

Soccer was part of Lionel Messi’s life since he was a kid . He started playing the sport with his older brother and their friends in his native Rosario. Despite being smaller and younger than the rest , he was good enough to play with bigger boys.

It didn’t take long for him to start playing ‘formally’, being coached by his father at local club Grandoli when he was just five. A few years later, Messi hit his first big break when he joined the academy of Rosario giants Newell’s Old Boys , a top-tier football club.

An Expensive Treatment

Messi has always been shorter than his peers, so at some point in his childhood it became normal to see the rest being taller than him. But as he grew up, that became increasingly noticeable and it started to call the family’s attention . When he was just 11, Messi was diagnosed by doctors with a growth hormone deficiency (GHD) . This condition that barred his growth could be treated but it wasn’t cheap .

The Failed Interest from River Plate

Messi had to receive growth-hormone injections every night, but the medical bills quickly became too expensive for the family. His talent, however, continued to make noise and it eventually caught the eye of domestic powerhouse River Plate .

Unfortunately, River was unwilling to cover his medical treatment, which is why nothing materialized. However, a greater opportunity was in store for Messi.

A Life-Changing Opportunity 

A trial at FC Barcelona was just the beginning of something bigger for Leo, who made such an impression on coach Carles Rexach that the Spanish giants secured his signature as soon as they could. In fact, Barca were so desperate to acquire Messi that his first contract was signed on a paper napkin . On top of that, the Catalans took care of his expensive medical treatment.

At only 13, Messi joined Barcelona youth academy, called La Masia . His father Jorge supported Leo from the very beginning, moving with him to Spain while the rest of the family stayed in Rosario. Though adjusting to a new country was something new for him, Messi didn’t struggle to perform at his new club and went on to climb up the ranks until making his first team debut in 2005.

First Years (2004-2008)

Messi was promoted to the senior squad as a teenager and made his first team debut at only 17 years old , becoming the then youngest player to don the FC Barcelona uniform. 

Messi played his first official match for the club on October 16, 2004, coming on for Deco in the 82nd minute of a LaLiga fixture against Espanyol . That season, Messi also became the youngest goal scorer in the history of the Spanish top-flight.

A Big Decision: Argentina or Spain?

Messi’s progress at the Catalan outfit caught the eye of the Spanish national team, which tried to convince him to represent its youth teams. Messi, who had been given Spanish citizenship, declined the offer as he remained attached to his Argentine roots .

Nightmare International Debut

Having helped La Albiceleste win the U-20 World Cup, Messi made his senior international debut for Argentina in a friendly match on August 17, 2005—but nothing went according to plan. Only 43 seconds after coming on in the second half against Hungary , the 18-year-old Messi saw the red card for elbowing a rival in his neck while running towards the goal.

First World Cup (2006)

However, Messi managed to leave that behind and went on to be part of the Argentina roster for the 2006 World Cup, where he became the youngest Argentine player to play and score in FIFA’s flagship competition . His first goal in a World Cup came in a 5-0 victory against Serbia and Montenegro in the group stage. Argentina was eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals, and people still question Jose Pekerman’s decision not to field Messi that day.

Olympic Success (2008)

But from then on, Messi became a regular starter in the national team. Following a painful defeat in the 2007 Copa America final, the rising Barcelona star led his country to an Olympic gold medal in Beijing 2008 . After the Summer Olympics , Messi’s club career reached new heights .

Rise To Stardom (2009)

Though Messi was part of the Barcelona roster that won the double in the 2005-06 season and established himself as starter in the next two years, his breakout season came in the 2008-09 campaign . With Ronaldinho gone, Messi emerged as the new superstar of Barcelona.

That year, Messi took his game to the next level by helping Barcelona secure the first “treble” in club history . That means winning the best three tournaments at stake: UEFA Champions League, LaLiga, and Copa del Rey . The treble-winning team led by Pep Guardiola is widely considered as the best team of all time, and Leo played a pivotal role in its success.

Sextuple Year, First Ballon d’Or

With nine goals in 12 Champions League games (including the game-winner in the final against Manchester United), 23 goals in 31 league matches and six in eight Copa del Rey affairs, Messi made a strong case to win the first Ballon d’Or in his career . 

On top of that, Barca ended up securing the first sextuple in soccer history : Champions League, LaLiga, Copa del Rey, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Spanish Super Cup. However, the best was yet to come.

Making The History Books (2012)

2012 was a historic, record-breaking year for Messi. After becoming the first player to score five goals in a single Champions League game, Messi surpassed Cesar Rodriguez (232 goals) as Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer scoring a hat trick against Granada . 

On top of that, he also broke Gerd Muller ’s 39-year record of 85 goals in a calendar year (1972), recording 91 goals in 2012 . Far from being jealous, Muller said: "My record stood for 40 years—85 goals in 60 games—and now the best player in the world has broken it, and I'm delighted for him. He is an incredible player, gigantic."

Needless to say, that wonderful year earned Messi his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or award, becoming the first player in history to win the prize on four occasions.

