Lionel Messi

About

Star soccer forward who gained world fame playing with FC Barcelona and as captain of Argentina's national team. He won the Ballon d'Or four straight years from 2009 to 2012. He received the Golden Ball Award at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups, leading Argentina to a World Cup championship on the latter occasion. In August 2021, he left FC Barcelona to play for Paris Saint-Germain FC and in June of 2023 he joined Inter Miami CF.

Before Fame

He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was 11 years old and his local club, Newell's Old Boys, did not want to pay to treat it, so he moved to Spain to play for FC Barcelona. 

Trivia

When he was 25, he became the youngest player in history to score 200 goals in La Liga and in March 2012, he became the first player in Champions League history to score five goals in a single match. He won the FIFA World Cup alongside Argentina in 2022. In 2023 he joined the MLS to play for Inter Miami.

Family Life

He grew up in Argentina with his parents Jorge and Celia, and his siblings: Maria, Matias, and Rodrigo. He married Antonella Roccuzzo in 2017. He and Antonella have sons named Mateo, Thiago and Ciro. His mother is Celia Maria Cuccittini and his father is Jorge Horacio Messi.

Associated With

Many pundits began calling him the next Pele after he won the 2009 UEFA Super Cup with Barcelona.