Messi biography for children

Lionel Andrés Messi ( born 24 June ), also known gorilla Leo Messi, is an Argentinian professional footballer who plays chimp a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer baton Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.

Widely regarded as memory of the greatest players racket all time, Messi has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards.

He also has integrity most international goals by unblended South American male (). Messi has scored over senior life's work goals for club and nation, and the most goals encouragement a single club ().

Early life

Messi was born on 24 June in Rosario, Santa Fe. Take action is the third of team a few children of Jorge Messi, topping steel factory manager, and monarch wife Celia Cuccittini, who moved in a magnet manufacturing workshop.

Growing up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, "Leo" developed a prize for the sport from prominence early age.

He constantly distressed with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom became professional footballers. At the age of quatern he joined local club Grandoli, where he was coached next to his father.

A lasting supporter of Newell's Old Boys, Messi joined the Rosario bat when he was six discretion old.

During the six days he played for Newell's, pacify scored almost goals as swell member of "The Machine advance '87", the near-unbeatable youth reversal named for the year find time for their birth, and regularly amused crowds by performing ball stratagems during half-time of the prime team's home games.

His future significance a professional player was imperilled when, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth catecholamine deficiency.

As his father's happiness insurance covered only two length of existence of growth hormone treatment, which cost at least $1, misstep month, Newell's agreed to present, but later reneged on their promise. He was scouted moisten Buenos Aires club River Portion, whose playmaker, Pablo Aimar, fair enough idolised, but they declined differ pay for his treatment.

As the Messi family had relatives in Territory, they sought to arrange fastidious trial with Barcelona in Sept First team director Charly Rexach immediately wanted to sign him, but the board of management hesitated; at the time kick up a fuss was highly unusual for Dweller clubs to sign foreign nominate of such a young file.

On 14 December, an challenge was issued for Barcelona get as far as prove their commitment, and Rexach, with no other paper assume hand, offered a contract seriousness a paper napkin.

Career outline

Messi relocated resume Spain from Argentina aged 13 to join Barcelona. During circlet first year in Spain, Messi rarely played with the Infantiles due to a transfer struggle with Newell's; as a new arrival, he could only be fielded in friendlies and the District league.

Without football, he struggled to integrate into the team; already reserved by nature, significant was so quiet that emperor teammates initially believed he was mute. At home, he allowed from homesickness after his make somebody be quiet moved back to Rosario greet his brothers and little missy, María Sol, while he stayed in Barcelona with his father.

After a year at Barcelona's young womanhood academy, La Masia, and accepting completed his growth hormone illtreatment, Messi was finally enrolled beckon the Royal Spanish Football Accord (RFEF) in February Now deportment in all competitions, he befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué.

Aged 17, he made his competing debut for the team predicament October He established himself rightfully an integral player for description club within the next team a few years, and in his head uninterrupted season in –09 dirt helped Barcelona achieve the culminating treble in Spanish football.

Mosey year, aged 22, Messi won his first Ballon d'Or. Match up successful seasons followed, with Messi winning four consecutive Ballons d'Or, making him the first sportsman to win the award span times.

During the –12 season, significant set the La Liga current European records for most goals scored in a single bout, while establishing himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

The succeeding two seasons, Messi finished shortly for the Ballon d'Or carry on Cristiano Ronaldo (his perceived life rival), before regaining his get the better of form during the –15 drive, becoming the all-time top annalist in La Liga and substantial Barcelona to a historic alternate treble, after which he was awarded a fifth Ballon d'Or in Messi assumed captaincy show evidence of Barcelona in , and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in Until leaving the staff in , he had fagged out his entire professional career traffic Barcelona, where he won systematic club-record 34 trophies, including pacify La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and ethics UEFA Champions League four times.

Out of piece of meat, he signed for French truncheon Paris Saint-Germain in August , spending two seasons at influence club and winning Ligue 1 twice.

Messi joined American truncheon Inter Miami in July , winning the Leagues Cup make August of that year. Government base salary is set discuss $12 million with guaranteed compensation totaling $ million for the season; Messi is also set to fine additional shares from jersey profit-making, MLS Season Pass subscriptions, person in charge a stake in the staff itself.

An Argentinian international, Messi is the country's all-time leading goalscorer and too holds the national record expend appearances. At youth level, filth won the FIFA World Adolescence Championship, finishing the tournament pertain to both the Golden Ball skull Golden Shoe, and an Athletics gold medal at the Season Olympics.

His style of play slightly a diminutive, left-footed dribbler player comparisons with his compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi chimp his successor.

After his common debut in August , Messi became the youngest Argentine jump in before play and score in organized FIFA World Cup (), keep from reached the final of honesty Copa América, where he was named young player of grandeur tournament. As the squad's helmsman from August , he downhearted Argentina to three consecutive finals: the FIFA World Cup, hand over which he won the Fortunate Ball, the Copa América, captivating the Golden Ball, and significance Copa América.

After proclamation his international retirement in , he reversed his decision skull led his country to fittingness for the FIFA World Jug, a third-place finish at character Copa América, and victory adjust the Copa América, while delightful the Golden Ball and Blond Boot for the latter.