Tough Years with the National Team (2010-2018)

While Messi enjoyed worldwide recognition for his fantastic performances at FC Barcelona, he didn’t get the same kind of love in his home country . Though many Argentine fans admired Leo, his lack of success with the national team while he thrived in Spain made him a subject of criticism by the local media. In addition, he was also constantly compared with Diego Maradona.

To be fair, no other team could match what Barcelona did under Pep Guardiola. Regardless, Messi was made a scapegoat for Argentina’s failures in those years. He had blossomed as a Ballon d’Or player at Barcelona, but he couldn’t carry his level to the international stage.

2010 World Cup

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the first big blow in Messi’s international career. Not only was Argentina destroyed by Germany in the quarterfinals, but Messi ended the tournament without scoring a single goal . The team didn’t arrive to that competition in a good spot, but the expectations around Messi were still much higher.

2011 Copa America

Things only got worse in the 2011 Copa America . Despite being the host country, Argentina left a lot to be desired by losing in the quarterfinals against Uruguay. That tournament was particularly harsh for Messi, who was whistled by the home crowd as he finished the tournament goalless.

2014 World Cup

His image started to improve on the road to Brazil 2014, getting on the scoresheet from the very first game and putting the team on his back en route to the World Cup final . However, Argentina’s heartbreaking loss to Germany meant that Messi had yet to silence his haters, even though he won the Golden Ball award—given to the player of the tournament.

2015 Copa America

Despite the progress made in that World Cup, Messi had once again taken many steps back in his relationship with Argentinian fans and media. International glory continued to elude Messi in the 2015 Copa America, when his side lost to Chile in the final. But Messi hit rock bottom the following year .

Copa America Centenario (2016)

Having shone throughout the Copa America Centenario —held in the US in 2016 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the competition—it looked like Messi’s first piece of silverware with the Argentina national team was inevitable. But once again, Argentina finished runner-up as Chile stood on its way. This time it was even more traumatic for Messi, who missed his spot-kick in the penalty shootout .

A devastated Messi was seen crying after the loss, as his and Argentina’s wait for an international success extended. Having reached his lowest point since playing for his country, Messi said postgame he would quit the national team. The haters were still there, and their comments were even louder after that final, but many Argentinians were in shock as they saw their idol at an all-time low .  

Fortunately, Messi changed his mind a few months later . That doesn’t mean that things became easier, though.

Troubled Road to Russia 2018

Argentina struggled on their way to the 2018 World Cup. The soccer federation went through significant changes in its hierarchy, while the team had three different coaches throughout the qualifiers. In the end, Argentina clinched a spot in Russia thanks to a hat trick from Messi in the final round.

Disappointing World Cup

Argentina didn’t arrive in Russia in high spirits, and it proved costly . Messi missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Iceland, which was followed by an ugly loss to Croatia . The Barcelona star helped his side beat Nigeria to avoid a group stage exit, but Argentina then lost to eventual champions France . 

This time, the blame didn’t fall on Messi, as Jorge Sampaoli did a terrible job as head coach. Still, it was yet another sour World Cup for the best player on Earth. In all those years, Messi had better luck at Barcelona—but soon he would experience bad times there as well .

Last Successful Years with Barcelona

2013 was complicated for Messi. The soccer machine spent months on the sidelines with hamstring injuries but found a way to come back stronger, becoming the all-time top scorer in both La Liga and Champions League in 2014.

The 2014-15 was the last great season for Messi and Barcelona, as the club repeated the treble that year with a powerful offensive trio of striker Luis Suarez, Messi and Neymar . Additionally, the Argentine footballer regained the FIFA Ballon d’Or after losing to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013 and 2014. 

Barcelona Goes Downhill (2018-2020)

Barcelona went through a tough period from 2018 to 2020, suffering humiliating Champions League eliminations in consecutive years. Roma , Liverpool , and Bayern have all handed Barca painful defeats , preventing them from making the final.

On top of that, the club started to experience financial problems with Josep Maria Bartomeu ’s board. All those woes combined almost drove Messi away from Barcelona. The Argentine footballer looked ready to leave in 2020 as a free agent, but it turned out that his contract didn’t allow it. 

Barcelona Farewell (2021)

Messi had no option but to stay for the 2020-21 season, his toughest year at the club. Once again, Leo was one of the few bright spots of the team but it was still a lackluster campaign as Barca was demolished by PSG in the Champions League and finished third in LaLiga.

Messi had entered the final year of his contract, but his mood had changed as Bartomeu left. Joan Laporta won the elections and, even with all the financial problems that struck the club, the outlook was much better. Therefore, though Messi became a free agent at the end of the season, he looked ready to re-sign .

However, in a shocking turn of events, the club told Messi he couldn’t be registered in LaLiga due to salary cap rules. And just like that, Messi left . Ironically, while he went through the hardest days at Barcelona, Messi finally found happiness with Argentina.

