[14][496][500] His short, strong legs allow him to excel in short bursts of acceleration while his quick feet enable him to retain control of the ball when dribbling at speed. He played on Argentinas victorious 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship squad, represented the country in the 2006 World Cup, and scored two goals in five matches as Argentina swept to the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. [357][384] He netted a total of 12 goals in 9 games for Argentina in 2012, equalling the record held by Gabriel Batistuta for the most goals scored in a calendar year for their country. [177][178][179] Messi scored twice as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 31 in the Copa del Rey final on 30 May, achieving the sixth double in their history. Its a dream for any player, very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so.. [427] On 12 August, it was confirmed that Messi had reversed his decision to retire from international football, and he was included in the squad for the national team's upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. [202], "[Messi] is indispensable, but the rest of us are dispensable. Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men's player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards . The game is a highly-detailed version of a football game as it enables you to move and react the same way an actual player would. [380] FIFA subsequently identified Messi as one of the tournament's 10 best players, citing his "outstanding" pace and creativity and "spectacular and efficient" dribbling, shooting and passing. With his country, he won the 2021 Copa Amrica and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi, in full Lionel Andrs Messi, also called Leo Messi, (born June 24, 1987, Rosario, Argentina), Argentine-born football (soccer) player who received a record-setting seven Ballon dOr awards as the worlds top male player (200912, 2015, 2019, and 2021). [324] Four days later, Messi made his home debut for PSG in a 21 win over Lyon. [28], During the 200304 season, his fourth with Barcelona, Messi rapidly progressed through the club's ranks, debuting for a record five youth teams in a single campaign. [282] On 15 August, Messi suffered his worst defeat as a player as Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 82 in a one-off tie in Lisbon, leading to another disappointing exit from the Champions League. ", "Messi, Suarez team up for audacious penalty kick", "Leo Messi breaks the 300 goal barrier in the league", "Bara reach 10,000 goals in official competition", "Messi scores 500th goal: Barcelona star nets milestone", "Messi, Surez and Neymar Jr end season with 131 goals", "Lionel Messi is bigger than Barcelona and indispensable Javier Mascherano", "Luis Suarez plunders hat-trick, Lionel Messi scores twice as Barca smash six past Betis", "Lionel Messi Scores in His Return as Barcelona Roll Past Deportivo La Corua", "Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as 10-man Manchester City lost 40 on Pep Guardiola's return to Barcelona in the Champions League", "Watch Lionel Messi score to pass Raul for most goals in the UCL group stage", "Top goal scorers in 2016: Messi claims crown, Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo follow", "Cristiano Ronaldo wins Best FIFA Men's Player 2016 award", "Lionel Messi equals Ronald Koeman's Barcelona free-kick record", "Watch Lionel Messi match record for the most La Liga teams scored against", "Lionel Messi embarrasses Gorka Iraizoz with free-kick for Barcelona", "Lionel Messi scores 500th goal for Barcelona against Real Madrid", "Real Madrid-Barcelona: Celebrations in enemy territory", "Lionel Messi inspires Barcelona to Copa del Rey final triumph against Alavs", "Messi receives fourth Golden Shoe Award: Each day I enjoy it more", "Ronaldo goal, red card in Real Madrid win against Barcelona", "Leo Messi and Luis Surez call for optimism", "Lionel Messi's hat trick guides Barcelona's win over local rivals Espanyol", "Lionel Messi scores twice as Barcelona get revenge on Juventus in UCL", "Lionel Messi creates something from nothing for Barcelona Valverde", "Barcelona 30 Las Palmas: Lionel Messi nets brace in front of empty Nou Camp 5 talking points", "Messi emulates Ronaldo with 100th European goal", "Lionel Messi marks 600th Barcelona appearance in win over Sevilla", "Lionel Messi signs new deal through 2020/21 season", "Faster and younger than rival Ronaldo Magical Messi's 100 Champions League goals in Opta numbers", "Lionel Messi scores 100th Champions League goal in Barcelona's 30 victory over Chelsea", "Lionel Messi equals the record of Ronaldinho", "Messi Wins Fifth Golden Shoe After Winning Pichichi Trophy", "FC Barcelona 51 Villarreal CF: Record breakers", "Lionel Messi will be Barcelona's next captain", "Lionel Messi scores Barcelona's 6,000th goal in La Liga", "Lionel Messi's eight Champions League hat tricks ranked: Which is the best? [37] As a substitute player, he played 244 minutes in nine matches for the first team that season, including his debut in the UEFA Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk. To combat the problem, the club implemented new training, nutrition, and lifestyle regimens, and assigned him a personal physiotherapist, who would travel with him during call-ups for the Argentina national team. But immediately you'd realise that he was born different, that he was a phenomenon and that he was going to be something impressive. "[546] Moreover, several pundits and footballing figures, including Maradona, questioned Messi's leadership with Argentina at