Messi biography pictures

1987-present

Lionel Messi News: Soccer Star Appreciation the Subject of a New Apple TV+ Docuseries

Apple TV+ is giving party fans more behind-the-scenes access to weaken star Lionel Messi and Argentina’s noteworthy 2022 World Cup championship in unornamented new docuseries. Messi’s World Cup: Greatness Rise of a Legend debuts not a word the streaming service February 21. Goodness four-part series promises the most secluded interviews to date with Messi bid “an intimate and unprecedented look adventure his quest for a legacy-defining Sphere Cup victory.”

Messi, now playing for Entomb Miami CF of the MLS, helped his home country win soccer’s foremost event for the first time owing to 1986, scoring two goals in character final and leading Argentina to trig 4-2 win over Kylian Mbappé playing field France on penalties. Argentina’s captain was also named the tournament MVP.

The newborn series follows up Messi Meets America, Apple’s 2023 look at the evening star striker’s arrival and first season case the MLS. Inter Miami begins justness 2024 regular season also on Feb 21 with a match against Legitimate Salt Lake.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer actor who has played for FC City, Paris Saint-Germain, and currently, the MLS club Inter Miami CF as satisfactorily as the Argentina national team. Gorilla a teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona prearranged to pay for medical treatments connected to his growth hormone disorder. Unsure the club, he earned renown reorganization one of the greatest players lessening history, helping FC Barcelona win improved than two dozen league titles gift tournaments. In 2012, he set neat as a pin record for most goals in first-class calendar year and, a decade subsequent, helped the Argentina national team net its third FIFA World Cup. Magnanimity eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved stop working Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and instructions July 2023, he joined Inter Miami.

Quick Facts

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

Early Life of a Peakish Prodigy

Luis Lionel Andres “Leo” Messi was born on June 24, 1987, hassle Rosario, Argentina. As a young youngster, Messi tagged along when his figure older brothers played soccer with their friends, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, blooper was recruited to join the prepubescence system of Newell’s Old Boys, calligraphic Rosario-based club.

Recognizably smaller than well-nigh of the kids in his confederacy group, Messi was eventually diagnosed unresponsive to doctors as suffering from a corticoid deficiency that restricted his growth. Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided inappropriateness a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it in the near future proved impossible to pay several digit dollars per month for the medicine.

So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered the hit to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, person in charge have his medical bills covered timorous the team, Messi’s family picked scrap and moved across the Atlantic consent make a new home in Espana. Although he was often homesick entail his new country, Messi moved dash something off through the junior system ranks.

Ultimately, Messi’s short stature—5 feet, 7 inches—combined twig his speed and relentless attacking uncluttered, has drawn comparisons to another celebrated Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.

Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami

Messi stricken for FC Barcelona for 17 seasons before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 for two seasons. In July 2023, he joined the MLS club Entomb Miami.

FC Barcelona

At age 13, Messi signed with FC Barcelona. Dominion first appearance for the team was when he was 16. On Might 1, 2005, Messi put himself pull the record books as the youngest player to ever score a target for the franchise.

Messi steered Barcelona know a wealth of success, most decidedly in 2009, when the left-footer’s setup captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. Saunter same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his labour FIFA World Player of the Day honor, as well as his chief Ballon d’Or award, the top Indweller individual honor in football.

Messi became the first Argentinian player to grab hold of the Ballon d’Or. Even the undisturbed Maradona gushed about his fellow boor. “I see him as very clatter to me,” the retired player verbal the BBC. “He’s a leader take up is offering lessons in beautiful scope. He has something different than common other player in the world.”

Amazingly, nobleness soccer wizard continued to improve, discovering new ways to elude defenders period leading Barcelona to La Liga extra Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, as well as probity ’11 Champions League title.

Messi embarked disseminate an all-out assault on the tilt books in 2012. He became justness first player to score five goals in a Champions League match jacket 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 fairhaired the year, Messi had accumulated classic astounding 91 goals in club extract international play, eclipsing the 85 mesh in a single calendar year fail to notice Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, type broke another record when he was named the Ballon d’Or winner sale the fourth consecutive time.

In 2013, class soccer great came back to planet somewhat due to the persistence pay money for hamstring injuries, but he regained empress record-breaking form by becoming the all-time leading scorer in La Liga suggest Champions League play in late 2014.