Redemption with Argentina (2019-2022)

It took a long time, but Messi changed the narrative with the Argentine national team. A mature Leo had emerged as the face of the team’s reconstruction under Lionel Scaloni after the 2018 World Cup. The team finished third in the 2019 Copa America, and from then on, there was no turning back.

Argentina strengthened itself in South America, getting off to a positive start to the Qualifiers. A new generation of players had come and Messi started to feel more comfortable with them. Eventually, Argentina started to string good results together and it proved a point in the 2021 Copa America.

2021 Copa America Triumph

Messi’s wait for an elusive international title came to an end in epic fashion, with Argentina beating rivals and host country Brazil in the final at the Maracana . La Albiceleste ended a 28-year drought, and Messi achieved his first major success with the senior national team .

Since then, Messi has received nothing but love from the Argentine community . Besides, he continued to lead the team en route to a Qatar 2022 berth and a memorable Finalissima trophy. 

Qatar 2022: The Wait Comes to an End

At Qatar 2022, the inevitable finally happened: Lionel Messi got his hands on the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy. In one of the best performances ever seen in tournament history, the 35-year-old broke all kinds of records to emulate Maradona and take Argentina back to the promised land. For many, the GOAT debate should no longer exist : with this title, Messi is widely regarded as the best soccer player ever.

A New Adventure in Paris (2021)

While enjoying the best moment in his international career, Messi had to make a big decision: Barcelona was no longer his club, and he had many offers on the table. In the end, Lionel signed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.

Though the expectations in the French capital were through the roof, Messi struggled in his first season at the Parc des Princes . The team won the Ligue 1 , but its early Champions League defeat to Real Madrid—in addition to Messi’s poor goalscoring record—made Messi target of criticism by PSG fans and French media. Messi got off to a much better start next season, replacing whistles for standing ovations.

Named World Player of the Year several times, Messi is widely considered as one of, if not the best soccer player of his generation. Many compare him with Cristiano Ronaldo , but for others they are not even in the same tier . Some believe Messi deserves to be compared to the likes of Pele or Maradona, but his true fans think he’s even better than any other player in history.

Renowned personalities in world soccer only have good things to say about Messi. For instance, Josep Guardiola: " Nobody can sit at Messi's table . He scores 60 or 70 goals per season, always in the big games; he plays every three days and never gets injured. He has his body under total control. He's the best player I've ever seen." However, Messi’s honors speak for themselves . 

List of Messi’s Awards

Club titles, fc barcelona.

• Champions League : 4 (2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15)
• LaLiga : 10 (2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19)
• Copa del Rey : 7 (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
• Club World Cup : 3 (2009, 2011, 2015)
• UEFA Super Cup : 3 (2010, 2012, 2016)
• Supercopa de España : 8 (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019)
• Ligue 1 : 1 (2021-22)
• Trophée des Champions : 1 (2022)

International Titles

• FIFA World Cup : 1 (2022)
• Copa America : 1 (2021)
• Finalissima : 1 (2022)
• Olympic Gold Medal : 1 (2008)
• U-20 World Cup : 1 (2005)

Individual Honors

• Ballon d’Or : 7 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021)
• FIFA World Player of the Year : 1 (2009)
• The Best Award : 1 (2019)
• European Golden Shoe : 6 (2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
• Pichichi LaLiga : 7 (2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21)
• MVP LaLiga : 9 (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
• Champions League top scorer : 6 (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2018-19)
• World Cup Golden Ball: 2 (2014, 2022)
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year : 2 (2010-11, 2014-15)
• Golden Boy : 1 (2005)
• MVP Copa America : 1 (2021)
• All-time top goalscorer at same club
• FC Barcelona all-time top scorer
• All-time leading goalscorer of Argentina
• Argentina’s top scorer at World Cups
• First player to score in all knockout rounds of a World Cup
• Most games played at the FIFA World Cup
• All-time top scorer in LaLiga
• Top scorer in the 21st century
• Top scorer in El Clasico
• All time international top scorer in South America
• Most games played for FC Barcelona
• Most games played with Argentina
• Most trophies won at FC Barcelona
• Most goals in a LaLiga season (50)
• Most decorated Argentine player

Though his many awards already speak for themselves, Messi’s stats continue to prove why he made a strong case to be considered the best football player of all time. 

Overall stats

• Games : 1003
• Goals : 793
• Assists : 350
• Cards : 95 (3 red cards)
• Opponents : 165
• Coefficient: 1.531
• Penalties: 108
• Free Kicks: 60
• Assists: 350
• Opponents: 102
• Players: 81
• Competitions: 11

* Source: MessiStats

Conclusions

The comparisons will always be there, whether it is fair or not. Either way, Lionel Messi has certainly given reasons to be regarded as one of the greatest soccer players the game has ever seen . 

Watch the best moments of Messi and other great players with The Highlights app. Sign up to the waitlist to be the first to know when the app is available.

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Introduction

(born 1987). Argentine-born soccer (association football) player Lionel Messi was named Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) world player of the year eight times (2009–12, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023). In 2022 he helped lead Argentina to the World Cup title.

