The incredible Lionel Messi in 12 moments

Lionel Messi was born in 1987. He was soon given the nickname Leo. And for little Leo, football was to become a veritable religion!

At the age of 13, Messi left his hometown in Argentina (Rosario) to join Barcelona and play in the best youth programs. In the years that followed, he did extremely well.

Messi played for Barcelona from 2004 to 2021, building up an enviable reputation. His performances are enough to make some of the sport’s greatest stars blush, so dominant is Messi.

After a brief stopover with Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023, Messi moved to Inter Miami, where he has been ever since. Wherever he goes, Messi makes a difference.

And not just on the pitch. Messi turns the heads of the press behind the scenes, as well as at every moment of his life. Fans lucky enough to cross paths with him find it hard to believe! Messi is madness!

In addition to his professional league career, Messi has left his mark on the world of soccer with sparkling performances on the international stage. He’s already been playing for his country for 20 years!

The result? 672 goals scored with Barcelona, a record. 91 goals scored in 2012 alone, a world record. And we could go on and on…

Messi has won 8 Ballons d’Or, awarded to the best player of the year in the world of soccer. He was chosen in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

During this star-studded sequence for Messi, only one other player can truly claim to have been his equal, or close to it. And that name is? Cristiano Ronaldo.

But many would argue that Messi is the undisputed superior to the elegant Ronaldo. It’s not a unanimous opinion, of course, but it’s one that stands the test of time!

Messi is still making his mark on the world’s soccer fields, but he’s not getting any younger. One of the best players in the history of the sport will be 38 in 2025.

The next generation is already getting ready. Thiago Messi, 12, has just joined Inter Miami’s 13U team, and it seems that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree: he’s talented, they say!