Lionel Messi, currently a forward for Inter Miami CF, is one of the world’s greatest soccer players and helped his national team, Argentina win its third FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Who Is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi is an Argentinian soccer player who has played for FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and currently, the MLS club Inter Miami CF as well as the Argentina national team. As a teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona agreed to pay for medical treatments related to his growth hormone disorder.
At the club, he earned renown as one of the greatest players in history, helping FC Barcelona win more than two dozen league titles and tournaments. In 2012, he set a record for most goals in a calendar year and, a decade later, helped the Argentina national team win its third FIFA World Cup. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and in July 2023, he joined Inter Miami.
Profile Summary
- Full Name: Luis Lionel Andres Messi
- Date of Birth: June 24, 1987
- Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
- Position: Forward
- Current Team: Inter Miami CF
- Nationality: Argentinian
- Spouse: Antonella Roccuzzo (m. 2017)
- Children: Thiago (born 2012), Mateo (born 2015), Ciro (born 2018)
- Net Worth: $400 million (Celebrity Net Worth), $600 million (Forbes)
Notable Honors:
- Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner
- 2022 FIFA World Cup MVP
- 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
- Seven-time La Liga Best Player
- Top Scorer in La Liga: 474 goals
Career Highlights
FC Barcelona (2000-2021):
- Youngest player to score a goal for Barcelona at age 17.
- Helped the team win numerous titles including four Champions League titles and ten La Liga titles.
- Became Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 474 goals in La Liga.
Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023):
- Signed with PSG after leaving Barcelona due to financial constraints.
- Won two Ligue 1 titles with PSG.
- Scored 32 goals and provided 34 assists in 72 appearances for PSG.
Inter Miami CF (2023-Present):
- Joined Inter Miami CF on a 2.5-year contract in July 2023.
- Helped Inter Miami CF win the Leagues Cup and saw a significant boost in ticket sales and merchandise.
Argentina National Team:
- Played a key role in Argentina’s third FIFA World Cup victory in 2022.
- Won the 2021 Copa America and was named tournament MVP.
- Holds the record for the most goals scored by an Argentine in international competitions.
Early Life of a Soccer Prodigy
Luis Lionel Andres “Leo” Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. As a young boy, Messi tagged along when his two older brothers played soccer with their friends, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, he was recruited to join the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a Rosario-based club.
Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth. Messi’s parents, Jorge and Cecilia, decided on a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it soon proved impossible to pay several hundred dollars per month for the medication.
So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered the chance to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, and have his medical bills covered by the team, Messi’s family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain. Although he was often homesick in his new country, Messi moved quickly through the junior system ranks.
Ultimately, Messi’s short stature—5 feet, 7 inches—combined with his speed and relentless attacking style, has drawn comparisons to another famous Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona.
Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami
FC Barcelona
At age 13, Messi signed with FC Barcelona. His first appearance for the team was when he was 16. On May 1, 2005, Messi put himself in the record books as the youngest player to ever score a goal for the franchise.
Messi steered Barcelona to a wealth of success, most notably in 2009, when the left-footer’s team captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his first FIFA World Player of the Year honor, as well as his first Ballon d’Or award, the top European individual honor in football.
Messi became the first Argentinian player to win the Ballon d’Or. Even the great Maradona gushed about his fellow countryman. “I see him as very similar to me,” the retired player told the BBC. “He’s a leader and is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different than any other player in the world.”
Amazingly, the soccer wizard continued to improve, discovering new ways to elude defenders while leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, as well as the ’11 Champions League title.
Messi embarked on an all-out assault on the record books in 2012. He became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match in 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 of the year, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and international play, eclipsing the 85 netted in a single calendar year by Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke another record when he was named the Ballon d’Or winner for the fourth consecutive time.
In 2013, the soccer great came back to earth somewhat due to the persistence of hamstring injuries, but he regained his record-breaking form by becoming the all-time leading scorer in La Liga and Champions League play in late 2014.
After helping Barcelona achieve a historic second treble in 2015, he was honored with his fifth Ballon d’Or trophy. Four years later, following another La Liga title, Messi again established a new standard for excellence by claiming his sixth Ballon d’Or.
On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona announced it couldn’t resign Messi due to the team’s budget constraints and La Liga restrictions. Despite having voiced his desire to leave the club the prior season, Messi bid a teary farewell after 17 seasons: “This is really difficult for me after so many years spent here, being here my entire life. I’m not ready for this.”
Paris Saint-Germain
Four days after the shocking news from FC Barcelona, Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old inked a two-year contract with the French club. The move saw him reunite with former teammate Neymar as well as the talented Kylian Mbappé.
Messi made his debut for the club on August 29, 2021, and scored his first goal that September. PSG won two Ligue 1 titles with Messi but twice failed to advance beyond the round of 16 in the Champions League finals.