Early Years

Lionel Andrés Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. He started playing soccer as a boy. In 1995 he joined the youth team of Newell’s Old Boys (a Rosario-based top-division soccer club). Messi’s skills attracted the attention of leading clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. At age 13 Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona, Spain. He joined FC Barcelona ’s under-14 team. He quickly graduated through the higher-level teams until at age 16 he was given his informal debut with FC Barcelona in a friendly match (nontournament game).

Record-Setting Club Career

In the 2004–05 season Messi, then 17 years old, became the youngest official player and goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga (the country’s highest soccer division). Though only 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 meters) tall and weighing 148 pounds (67 kilograms), he was strong, well-balanced, and versatile on the field. He became known for his keen passing and precise ball control. In 2005 he was granted Spanish citizenship. The next year Messi and FC Barcelona won the Champions League (the European club championship) title.

By 2008 Messi was one of the most dominant players in the world. He finished second to Manchester United ’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the voting for the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year. In early 2009 Messi capped off a spectacular 2008–09 season by helping Barcelona capture the club’s first “treble” (winning three major European club titles in one season). The team won the La Liga championship, the Copa del Rey (Spain’s major domestic cup), and the Champions League title. He scored 38 goals in 51 matches during that season. He bested Ronaldo in the balloting for FIFA World Player of the Year honors by a record margin as well.

During the 2009–10 season Messi scored 34 goals in domestic games as Barcelona repeated as La Liga champions. He earned the Golden Shoe award as Europe’s leading scorer. He was also named the 2010 world player of the year (the award was renamed the FIFA Ballon d’Or that year).

Messi led Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League titles the following season, which helped him capture an unprecedented third consecutive world player of the year award. In March 2012 he netted his 233rd goal for Barcelona. It made him the club’s all-time leading scorer in La Liga play. In 2011–12 he guided the team to another Copa del Rey win. He scored 73 goals in all competitions. With that feat he broke Gerd Müller’s 39-year-old record for single-season goals in a major European soccer league. Messi’s landmark season led to his being named the 2012 world player of the year. He was the first player to win the honor four times.

Messi helped Barcelona capture another treble during the 2014–15 season. He led the team with 43 goals scored over the course of the campaign, which resulted in his fifth world player of the year honor. He scored 41 goals across all competitions for Barcelona in 2015–16. The club won the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey during that season.

Messi scored 53 goals for Barcelona in 2016–17, leading the team to another Copa del Rey title. In 2017–18 he scored 45 goals, and Barcelona won the La Liga–Copa del Rey double once again. Messi scored 51 goals across all domestic competitions in 2018–19 as Barcelona won another La Liga championship. In December 2019 he won his sixth career world player of the year honor. In the 2020–21 season Barcelona claimed the Copa del Rey title.

Messi became a free agent in 2021. He left Barcelona having become the leading goal scorer in La Liga’s history, with 474 goals. Later that year he signed with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) of Ligue 1, the French top-division league. At the end of the year Messi received the world player of the year award for the seventh time. Messi teamed with fellow stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé to guide PSG to Ligue 1 titles in 2021–22 and 2022–23. In June 2023 Messi announced that he was leaving PSG to relocate to the United States to play for Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer.

National Team Star

Despite his professional success in Spain and France, Messi’s ties with his homeland remained strong. He was a key member of various Argentine national teams from 2005. He played on Argentina’s victorious 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship squad and represented the country in the 2006 World Cup . He scored two goals in five matches as Argentina swept to the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Messi helped Argentina reach the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, where the team was eliminated by Germany for the second consecutive time in World Cup play.

At the 2014 World Cup, Messi put on a dazzling display. He scored four goals as Argentina advanced to the World Cup final for the first time in 24 years. Argentina lost that contest 1–0 to Germany,. Messi nevertheless won the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.

During the 2016 Copa América Centenario tournament, Messi netted his 55th international goal. In doing so, he broke Gabriel Batistuta’s Argentine scoring record. After Argentina was defeated in the Copa final, Messi announced that he was quitting the national team. Less than two months later, however, he reversed his decision and rejoined the team. At the 2018 World Cup, Messi made only one goal and two assists as Argentina managed to reach the knockout stage. The team was then eliminated by France. Argentina finished third at the 2019 Copa América, but Messi led the team to victory in the tournament two years later.

Ahead of the 2022 World Cup Messi announced that this World Cup—his fifth—would be his last. Messi scored 7 goals in the tournament, pushing his number of career World Cup goals to 13. That made him Argentina’s all-time leading World Cup goal scorer. Argentina shockingly lost its opening match of the tournament to Saudi Arabia, but the team recovered and went undefeated thereafter.

Argentina met France, the defending World Cup champions, in the final. The match became an instant classic. France twice came back to tie the game before Argentina won on penalty kicks. Messi scored two goals in the final to lead Argentine scorers. He was the first player in history to have netted a goal in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final of a single World Cup. Messi was awarded the Golden Ball for a second time, becoming the first two-time winner of the prize. Messi’s outstanding play in the tournament helped earn him his eighth career world player of the year award in 2023.