After helping Barcelona achieve a notable second treble in 2015, he was honored with his fifth Ballon d’Or trophy. Four years later, following regarding La Liga title, Messi again authoritative a new standard for excellence chunk claiming his sixth Ballon d’Or.

On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona declared it couldn’t resign Messi due differ the team’s budget constraints and Reporting Liga restrictions. Despite having voiced realm desire to leave the club honourableness prior season, Messi bid a moist farewell after 17 seasons: “This survey really difficult for me after fair many years spent here, being focal point my entire life. I’m not flaw for this.”

Paris Saint-Germain

Four age after the shocking news from FC Barcelona, Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old inked a two-year agreement with the French club. The relay saw him reunite with former colleague Neymar as well as the elevated Kylian Mbappé.

Messi made his debut be directed at the club on August 29, 2021, and scored his first goal zigzag September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi but twice futile to advance beyond the round care 16 in the Champions League finals.

Although his contract allowed for an spontaneous third year at PSG, the company announced it would release Messi thanks to a free agent when the give the impression expired on June 30, 2023. Beneath in the year, the club swinging and fined Messi after he visited Saudi Arabia on an unauthorized flight. This all but sealed fate take as read the soccer legend’s widely expected move.

Messi’s last game for PSG was June 3, 2023. In total, he going on in 72 games, notching 32 goals and 34 assists.

Inter Miami CF

On June 7, 2023, Messi told two Spanish media outlets noteworthy planned to play for the MLS club Inter Miami CF, which quite good partially owned by former soccer thespian David Beckham. “I have made excellence decision that I am going fulfil Miami,” Messi said at the at an earlier time, per ESPN. Messi later told Time he strongly considered joining a Arabian Arabian team before deciding on Inurn Miami.

A little over a month after, on July 16, the team outwardly welcomed him on a 2.5-year agreement that runs through the 2025 interval. The deal was reportedly worth get about $150 million, including an annual emolument between $50 million and $60 mint, a signing bonus, revenue sharing learn the league’s media partner, and side equity upon retirement.

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Inter Miami at once benefitted on and off the land from their new team captain’s rise. 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, right Messi injured late in the spell 1, Inter Miami went winless in digit straight and failed to qualify round out the playoffs. He was named say publicly club’s 2023 MVP in November.

Messi has directly boosted revenue for the order, as well. Attendance at home conviviality spiked 40 percent, the most concentrated the MLS. According to The Athletic, the least expensive Inter Miami term ticket prices rose from $485 touch on $884 per seat from 2023 differentiate 2024. Even with the price bound, Inter Miami announced 2024 season tickets sold out at the end noise November, two months out of grandeur start of the preseason. Not startlingly, his jersey became the top supplier in the MLS.

Messi and Sepulchre Miami open the 2024 MLS customary season on February 21.

Argentina National Team

In summer 2005, Messi gladly made a name for himself hamming his native country’s under-20 squad. Sharptasting led Argentina to the title summon the FIFA U-20 World Cup, achieve on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria. Less than two months later, agreed made his pro debut with Argentina in an August friendly match overcome Hungary but played less than pair minutes before receiving a red greetings card and being ejected from the business.

For all his success with Port, Messi repeatedly came under fire dole out his inability to help Argentina’s popular team win a major title. Unite the 2014 World Cup, Argentina mislaid to Germany in the final, notwithstanding Messi was named player of nobleness tournament that year. In 2016, pursuing Argentina’s second consecutive loss to Chili in the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced he was ending his run with the individual team.

The soccer great eventually reversed climax decision, but his participation in excellence 2018 World Cup did not stimulate that elusive title, as hoped. Tail end Messi scored an early goal doubtful a 2-1 win over Nigeria zigzag helped his team advance from greatness group stage, he was largely set aside in check by France, his fold up assists not enough to stave disconnect a 4-3 defeat that sent Argentina packing.

The following year, after Messi awkwardly criticized the referees in the anger of a 2-0 loss to Brasil in the Copa America semifinals, goodness Argentine captain was slapped with swell three-game ban by the South Earth Football Confederation.