Although his contract allowed for an optional third year at PSG, the team announced it would release Messi as a free agent when the deal expired on June 30, 2023. Earlier in the year, the club suspended and fined Messi after he visited Saudi Arabia on an unauthorized trip. This all but sealed fate on the soccer legend’s widely expected move.
Messi’s last game for PSG was June 3, 2023. In total, he started in 72 games, notching 32 goals and 34 assists.
Inter Miami CF
On June 7, 2023, Messi told two Spanish media outlets he planned to play for the MLS club Inter Miami CF, which is partially owned by former soccer player David Beckham. “I have made the decision that I am going to Miami,” Messi said at the time, per ESPN. Messi later told Time he strongly considered joining a Saudi Arabian team before deciding on Inter Miami.
A little over a month later, on July 16, the team officially welcomed him on a 2.5-year contract that runs through the 2025 season. The deal was reportedly worth around $150 million, including an annual salary between $50 million and $60 million, a signing bonus, revenue sharing with the league’s media partner, and team equity upon retirement.
What Is Lionel Messi’s Net Worth?
Inter Miami immediately benefitted on and off the field from their new team captain’s presence. 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, with Messi injured late in the season, Inter Miami went winless in seven straight and failed to qualify for the playoffs. He was named the club’s 2023 MVP in November.
Messi has directly boosted revenue for the team, as well. Attendance at home games spiked 40 percent, the most in the MLS. According to The Athletic, the least expensive Inter Miami season ticket prices rose from $485 to $884 per seat from 2023 to 2024. Even with the price jump, Inter Miami announced 2024 season tickets sold out at the end of November, two months out of the start of the preseason. Not surprisingly, his jersey became the top seller in the MLS.
Messi and Inter Miami open the 2024 MLS regular season on February 21 against Real Salt Lake.
International Career
As much success as Messi found with Barcelona, greater prize continued to elude him on the international front. He was part of a pair of runner-up finishes with Argentina in the 2007 Copa America and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with the latter resulting in a 1-0 loss to Germany.
After Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final, Messi announced he was ending his run with the national team. He quickly reversed his decision, but his participation in the 2018 World Cup did not bring that elusive title, as hoped, with Argentina knocked out by eventual champion France in the round of 16.
In 2019, Messi led Argentina to a third-place finish at the Copa America. In 2021, he finally broke through and guided his country to the Copa America championship, earning tournament MVP honors after topping the competition with four goals. That triumph set the stage for the emotional 2022 World Cup run. He became the first player to score a goal in every match of the knockout stage, and he netted twice in the final to win his second Golden Ball trophy.
Messi briefly announced his retirement from international football, but the now-35-year-old eventually changed his mind, citing his desire to help Argentina capture the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup.
Family and Wife
Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, a fellow Rosario native, in 2017. The two have known each other since they were children. Roccuzzo is the cousin of Messi’s childhood friend Lucas Scaglia, who also became a professional soccer player.
Messi and Roccuzzo have three children together: Thiago (born in 2012), Mateo (2015), and Ciro (2018).
Stats and Honors
Teams Played For
Newell’s Old Boys, Barcelona B, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami CF
Net Worth
$400 million (Celebrity Net Worth)
$600 million (Forbes)
Honors
- 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
- 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year
- Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner
- Six-time La Liga Best Player
- Six-time La Liga Best Forward
- Top Scorer in La Liga: 474 goals
- 2022 FIFA World Cup MVP
FAQs
Q: When did Lionel Messi start his professional career?
A: Messi started his professional career with FC Barcelona, making his first-team debut in 2004 at the age of 17.
Q: What teams has Lionel Messi played for?
A: Messi has played for Newell’s Old Boys, Barcelona B, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami CF.
Q: How many Ballon d’Or awards has Lionel Messi won?
A: As of 2023, Lionel Messi has won eight Ballon d’Or awards.
Q: What is Lionel Messi’s net worth?
A: Messi’s net worth is estimated to be between $400 million (Celebrity Net Worth) and $600 million (Forbes).
Q: How tall is Lionel Messi?
A: Lionel Messi is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.
Q: Who is Lionel Messi married to?
A: Messi is married to Antonella Roccuzzo, and they have been together since 2017.
Q: How many children does Lionel Messi have?
A: Lionel Messi has three children: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
Q: What are some of Lionel Messi’s career achievements?
A: Messi’s achievements include winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022, the Copa America in 2021, four UEFA Champions League titles, and ten La Liga titles. He is also Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 474 goals.
Q: When did Lionel Messi join Inter Miami CF?
A: Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami CF in July 2023.
Q: What is Lionel Messi’s jersey number at Inter Miami CF?
A: Lionel Messi wears the number 10 jersey at Inter Miami CF.