In 2024 Messi helped lead the Argentine national team to its second consecutive Copa América title. Argentina defeated Colombia 1–0 in the Copa final.

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Lionel Messi's Life Story: The Smallest Boy With The Biggest Dreams

Lionel Messi is a well-known name even to those with no interest in sports. Even though he is shorter than most of his teammates, he rises above his opponents with adept skill and a legendary ability to score goals for his team.

Since his childhood, Lionel Messi, who was nicknamed "Leo", dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. But his ambition seemed blown out of proportion when considering his physical limitations and financial restrictions. No one could have predicted that after 17 years and 114 days of non-stop faith and dedication, the Argentinian footballer would be playing for his national team and FC   Barcelona .

Inspired by his family and motivated by his passion , Lionel Messi pushed his boundaries to go from being the "smallest player on the pitch" to one of the greatest athletes of our time .

Posted by Goalcast

Training since childhood

Lionel Andrés Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in the warm city of Rosario, Argentina. He was the third child in a tight-knit, hard-working family who fervently loved football.

Naturally, young Leo developed a passion for football himself. His two older brothers and cousins would constantly go out to play, and as soon as he was able, Leo tagged along. But the rest of the boys were much older than Leo, and were hesitant to let him join in.

His grandmother, who always went with him, insisted they allow him to play too. After watching Leo take his first football steps, she later convinced Leo's mother to buy his first pair of cleats.

At four years old, Leo joined the Grandoli local club, where he was coached by his father. His grandmother watched him almost every day as he dutifully trained to develop his skills. When he was eight, Leo joined the talented  Newell Old Boys,  another Rosario-based club that he had always looked up to.

Football soon became as important as the air he breathed. Messi practiced day in and day out, skipping outings with his friends to train at home before a game. The sport made him inexplicably happy and motivated and he began to dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Diagnosed with an inability to grow

When he was 10, his beloved grandmother passed away. The family was devastated, and her absence affected Messi beyond description. He didn't touch a football for weeks, but his father nudged him to carry on for the club. He returned, aiming to make his grandmother proud.

Over the following year, Leo played incessantly. But as he grew older, his height remained the same. His concerned parents eventually took their 11-year-old son to a doctor, who broke the news that the boy suffered from a growth hormone deficiency. This meant he was physically unable to grow unless he received special treatment, which would span three years and cost $1,500 per month.

Unable to cover such a costly treatment, Messi's father was left with no choice but to request financial support from the  Newell's Old Boys club. The coach couldn't deny the child's exceptional talent, and accepted to pay for the treatment. They handed over a small sum to his embarrassed father, but that was all he ever received from them.

As his father continued to search for a way to cover the treatment, Leo was scouted by the Buenos Aires club River Plate , home of Pablo Aimar . Leo absolutely idolized the dubbed "football genius" and was ecstatic at the offer. However, the club was unwilling to cover Leo's expenses since Argentina was currently undergoing an economic collapse. He was undeniably crushed, but it wasn't long before another offer came in, this time from Spain.

Accepting the offer of a lifetime

Stories of a 13-year-old boy who had similar talents to legendary Argentinian footballer  Diego Maradona  had reached the ears of FC Barcelona 's technical director, Carles Rexach . Intrigued, he sent an offer to the Messi family, proposing a trial where he could see the boy's famed skills for himself. If he passed, the club would cover his medical bills, but on the condition that Messi moved to Spain.

While Leo didn't want to leave his life in Rosario behind, his dream of becoming a professional football player was too important. So, in September 2000, Leo and his family uprooted their lives and flew across the Atlantic to Barcelona.

The family stayed in a hotel while Leo presented himself to the prestigious FC Barcelona Youth team. He was given his uniform and went to the changing room, where he didn't speak a word to his new teammates. They all looked at him in disbelief of how small he was, but after he spent two minutes on the pitch, they were in disbelief of how good he was.

Coach Carles was so impressed that he offered Leo a contract on the only thing he had at hand -- a paper napkin. Leo signed it, opening the door to the life he had always dreamed of.

Rising through the ranks

At 13, Lionel Messi was scoring his way through the system in record time. While still very quiet and noticeably shorter than everyone else on the field, Leo stood out for his deft ability with the ball and unbeatable goal-scoring. He was even named Player of the Tournament.

Behind the scenes of his success on the field was an arduous routine. Every day he practiced and every night he injected growth hormones into his legs. This was Leo's life until he was 14 years old.

In barely a year and a half, he had already reached a level in the academy where he could join his first team. His treatment was finally over, and his body began to grow normally again, ultimately reaching 5' 7".

In 2003, at 16 years old, Messi made his professional debut representing Barcelona in a match versus Porto. His performance surprised his opponents and impressed the technical staff. Even after being kicked down repeatedly, he got up, dribbled past four players, and scored a goal.