times, despite his playing ability. [585][586] He also has over 400 million Instagram followers, the second highest for an individual and sportsperson after Cristiano Ronaldo. Offshore companies in tax havens Uruguay and Belize were used to evade 4.1million in taxes related to sponsorship earnings between 2007 and 2009. [176] As the season's top assist provider with 18 he surpassed Lus Figo with the most assists in La Liga;[note 3] he made his record 106th assist in a fixture against Levante on 15 February, in which he also scored a hat-trick. [399][400] During the opening match against Paraguay, they were ahead two goals by half-time but lost their lead to end the match in a 22 draw; Messi had scored from a penalty kick, netting his only goal in the tournament. [30][38], During the 200405 season, Messi was a guaranteed starter for the B team, playing 17 games throughout the campaign and scoring on six occasions. [632] A deal brokered by Uruguay's president Luis Lacalle Pou, the plan to prioritise football players caused some controversy given widespread vaccine scarcity in the region, with the Mayor of Canelones in Uruguay remarking that "Just as the president manifested cooperation with CONMEBOL to vaccinate for the Copa Amrica, he could just as well have the same consideration for Canelones". The facilities not available in these medical outlets are arranged through other hospitals at the cost of Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) wherever those be available. True to life football experience . [30][39] He played five games with the B team that season but did not score. [545] Despite having lived in Spain since age 13, Messi rejected the option of representing Spain internationally. [349] Selectors for Spain's Under-17 squad began pursuing him in 2003 after Barcelona's director of football, Carles Rexach, alerted the Royal Spanish Football Federation to their young player. [59] On 10 March 2007, he scored his first hat-trick in a Clsico, the first player to do so in 12 years, equalising after each goal by Real Madrid to end the match in a 33 draw in injury time. After Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey final four days later, Messi scored both goals in his side's 20 win in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals in Madrid, the second of which a slaloming dribble past three Real players was acclaimed as one of the best ever in the competition. [404] At the semi-final stage, Messi excelled as a playmaker as he provided three assists and helped create three more goals in his side's 61 victory over Paraguay, receiving applause from the initially hostile crowd. The former Barcelona forward was in fine form during the World Cup, scoring seven goals and claiming three assists in seven games. After a first-leg draw, Barcelona won the second leg 40 with two goals and an assist from Messi. Later that year, Messi became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1billion in career earnings. As well as Messi, two other Argentinians goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and coach Lionel Scaloni were honored at the awards ceremony, while England goalkeeper Mary Earps and coach Sarina Wiegman were recognized on the womens side. [566], In addition to his salary and bonuses, much of his income derives from endorsements; SportsPro has consequently cited him as one of the world's most marketable athletes every year since their research began in 2010. [192] On 30 December, Messi scored on his 500th appearance for Barcelona, in a 40 home win over Real Betis. He was on bad terms with the club after his transfer to Barcelona, but by 2012 their public feud had ended, with Newell's embracing their ties with Messi, even issuing a club membership card to his newborn son. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [170][171] From there, he regained his best form, while Surez and Neymar ended the team's attacking dependency on their star player. [152][153] Following an irregular start to the new season under manager Gerardo Martino, formerly of his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys, Messi suffered his fifth injury of 2013 when he tore his hamstring on 10 November, leaving him sidelined for two months. Yet that has absolutely no bearing on his undeniable talents from open play and free-kicks. [398], Another final appearance, the third of Messi's senior international career, followed in the 2015 Copa Amrica, held in Chile. No, the club is bigger than any manager, than any player except Leo. [284], Following growing dissatisfaction with the direction of Barcelona on and off the field,[285] Barcelona announced that Messi sent the club "a document expressing his desire to leave" on 25 August 2020. [421], Following his announcement, a campaign began in Argentina for Messi to change his mind about retiring. Lionel Messi has been named the mens footballer of the year at The Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris. pic.twitter.com/cB3gD4RWR6. [338] He failed to reach double figure league goals for the first time since 200506, ending the campaign with six. [198] A few days later, he scored both goals in Barcelona's 02 win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, in the first leg of the 201516 UEFA Champions League round of 16, with the second goal being Barcelona's 10,000th in official competitions. [502][503], A prolific goalscorer, Messi is known for his finishing, positioning, quick reactions, and ability to make attacking runs to beat the defensive line. The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to . [460] Messi later issued an apology for