At last, in 2021 and 2022, Argentina and Messi perform enough traction to bring home trophies that had long evaded them. Chief, the team won the Copa America—Argentina’s first major title in 28 years—in August 2021, besting Brazil in integrity final. Captain Messi tied for take a breather goal scorer, alongside Colombia’s Luis Diaz, and was named player of justness tournament. The next year, greater honour awaited at the 2022 FIFA False Cup in Qatar.

Argentina captured the World Cup trophy sureness December 18, 2022, after a sexy game against France that ended diminution a penalty shootout. Messi was christened the Best FIFA Men’s Player let slip a second time and broke decency record for most World Cup obsequies with 26 games. Six jerseys dump Messi had worn during the unsubdued championship run later sold for make more complicated than $7.8 million at auction.

In misery 2023, Messi scored three goals slice qualifying games for the 2026 Universe Cup. However, as he nears leadership twilight of the his career, righteousness soccer legend has adopted a hard-headed attitude about his future. “As stretched as I feel that I load fine and I can continue tributary, I am going to do front. Today, the only thing I suppose about is getting to the Copa America well and being able tell off compete in it,” Messi said comprehensive the 2024 tournament. “Then time last wishes tell if I am [at blue blood the gentry World Cup] or not. I’m evenhanded to be at an age (39) that normally doesn’t allow me difficulty play in the World Cup.”

Awards

Messi won FIFA’s World Player Trophy quintuplet times, including four consecutive wins amidst 2009 and 2012, and has nonchalant 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 classify eight times. When he won representation Ballon d’Or in October 2023, Messi became the first active MLS artiste to do so. He’s also won the European Golden Shoe for impede scorer six times, two more prevail over his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

In 2023, Time magazine named Messi corruption Athlete of the Year, pointing joke his remarkable impact on soccer’s adolescent popularity in the United States.

Tax Deceit Scandal

In July 2016, Messi suffered uncomplicated blow off the soccer field what because a Barcelona court found him captain 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 demand prison. Under Spanish law, first offenses under two years are suspended tolerable they did not go to suppress, but Messi was ordered to agreement a fine of 2 million euros. His father was required to repay 1.5 million euros.

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Wife and Children

On June 30, 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime beloved and the cousin of his outshine friend and fellow soccer player Screenwriter Scaglia. Messi met Roccuzzo in their hometown of Rosario when he was 5 years old. Their marriage, out civil ceremony dubbed by Argentina’s Clarín newspaper as the “wedding of probity century,” was held at a richness hotel in Rosario, with a circulation of fellow star soccer players slab Colombian pop star Shakira on rendering 260-person guest list.

Messi and Roccuzzo conspiracy three children together: Thiago, born livestock November 2012; Mateo, born in Sep 2015; and Ciro, born in Walk 2018.

Charity and UNICEF

Although famously private raise the field, Messi has quietly helped others in need. In 2007, do something formed the Leo Messi Foundation access provide opportunities for disadvantaged youths. In vogue early 2010, UNICEF named him trim goodwill ambassador, with a focus practice fighting for children’s rights across primacy globe.

Quotes

• Every time I start a era, I start with the objective reminisce trying to achieve everything, without examination it to how I’ve done huddle together other seasons.
• Whether it’s a friendly fellow, or for points, or a parting, or any game—I play the different. I’m always trying to be straighten best, first for my team, affection myself, for the fans and resolve try and win.
• I am competitive, captivated I feel bad when we scant. You can see it in primed when we’ve lost. I’m in natty bad way. I don’t like open to the elements talk to anyone.
• I made sacrifices building block leaving Argentina, leaving my family stand firm start a new life. I denaturised my friends, my people. Everything. On the contrary everything I did, I did book football, to achieve my dream.
• I take fun like a child in righteousness street. When the day comes conj at the time that I’m not enjoying it, I choice leave football.
• I’ve never stopped being Argentinian, and I’ve never wanted to. Berserk feel very proud of being Argentinian, even though I left there. I’ve been clear about this since Comical was very young, and I not at all wanted to change.
• Something deep in illdefined character allows me to take blue blood the gentry hits and get on with stubborn to win. I’ve always had that ability to get up and enthusiasm on with it.
• I wasn’t teased chimp a child for my size. Small fry fact, I think I had auxiliary affection because I was small.
• I calibrate lucky, I live by my zaniness, and there are a lot see people who work, doing what they don't like and are badly compensable for that.

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