His moves were unprecedented, partly due to not being based on strategy, but driven by instinct. Leo's talent won him a spot with Barcelona's senior squad, and he trained daily with Ronaldinho. The Brazilian player called the shy teen his "little brother," and openly recognized that Messi would surpass even him.

Breaking personal and global records

At 17, Messi made his league debut as the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition. His coach watched in awe as the teenager breezed past his opponents, controlling the ball with an almost surreal precision. Barcelona went on to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time in six years.

Leo now viewed his short stature as an advantage on the pitch, enabling a swiftness which soon earned him the nickname "The Atomic Flea" in Spanish media. Although he had to train harder than ever to be strong enough to fend off his older and taller opponents.

At 18, he signed his first contract as a senior team player for FC Barcelona. Shortly after, he made his first international appearance playing for Argentina in a match against Hungary. However, two minutes in, a player grabbed onto his shirt and Leo was sent off for using his arm to shake the player off. He sulked about the foul all the way to the dressing room, where his team later found him in tears.

As the seasons went on, the talented football player kept improving and breaking his own records. At 19, he had already established himself as a world-class football player. His talent as a top scorer led him to win dozens of triumphs for both  FC Barcelona and his national team .  At 22, Messi won the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Although he was constantly plagued by serious injuries, by the time he was 24, Lionel Messi had broken the all-time world record for most goals scored in a calendar year. After every goal, he would point two fingers towards the sky, dedicating the triumph to his grandmother.

Resignation, return, and philanthropy

At 27 years old, Messi proudly played for his home country at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He continued to amaze the sports world with his spectacular footwork, creative assists, and eye-opening goals.

However, he was unable to pull Argentina through the final, losing 1-0 to Germany. Even though he earned a Golden Ball, the highest FIFA award for best player, he was utterly disappointed. Leo desperately wanted to bring the cup back to Argentina, as Maradona had done in 1986.

In June 2016, he played for Argentina at the Copa America Centenario 2016. After rigorous training and intense matches, the team made it to the final. The reputed Lionel Messi had his moment of truth as he stepped up to take the defining penalty against Chile. But he missed and Argentina was sent home to disappointed fans.

Crushed by the loss for him and his country, Leo announced his resignation from professional football. His decision was met with a widespread campaign titled "Don't go, Leo!" The Mayor of Buenos Aires even unveiled a statue of Lionel Messi in an effort to change his mind. Eventually, Messi decided he wasn't ready to hang up his shirt just yet and returned to his beloved sport.

Although he has yet to fulfill his goal of bringing home a world cup, Lionel Messi achieved his childhood dream with inspiring strength and dedication.

Dubbed as "Maradona's successor" by the legend himself, Leo continues to make his team and country proud in more ways than one. Off the pitch, he is an advocate for children's rights, funding medical care for the less fortunate and funding youth clubs, including his old football club, Newell's Old Boys .

The boy who was once too small to play with his cousins is now the winner of five Golden Balls, three European Golden Shoes, and is one of the top goal scorers in the world. But the modest Leo finds more joy in simply knowing that his grandmother would be proud. 

You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it. - Lionel Messi

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Rude Customer Has a Disagreement Over $6 - Teen Employees Have the Perfect Response

Teens Applauded For the Way They Handled This Angry Customer

Working in customer service can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with rude and demanding clients. That’s particularly true for some teens, who work these jobs for part-time money and are often bullied by adults. Perhaps that’s why people are applauding these teen girls for the way they expertly handled an over-the-top customer.

An Angry Customer

See on Instagram

It was a tough day for employees at Keke’s Snow Balls in Texas when an angry woman approached the window. She had placed a pickup order for a snow cone and because of a shift change, the snow cone wasn’t ready. Two days later, the customer came back and demanded a refund of $6.

A girl named Victoria was working the counter and listened to the woman’s complaints. According to Inside Edition , it was immediately clear this woman didn’t want to resolve things in the right way, and was trying to pick a fight. Another employee named Kaeley overheard it all.

“I was just listening in the back and, eventually, I could just hear she’s angry the whole time. So I was like, clearly she just wants to have a problem,” Kaeley recalled to the publication. “And I’m not about that, so I was like, ‘Okay let me just go give her $6 and we can move on, move past this.’ It was $6.”

An Unexpected Turn

At that point, the situation should have been resolved. However, Kaeley noticed the sign outside the window had fallen over during the dispute. So, she opened the window to fix it. That’s when the woman came by, slapped the sign out of the 17-year-old girl’s hand, and called her a derogatory name.

“M’am, please don’t act like that. You’re a grown woman,” Kaeley responded in a video that the restaurant then posted to TikTok . “You’re a grown woman. I’m 17. Get out of here. Don’t come back. Don’t come back. We don’t need your business.”

“I was scared and very confused,” Victoria added. “I wasn’t understanding what was going on.”

A Brilliant Online Reaction

After the owner posted the video online, it went viral and many people reached out to support the girls for their perfect reaction to the customer.

