Top 10 Facts About Lionel Messi

Lionel Andres Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, on June 24, 1987. He began playing soccer at a very young age and started turning heads almost instantly during his tenure in the Newell Old Boys club’s youth program. Many took notice of his play, including FC Barcelona, who subsequently offered him to play in their youth academy, La Masia. He relocated to Barcelona and immediately made an impact. Playing for the club’s under-14 team, he scored 21 goals in 14 games. In just a few years he would move up the ranks and went on to join the main club at the mere age of 16.

What’s also notable about Messi’ early career is the story of how he was recruited. During a tryout with FC Barcelona, team executive Carles Rexach couldn’t help but notice the extraordinary play of the then 12 year old. According to Rexach, it only took him a few minutes to realize that what he had before him was a special player. Fearing Messi might move quickly and other clubs may take him, Rexach decided to take matters in his own hands. He approached the youth and made him sign a paper napkin, which he had in his possession after a waiter had given it to him. Messi signed right then and there and thus a legend began. The agent who secured the deal still has the napkin, and had it framed.

At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. This meant his body wasn’t producing enough hormones for normal growth. Many clubs expressed concern over both this and his height, and as a result, passed on him. The condition also required expensive treatment that his family couldn’t afford. Upon joining FC Barcelona, the club agreed that they would cover the expenses for the medication required to treat his condition. Now proudly standing at approximately 5’7,’’ Messi has shown that his height has done nothing to slow him down or hamper his playing ability.

Although Messi leads a very private life, there’s still a fair bit to know. He’s married to fellow Argentine Antonela Roccuzzo and together they have 3 children. One of his most noted hobbies outside of soccer is to play video games. He’s a big fan of FIFA, which he has been on the cover of a number of times. Messi is also noted for his taste in music, with reggaeton and latin music being cited among some of his favorite genres. Although he remains somewhat of an enigma off the pitch, Messi has shown to carry himself with grace and character.

To accumulate an estimated $600 million dollar net worth, one must evidently be successful not only on, but off the pitch. And Messi has done just that. His most notable move saw him ink a lifetime deal with sports brand Adidas, who pay him approximately $12 million dollars annually. He’s also partnered with several other noteworthy brands including Pepsi, Huawei and Gillette. He’s even collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger’s sister, Ginny Hilfiger, to release his own clothing line. Also known for his penchant to wear nice watches, he collaborated with American watch manufacturer Jacob & Co. and produced his very own line. He’s even opened a sports investment firm. If one thing’s for certain, it’s that associating with Messi means good business.

No ands, ifs or buts about it but along with being touted by many as the greatest soccer player in history, he’s also been deemed the best to ever don an FC Barcelona jersey period. In addition to the astronomical and record numbers he’s put up (more on that later), he’s also delivered in several unforgettable moments and defined what it meant to a franchise player and superstar not just in soccer, but all of sports. Unfortunately, due to contract and salary complications, his tenure with the team came to an end. Although he is no longer with the club, his name will forever remain synonymous with FC Barcelona.

As previously mentioned, Messi’s numbers are outmatched. In addition to holding all of FC Barcelona’s main records, as of the time of writing, Messi holds the record for most goals scored in an entire season with 72. He holds the most goals and hat tricks in La Liga history. No Liga player has even scored more goals than he has in a single season. Even on the national stage, no Argentine player has scored more than Messi. He’s one of only two players to score over 100 goals in UEFA history, the other being his most formidable rival….

The debate as to which one of these players is the all-time GOAT in soccer is so heavily discussed we even made a video about it. But for those who are not aware, year after year, Messi’s accomplishments are frequently compared to those of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Although they have somewhat different playing styles, they do one thing very well; and that’s score goals. The rivalry was also further intensified when Ronaldo joined FC Barcelona’s rival team, Real Madrid, in turn making the El Clásico matchups even more meaningful. While both men are well-aware of their rivalry and the attention which it brings, they have always shown and expressed respect for one another.

With the fame and fortune that he has achieved during his career, Messi has made it a point to give back to those who are less fortunate. In 2007, he created the Leo Messi foundation to assist underprivileged youths. Likely influenced by the challenges he faced with his growth hormone deficiency, the foundation has put an emphasis on helping children who suffer from health issues. While also collaborating with other foundations for charity work, he was also appointed a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in 2010 He’s made several noteworthy donations while traveling around the world to help those in need. His acts of kindness towards those in need are plentiful and it’s clear that Messi knows how to bring joy both on and off the pitch.

Shortly after his stint with Paris Saint-Germain came to a close, on July 15, 2023, it was announced that Messi had agreed to terms with Inter-Miami CF in MLS. Although his tenure has been brief, his impact has been evident. Not only has it brought more eyes to the MLS, but more dollars as well. Inter Miami has (understandably) become the highest selling team in the league. According to online ticket vendor StubHub, the average price of a single game ticket to watch an Inter Miami home game has jumped from $152 to $329. Not to mention the fact that the move has boosted subscribers for Apple TV, the official streaming service for MLS, with an estimated 288,000 new subscriptions coming just one month after Messi’s arrival. And this is only just beginning…