Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, football player in the world. His extraordinary talent, impeccable technique, and unmatched agility have earned him numerous accolades and records throughout his career. Messi's mesmerizing dribbling ability and incredible goal-scoring prowess have often left fans and opponents in awe. His vision of the pitch and ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates have made him a true playmaker.
Off the pitch, Messi is known for his humility and philanthropy. He has used his fame and fortune to support various charitable causes, including providing access to education and healthcare for underprivileged children. Despite challenges and setbacks, Messi’s determination and resilience have allowed him to overcome obstacles and continue to excel at the highest level. His impact on the game and his status as a global icon are undeniable. Messi’s journey from a young boy full of dreams to a football legend serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes around the world.
Lionel Messi owes much of his football career to his grandmother, Celia Olivera Cuccittini. It was she who took four-year-old Leo to his first training session with the “Grandoli” team in her hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
His grandmother passed away when Messi was 11 years old. According to the footballer, he dedicates all his goals to her. He celebrates them by raising his index fingers upwards and looking towards the sky.
During his childhood, Messi earned the nickname "The Flea" (La Pulga) due to his small stature. He was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and, at the age of 11, he measured just 132 centimeters. Messi received hormone treatment until he was 14, which allowed him to reach a height more suited to a footballer, reaching 169 centimeters.
Despite his small stature, Messi's agility, speed, and exceptional ball control made him a formidable player on the pitch. He quickly became known for his explosive acceleration, incredible dribbling skills, and ability to outwit opponents. This led the Spanish media to coin the term "The Atomic Flea" (La Pulga Atómica) to describe his electrifying style of play. Messi's remarkable achievements and contributions to the sport have cemented his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
From the ages of 6 to 13, Messi played in the youth academy of "Newell's Old Boys", one of the biggest Argentine clubs. It was during this period that his growth hormone deficiency was discovered, and to grow like other children, he needed monthly injections.
However, due to the financial crisis in Argentina, the factory where his father worked, and later that of "Newell's", were unable to cover the costs of Messi's treatment. It was then that two businessmen from Buenos Aires, aware of Messi's talent and with connections in Barcelona, came to the aid of the future star's family. They informed the representatives of the Catalan club of the talented Argentine, and Barcelona immediately organized and paid for the flight and accommodation of Messi and his father in Barcelona. The help provided by these businessmen played a crucial role in shaping Messi's career and in opening the doors to his remarkable journey at Barcelona.
The initial agreement between Messi and Barcelona was hastily scribbled on a napkin in a restaurant on the Catalan mountain of Montjuïc on December 14, 2000. The club took the step to reassure Messi's father, Jorge Horacio, who had arrived with his son in Barcelona in September. However, the club was reluctant to offer a contract at the time. European clubs were not known for frequently signing young talent from South America, which is why some members of the Barcelona management had doubts.
Yet Messi's father demanded assurances that the Spanish club would not treat his son the same way as Argentine club Newell's Old Boys, but would instead sign him to a contract and cover his medical expenses. Barcelona eventually agreed to meet these demands, paving the way for Messi's remarkable run with the club. This anecdote highlights Messi's father's determination to ensure a better future for his son and Barcelona's belief in nurturing young talent.
Barcelona's gamble on Messi has paid off. By 2012, when the 24-year-old Messi was in just his eighth season with the Catalan club, he had scored 234 goals, becoming the team's all-time leading scorer. The previous record of 233 goals belonged to Spaniard Cesar Rodriguez, who played for Barcelona for 13 years, from 1942 to 1955. The feat illustrates Messi's incredible impact on the team and his ability to break long-standing records. The dedication and skill he demonstrated on the pitch cemented his status as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history.
Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a single year in competitive matches. In the same year, 2012, he scored 91 goals in 69 games in all competitions. This surpassed the previous record set by Gerd Müller in 1972, when he scored 85 goals for Bayern Munich and the German national team. To put it in perspective, Cristiano Ronaldo's highest goal tally in a year was 69, achieved in 2013. Messi's remarkable feat showcases his exceptional goalscoring prowess and ability to consistently find the back of the net. It is a testament to his extraordinary talent and contribution to the sport.
In August 2016, Messi announced his retirement from the national team due to a series of disappointments. Despite his 11 years with the national team, he only managed to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics and narrowly missed out on major titles on four occasions. He suffered three defeats in the Copa America final (2007, 2015 and 2016) and lost to Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
However, just two weeks after this announcement, Messi returned to the national team. The following years would bring him significant victories. He notably triumphed at the Copa America (2021) and the FIFA World Cup (2022), marking crucial milestones in his international career. These triumphs would come several years after his initial retirement announcement and would be significant achievements for both Messi and the Argentina national team.
Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Messi made his first and only appearance in an ad for a Russian brand, Alfa-Bank. According to company representatives, other contenders for the ad included Neymar and Ronaldo.
Messi was chosen because his image fit the bank’s positioning: a dedicated athlete who was neither flashy nor ostentatious. The organizers noted that during the filming, the footballer demonstrated openness and humility. He willingly signed autographs and even laughed when he stumbled during a shoot for the commercial. This collaboration between Messi and Alfa-Bank highlighted not only his market value as a global sports icon, but also his down-to-earth nature. The commercial gave fans and viewers a glimpse of Messi’s approachability and good-natured personality, endearing him even more to his fans around the world.
In 2019, Messi became the record holder for the most Ballon d'Ors, the annual accolade awarded to the world's best footballer by French magazine France Football. It was the sixth time the Argentine maestro had received the prestigious honor, surpassing his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who had won the award five times. Then, in 2021, Messi further cemented his lead by winning his seventh Ballon d'Or.
These achievements highlight Messi’s exceptional talent and continued dominance in the world of football. His numerous Ballon d’Or triumphs reflect the recognition and admiration he has garnered within the football community for his unparalleled skills and contributions to the sport. The records he has set are testament to his enduring excellence and his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
Throughout Messi's career, journalists and the public have constantly compared his achievements to Ronaldo's, although both players have repeatedly denied any rivalry between them. Fans of the Messi vs. Ronaldo rivalry have even created a website called Messi VS Ronaldo, where they compare their respective statistics. For example, according to the website, Messi and Ronaldo have faced each other on the pitch 36 times. In those matches, Messi has scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists, while Ronaldo has scored 21 goals and provided only one assist.
The ongoing comparison between Messi and Ronaldo has fueled heated debates among football fans, with supporters of each player championing their favourite. However, it is important to acknowledge that both players have left an indelible mark on the sport and have achieved remarkable successes in their own right. The statistics presented on the site offer an interesting perspective on their performances but should not overshadow their overall contributions and impact on the game.