“People were traveling to come and see us from hours away,” the owner, Kyle, told Inside Edition . “We had people reaching out to us on TikTok asking how to tip the girls. We even had people going and leaving Google reviews that haven’t even been to the shop, saying they’re so proud of the girls and how they dealt with it,” he continued.

Kyle explained that he posted the video to remind everyone that the employees behind the counter are people, too. Adults, in particular, should try to remember that oftentimes, these are kids working to save up for cars, school, and other big life steps.

“Mistakes happen, but for you to go up and act like that as an adult, my whole point in uploading that video is to simply remind us all that we need to treat people better,” Kyle added.

"I am proud of the way our supervisor handled the situation," he added in the initial post . "We must strive for better behavior and respect in all interactions. It’s all about just being a kind person and approaching every situation with willingness to come to a good resolution."

We Are All the Same

As Kyle himself said, mistakes happen and no one is perfect. But demanding perfection of others can be a very lonely way to live. Rather than getting upset over an honest mistake and making someone feel bad or yelling at them, lead with grace and understanding. Not only will you help someone else feel respected, but you’ll probably get a better result from the situation, too.

When life doesn’t go our way, it can be easy to overreact or blame someone else. But by remembering that mistakes happen and this too shall pass, we can all live a little more peacefully.

Many of us are in these jobs because we’re trying to provide for our families or ourselves and our futures. Going to work can be hard enough, so remember to thank those who help you in the customer service industry and to tip well when appropriate. After all, we all want to feel appreciated at work.

Poor Boy Couldn’t Afford to Bury His Mom - So He Takes Matters Into His Own Hands

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Stranger's Video Helps Grandma Selling Baked Goods Go Viral

Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday without fail, Inez Hudson can be found stationed outside Super Choice Foods supermarket in Lakeland, Florida.

The 73-year-old woman sells homemade pies and cakes to support herself as her fixed income isn't enough to cover her living expenses.

She has her good days and bad days. That is, until now. Because thanks to the kindness of a stranger and the power of social media she just became a viral sensation. And now? Her baked goods are selling like hotcakes.

Elderly Woman Sells Homemade Pies and Cakes 

@mannierants Store address: 610 W Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, #ourElders 💙 FL 33815 #Localsupport #fy #pielady #sweetelder #payitforward

Inez has been setting up shop outside her local grocery store since November 2018, frequently rising at midnight to start baking. Her specialties include pecan pie, sweet potato pie, pineapple pound cake, and red velvet cake with cream cheese icing.

Recently, Lakelander resident, Mannie (who posts on TikTok as @mannierants), came across Inez selling her cakes in the blistering Florida heat.

In a now-viral video , Mannie zooms in on her small business, consisting of a tray table and footstool draped in white tablecloths and covered in baked goods.

"I love sweet potato pie. I would like to get two," the TikToker tells her.

Mannie starts counting out the money...and doesn't stop...completely emptying his wallet as Inez cries with gratitude.

"I don't know what your challenge is. I wish I had more, I wish I had more. I want this to be bigger for you. I want more people to come and support you, I really do." - Mannie told Inez

However, Mannie didn't just wish it; the TikToker did something about it, putting a call out on social media.

"I don't know her, neither her situation," the text overlay reads. "But my heart says she needs our support. If you're able to please stop by if you're in Lakeland Fl. It will be greatly appreciated."

Mannie tells Fox13 New s that he wasn't looking for fame. He just wanted to help a grandma out and support local.

“That’s the main reason why I made it. Not to go viral for social media purposes. I just wanted local people to support each other because that’s the best rewarding experience."

A TikTok Video Goes Viral

73-year-old Inez Hudson sets up shop outside a local Lakeland grocery store to raise money so she can support herself.

It worked! Mannie's post took off, garnering more than 800,000 views and nearly 6,000 comments.

"That cry broke my heart. I can't stand to see our elderly forced to worry how to make ends instead of enjoying their latter years😢🙏❤❤"

"We’re coming GRANNY🤗🤗🤗🤗💖💖💖💖🖤🖤"

"Im in Orlando! Momma we will be there soon ❤️"

"She's so grateful 🙏 I'm from tampa im coming 2 support."

People from all over the area, and even beyond, started making the trip to Super Choice Foods to buy Inez's baked goods. And they keep on coming.

Her long-time friends are beyond thrilled for her as they know how tough it's been financially.

"I shared with her, God said, ‘stop worrying.' Trust Him and he's going to make things go to where you're not going to have to stress," said one friend, Jamie Overstreet. "Gradually, more people are coming, and to hear it's going viral, ah! That's so exciting!"

Now the only thing Inez has to worry about is selling out.

While the elderly woman is excited about the uptick in customers, she does admit her newfound fame makes her a bit nervous. Overall, however, she's ecstatic that all of her hard work is paying off.

"It makes me feel happy because I've been doing this for so long and it's something I've always wanted to do." - Inez Hudson

Supporting Local Business

Inez joins a growing number of seniors who can no longer afford to live off their fixed incomes. According to the Pew Research Center , the older workforce has nearly quadrupled in size since the mid-1980s, equating to roughly 11 million people.

