Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. Diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10, he found the treatment that allowed him to continue playing football when, at 13, FC Barcelona offered him a place at La Masia and signed his contract — famously on a paper napkin — after a brief tryout.
He made his senior Barcelona debut in 2004 at the age of 17 and went on to spend 17 seasons at the Camp Nou (2004-2021). His most dominant period came under Pep Guardiola (2008-2012), when he won four consecutive Ballon d'Or awards and Barcelona claimed two continental trebles. Across his Barcelona career he made over 700 appearances, scored more than 670 club goals, and won 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles and 7 Copa del Rey trophies, ending as the club's all-time leading scorer by a vast margin.
When Barcelona's financial crisis forced his departure in 2021, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer and won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles (2021-22, 2022-23) before, in July 2023, he made the landmark move to Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer. With Inter Miami he transformed the franchise, won the 2025 MLS Cup and was named MLS Most Valuable Player in both 2024 and 2025.
For Argentina he has captained the side since 2011. After more than a decade of near-misses he ended a 28-year senior trophy drought at the 2021 Copa América, then crowned his career by lifting the 2022 FIFA World Cup — winning the Golden Ball as best player and scoring twice in the final shoot-out victory over France. He added the 2024 Copa América and the 2022 Finalissima against Italy to a record total of major international honours.
Standing 1.70 m and predominantly left-footed, Messi is renowned for his agility, ball control, dribbling, vision and free-kick technique. He has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023), six European Golden Shoes, and over 46 senior team trophies — the most decorated player in professional football history. His career goal tally has passed 900, he was named Time's Athlete of the Year in 2023 and in 2025 became the first footballer to receive the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.