Trivia

Won the gold medal with Argentina Olympic Football Team at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Won 8 Ballon d'Or/FIFA Ballon d'Or (2009-2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023), the FIFA World Player of the Year (2009) and The Best FIFA Men's Player (2019).

Won the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup with Argentina National Under-20 Football Team. He was the leading scorer and the best player of the competition.

Is the second Argentine to win a Ballon d'Or. The first being Alfredo Di Stéfano.

778 appearances for FC Barcelona (2004-2021); scored 672 goals.

Made his La Liga debut against the R.C.D. Espanyol on 16 October 2004 at the age 16.

International with Argentina National Football Team since 2005. Member of the Copa América 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and the Germany '06, South Africa '10, Brazil '14, Russia '18 and Qatar '22 squads.

Won the Pichichi Trophy eight times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2017-2021).

Father of, with Antonela Roccuzzo, Thiago Messi (b. November 2012), Mateo Messi (b. September 2015) and Ciro Messi (b. March 2018).

Moved to Spain at the age 13.

Named in the 'FIFA FIFPro World11' fourteen times (2007-2020).

World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Very friend of Sergio Agüero.

(November 22, 2014) La Liga's all-time top scorer.

Won the Trofeo EFE as the best Ibero-American in La Liga five times (2007, 2009-2012).

Has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.[March 2010].

Member of the Argentina National Football Team who finished runners-up of the Copa América (2007, 2015, 2016) and the FIFA World Cup (2014).

Scored goals at the final matches of the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

Won the UEFA Men Player of the Year Award two times (2011 and 2015).

Golden Boot of the UEFA Champions League x6 (2009-2012, 2015, 2019); Copa del Rey x5 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017); La Liga x8 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2017-2021); Copa América (2021).

2012: Guinness World Record as top goalscorer for club and country with 91 goals.

IFFHS World's Top Scorer: 2011 and 2012.

(March 16, 2014) FC Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

Golden Ball at the FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011), FIFA World Cup (2014, 2022) and Copa América (2015, 2021).

Honours with FC Barcelona: 10 La Liga (2005, 2006, 2009-2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019); 7 Copa del Rey (2009, 2012, 2015-2018, 2021); 8 Spanish Super Cup (2005, 2006, 2009-2011, 2013, 2016, 2018); 4 UEFA Champions League (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015); 3 UEFA Super Cup (2009, 2011, 2015); 3 FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011, 2015). Honours with Paris Saint-Germain: Ligue 1 (2022, 2023); Trophée des champions (2022). Honours with Inter Miami C.F.: Supporters' Shield (2024); Leagues Cup (2023).

He was named 'Lionel' after Lionel Richie, because his parents were fans of the American singer.

Growing up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, Messi developed a passion for the sport from an early age, playing constantly with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom became professional footballers.

Twelve-time Argentine Footballer of the Year (aka Olimpia de Plata); Argentine Sportsperson of the Year (aka Olimpia de Oro) in 2011.

Named in the UEFA Team of the Year eleven times (2008-2012, 2014-2019).

European Golden Shoe x6 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2017-2019).

Won the treble with FC Barcelona (La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League) two times in 2009 and 2015.

Captain of the Argentina National Football Team (since 2011) and FC Barcelona (2018-2021).

Named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020.

Won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2020.

Named The Best Man CONMEBOL Player of the Decade 2011-2020 by IFFHS.

Led Argentina National Football Team to win the 2021 Copa América at Maracanã Stadium (their first title since 1993), the 2022 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions at Wembley Stadium and the 2022 FIFA World Cup (their first world title since 1986) at Qatar.

Is the La Liga's top goalscorer (474) and top assist provider (192) in 520 games.

Man of the Match of the finals: UEFA Champions League (2011), FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011) and Finalissima (2022).

Named in the IFFHS Men's CONMEBOL Team of the Year in 2021.

Onze d'Or: 2009, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2017-18.

World Soccer Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019.

Nelson Mandela Trophy: 2018.

Globe Soccer Awards Best Player of the Year: 2015.

L'Équipe International Athlete of the Year: 2011.

Shortlisted for Golden Foot: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.

The Guardian Best Footballer In The World: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019.

Best International Athlete ESPY Award: 2012, 2015, 2019.

ESPY Awards International Footballer of the Year: 2019.

Most official goals for a single club: 672, for Barcelona.

Guinness World Record for top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year (official goals): 91 goals in 2012.