As inflation continues to hammer the country and the cost of housing skyrockets, more and more people who should be enjoying their retirement are forced to continue working.

It's also why supporting local businesses and the "little guy" is so important. Buying local ensures that our money goes to the people who need it most, rather than to huge corporations that value profits over people.

When we choose to buy from small, independent sellers we are directly contributing to the livelihoods of our neighbors and friends. So next time you're deciding where to spend your money, consider businesses like Inez's.

Your support could be the difference between struggle and success.

Copyright © 2024 Goalcast

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Lionel Messi Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Lionel Messi

• Lionel Messi is one of the most celebrated players in the world of football. He is considered one of the greatest football players of all time. He plays for the Argentina national football team and the Spanish football club “FC Barcelona.”

Lionel Messi in his childhood

Lionel Messi looking up to the sky after scoring a goal

Lionel Messi with Ronaldinho

• In 2005, he made his international debut against Hungary, but he lasted for only 47 seconds; as he was soon given a “Red Card.”

• He is the only player who runs faster with the ball than without it. He is predominantly a left-footed player.

Lionel Messi with Diego Maradona

• Messi does not sing the National Anthem of Argentina. Once, in an interview, he explained as to why he doesn’t sing it-

I get annoyed by the people who attack you without thinking, I won’t sing the national anthem on purpose. I don’t need to sing it to feel it. It reaches me, every person feels it in their own way. The Pumas cry, they feel it differently, and that’s ok. I play with the national team always as a priority and I want to win everything I play.”

• In 2015, Forbes magazine listed him as the world’s second-highest-paid athlete (after Cristiano Ronaldo ).

Gold replica of Lionel Messi’s foot with his signature at the bottom

• Filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia made a documentary “Messi” about his life. The documentary premiered at the “Venice Film Festival” in August 2014.

Lionel Messi appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Lionel Messi in an event organized by the Leo Messi Foundation

• On 26 June 2016, when Messi missed a penalty in the final shootout in the “Copa America Final” and Argentina lost to Chile, he announced his retirement from international football. However, he reversed his decision later, and he led Argentina to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

• His longtime girlfriend-turned-wife, Antonella Roccuzzo is his cousin’s best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who is also a footballer.
• In 2018, Forbes listed him as the world’s highest-paid athlete (with $84 million salary/winnings) after  Floyd Mayweather .

Lionel Messi with Megan Rapinoe

I was close many times. I knew it would happen eventually. I am grateful to God for giving me this moment, in Brazil against Brazil. I think He was saving this moment for me.” Lionel Messi is lifted by his Argentina teammates at the end of the Copa America final on 11 July 2021

The club did not want to go into more debt.”

Dear India, please welcome the man, the legend, the GOAT. The one and only. The MESSI-ah of football… Namaste, Lionel Messi! Here’s to achieving our goals together & bringing access to education to every child in the world. #MessiXBYJUS #EnhanceYourPotential #EducationForAll pic.twitter.com/7okgNYjKwg — BYJU'S (@BYJUS) November 7, 2022

El debut actoral de Messi en Los Protectores, la serie de Adrián Suar. Me vuelvo loco. pic.twitter.com/mWWo9jRXnV — Messismo (@Messismo10) June 26, 2023

References/Sources: [ + ]

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• Indian Dance
• Indian Music

Kids Portal For Parents India Kids Network

Lionel Messi Biography For Students And Children

4to40.com June 12, 2018 Biographies for Kids 10,376 Views

Lionel Andres Messi (born June 24, 1987 in Rosario) is an Argentine football (soccer) player.

Lionel Messi started playing football at a very early age in his hometown’s Newell’s Old Boys. From the age of 11, he suffered from a hormone deficiency and as Lionel’s parents were unable to pay for the treatment in Argentina, they decided to move to Barcelona, Spain.

Argentina native Lionel Messi has established records for goals scored and won individual awards en route to worldwide recognition as one of the best players in soccer.

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 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).

With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona – against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.

Lionel Messi ● Top 10 Skills & Top 10 Goals

He was offered the chance to play for the Spain national football team, but declined, preferring to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in a U-20 friendly match against Paraguay.

In June 2005 he starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship played in The Netherlands. Messi picked up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. Despite his youth, Lionel has already drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona, arguably the best football player of all time.

On September 25, 2005 Messi obtained a Spanish citizenship and was finally able to make his debut in this season’s Spanish First Division. He had previously been unable to play because FC Barcelona had filled up all of their quota of non-EU players.

Messi’s first outing in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp was on Sept 28 against Italian club Udinese. He impressed with some great passing and a seemingly telepathic relationship with Ronaldinho that earned him a standing ovation from the 70,000-odd Nou Camp faithful. On December of that year, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport awarded him the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best under-21 player in Europe, over Wayne Rooney and Lukas Podolski.

In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014.

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