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Lionel Messi

Professional footballer

Born 1987

Lionel Messi is an Argentine footballer whose low centre of gravity, close control, passing and finishing made him the defining player of his generation. Born in Rosario, he began playing at Grandoli at four and joined Newell's Old Boys at eight. A growth-hormone deficiency required daily injections during childhood; at 13 he moved with his family to Barcelona, where he entered FC Barcelona's academy and endured early registration and injury setbacks before reaching the first team in 2004. Ronaldinho supplied the pass for his first senior goal, the start of a 17-season Barcelona career in which Messi became the club's record scorer and won 34 team trophies, including ten LaLiga titles, seven Copas del Rey and four UEFA Champions Leagues. His game developed from an explosive wide forward into a prolific scorer, creator and captain. After two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain, he joined Inter Miami in 2023 and led the club to the Leagues Cup, Supporters' Shield, MLS Cup and 2026 Campeones Cup. Internationally, Messi won the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Olympic gold, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He retired from Argentina duty after captaining the team to the 2026 World Cup final and continues to play for Inter Miami under a contract through 2028.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionAntonela RoccuzzoWife and childhood connection from Rosario; they raise three sons together.

ConnectionLuis SuárezLongtime Barcelona teammate who reunited with Messi at Inter Miami.

ConnectionSergio BusquetsShared Barcelona's most successful era and later joined Messi at Inter Miami.

Selected career chronology

Credits Index

Major screen, stage, music, sport or broadcast work. This is a selected public-career index, not a complete employment history.

Year	Title	Medium	Role
2004	FC Barcelona	Club career (2004-2021)	Forward and captain
2005	Spanish Super Cup championships	Club honours	Eight-time champion with FC Barcelona
2005	2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup	Argentina U-20	Champion; Golden Ball and Golden Boot
2005	LaLiga championships	Club honours	Ten-time champion with FC Barcelona
2006	2005-06 UEFA Champions League	FC Barcelona	Champion with FC Barcelona
2008	2008 Beijing Olympic Games	Argentina Olympic team	Gold medalist
2009	FIFA Club World Cup championships	Club honours	Three-time champion with FC Barcelona
2009	UEFA Super Cup championships	Club honours	Three-time champion with FC Barcelona
2009	2008-09 UEFA Champions League	FC Barcelona	Champion and final scorer
2009	Copa del Rey championships	Club honours	Seven-time champion with FC Barcelona
2011	2010-11 UEFA Champions League	FC Barcelona	Champion and final scorer
2012	91-goal calendar year	Barcelona and Argentina	World-record scorer for club and country
2014	2014 FIFA World Cup	Argentina	Runner-up and Golden Ball winner
2015	2014-15 UEFA Champions League	FC Barcelona	Champion in Barcelona's second treble
2021	Paris Saint-Germain	Club career (2021-2023)	Forward; two-time Ligue 1 champion
2021	2021 Copa América	Argentina	Captain and champion
2022	2022 FIFA World Cup	Argentina	Captain, champion and Golden Ball winner
2022	2022 Finalissima	Argentina	Captain and champion
2023	2023 Leagues Cup	Inter Miami CF	Captain, champion and Golden Boot winner
2023	Inter Miami CF	Club career (2023-present)	Forward and captain
2024	2024 Supporters' Shield	Inter Miami CF	Champion
2024	2024 Copa América	Argentina	Captain and champion
2025	2025 MLS Cup	Inter Miami CF	Champion and MLS Cup MVP
2026	2026 Campeones Cup	Inter Miami CF	Champion
2026	2026 FIFA World Cup	Argentina	Captain, runner-up and Silver Boot winner