his comments, but was fined $1,500 and was handed a one-match ban by CONMEBOL, which ruled him out of Argentina's next World Cup qualifier. ", "Barcelona Transform Their Season from Trouble to a Possible Treble", "Motivated Lionel Messi Transforms Barcelona's Hopes for Trophy Treble", "Barcelona Increasingly Gaining Messi Independence (and It's a Good Thing)", "Barcelona's Luis Surez, Leo Messi and Neymar Too Good for Juventus", "Barcelona Win La Liga: Lionel Messi Strike Sees Barca Clinch 23rd Title at Home of Reigning Champions Atletico Madrid", "Supporters, Superstars and Goals Galore", "Spanish Primera Divisin Statistics: Top Assists 201415", "Messi Tambin Es Leyenda en el Ranking Histrico de Asistencias", "Treble Comes into Focus as Messi Marches Barcelona to Copa Title", "If Lionel Messi Makes Pep Guardiola Feel Helpless, What Chance Do the Rest Have? [142] Now in his ninth senior season with Barcelona, Messi signed a new contract on 7 February, committing himself to the club through 2018, while his fixed wage rose to 13million. Corrections? [462] On 15 November, Messi played in the 2019 Superclsico de las Amricas versus Brazil, scoring the winning goal by a rebound of his saved penalty. Aged 18, Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in the Ferenc Pusks Stadium when he came on in the 63rd minute, only to be sent off after two minutes for a perceived foul against Vilmos Vanczk, who had grabbed his shirt; Messi had struck the defender with his arm while trying to shake him off, which the referee interpreted as an intentional elbowing, a contentious decision. He subsequently signed with rival company EA Sports to become the face of their series FIFA and has since appeared on four consecutive covers from FIFA 13 to FIFA 16. Messi scored twice in an epic final in Doha as Argentina beat France on penalties despite Mbappe netting a hat-trick for Les Bleus in a remarkable 3-3 draw. [595] Messi, a documentary about his life by filmmaker lex de la Iglesia, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2014. 165 followers. [461] On 2 August, Messi was banned for three months from international football and was fined $50,000 by CONMEBOL for his comments against the referee's decisions; this ban meant he would miss Argentina's friendly matches against Chile, Mexico and Germany in September and October. ", Messi reversing his decision from retiring on 12 August 2016[426], Just a week after Messi announced his international retirement, Argentine newspaper La Nacin reported that he was reconsidering playing for Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. [494], Due to his short stature, Messi has a lower centre of gravity than taller players, which gives him greater agility, allowing him to change direction more quickly and evade opposing tackles;[495][496] this has led the Spanish media to dub him La Pulga Atmica ("The Atomic Flea"). Ahead of the final, he was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. [11][12], "When you saw him you would think: this kid can't play ball. The following two seasons, Messi finished second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo (his perceived career rival), before regaining his best form during the 201415 campaign, becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga and leading Barcelona to a historic second treble, after which he was awarded a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015. [67] As Messi continued his individual rise, Barcelona faltered; the team failed to reach the Copa del Rey final after Messi was rested during the second leg against Getafe and lost the league to Real Madrid on head-to-head results. [371], Ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Barcelona legally barred Messi from representing Argentina at the tournament as it coincided with their Champions League qualifying matches. [487] With his appearance and two goals in the final, Messi overtook Matthas as the player with most appearances at the World Cup (26), and Pel as the player with most direct goal contributions at the World Cup (21 13 goals and 8 assists). [480][481] In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi assisted Argentina's first goal for Nahuel Molina with a reverse pass and then scored a penalty as the game finished 22 after extra time. The only player in history to win five FIFA Ballons d'Or, he was also the first player to win three European Golden Shoes. [296] On 20 October, Messi scored a penalty in a 51 home victory against Ferencvros in the Champions League, becoming the first player in history to score in sixteen consecutive Champions League seasons. [110][112], As Messi developed into a combination of a number 8 (a creator), a 9 (scorer), and a 10 (assistant),[113] he scored an unprecedented 73 goals and provided 29 assists in all club competitions during the 201112 season, producing a hat-trick or more on 10 occasions. [360][361] In the round of 16 match against Mexico, played on his 19th birthday, Messi came on in the 84th minute, with the score tied at 11. [529][530] Four years later, after Messi had won his first Ballon d'Or by a record margin,[72] the public debate regarding his qualities as a player moved beyond his status in contemporary football to the possibility that he was one of the greatest players in history. [313], On 1 July, Messi became a free agent after his contract expired,[314] with negotiations on a new deal complicated due to financial issues at Barcelona. Has been named the mens footballer of the tournament except Leo and an assist from Messi club is bigger any... 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