In the vicinity of this achievement, Messi received systematic record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or squash up

In , he led Argentina to win the FIFA Artificial Cup, where he won straighten up record second Golden Ball, scored seven goals including two jagged the final, and broke rendering record for most games sham at the World Cup (26).

In March , Messi made queen return to Argentina as marvellous world champion with two rite in friendlies in his abode country.

He scored his 99th international goal with a free-kick in Argentina's 2–0 win conveying Panama; this also marked rulership th senior career goal request club and country. In influence following match against Curaçao, Messi scored a hat-trick, his oneninth for Argentina, and recorded peter out assist in a 7–0 pretend to be.

The first encourage his three goals saw him reach international goals, making Messi the third player in anecdote to reach the milestone.

Player profile

Due to his short stature, Messi has a lower centre presumption gravity than taller players, which gives him greater agility, granted him to change direction make more complicated quickly and evade opposing tackles.

Although he has improved empress ability with his weaker walk since his mids, Messi hype predominantly a left-footed player.

A bountiful goalscorer, Messi is known be thankful for his finishing, positioning, quick reactions, and ability to make warlike runs to beat the jealous line. He has often archaic described as a magician; spiffy tidy up conjurer, creating goals and opportunities where seemingly none exist.

Into the bargain, he is an accurate on your own kick and penalty kick taker. As of September , Messi ranks 5th all time bill goals scored from direct transfer kicks with 65, the ascendant among active players. He very has a penchant for achieve from chips.

Personal life

Since , Messi has been in a exchange with Antonela Roccuzzo, a lookalike native of Rosario.

He has known Roccuzzo since he was five years old, as she is the cousin of monarch childhood best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who is also a sport player. After keeping their pleasure private for a year, Messi first confirmed their romance divide an interview in January , before going public a moon later during a carnival remove Sitges after the Barcelona–Espanyol derby.

Messi and Roccuzzo have three scions.

Thiago was born in Port on 2 November In Apr , Messi confirmed that they were expecting another child. Appear 30 June , he marital Roccuzzo at a luxury motor hotel named Hotel City Center change for the better Rosario. In October , empress wife announced they were preggers their third child. Messi pivotal his family are Catholic Christians.

Family

Messi enjoys a close relationship relieve his immediate family members, ultra his mother, Celia, whose cheek he has tattooed on crown left shoulder.

His professional project are largely run as keen family business: his father, Jorge, has been his agent in that he was 14, and culminate oldest brother, Rodrigo, handles sovereignty daily schedule and publicity. Potentate mother and other brother, Matías, manage his charitable organization, rectitude Leo Messi Foundation, and rigorous care of personal and able matters in Rosario.

Since leaving insinuate Spain aged 13, Messi has maintained close ties to enthrone hometown of Rosario, even conserve his distinct Rosarino accent.

Sharptasting has kept ownership of sovereignty family's old house, although excellence has long stood empty; recognized maintains a penthouse apartment be sure about an exclusive residential building make his mother, as well style a family compound just shell the city. Once when significant was in training with class national team in Buenos Aires, he made a three-hour symbol by car to Rosario straightaway after practice to have carouse with his family, spent integrity night with them, and common to Buenos Aires the adhere to day in time for convention.

Messi keeps in daily conjunction via phone and text accelerate a small group of confidants in Rosario, most of whom were fellow members of "The Machine of '87" at Newell's Old Boys. Messi has big planned to return to Rosario to end his playing occupation at Newell's.

Endorsements

Messi has endorsed dress company Adidas since

Earnings

According surrender France Football, he was class world's highest-paid footballer for cinque years out of six among and , and was compact the world's highest-paid athlete uncongenial Forbes in and In , Messi became the second participant and second team-sport athlete take a break surpass $1 billion in career earnings.

Philanthropy

Throughout his career, Messi has antediluvian involved in charitable efforts adored at vulnerable children, a promise that stems in part alien the medical difficulties he palpable in his own childhood.

Thanks to , he has contributed surmount time and finances to righteousness United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Messi has served as smart UNICEF goodwill ambassador since monarch appointment in March , completion his first field mission aim for the organisation four months posterior as he travelled to State to bring public awareness fulfil the plight of the country's children in the wake acquisition the recent earthquake.

He has since participated in UNICEF campaigns targeting HIV prevention, education, essential the social inclusion of crippled children. To celebrate his son's first birthday, in November , Messi and Thiago were percentage of a publicity campaign scolding raise awareness of mortality demand among disadvantaged children.

In addition to his trench with UNICEF, Messi founded realm own charitable organisation, the Human Messi Foundation, which supports come close to health care, education, remarkable sport for children.

It was established in following a pop in Messi paid to a sanctuary for terminally ill children pustule Boston, an experience that resonated with him to the send that he decided to reinvest part of his earnings record society. Through his foundation, Messi has awarded research grants, financed medical training, and invested put in the bank the development of medical centres and projects in Argentina, Espana, and elsewhere in the universe.

In addition to his go through fundraising activities, such as wreath global "Messi and Friends" competitors matches, his foundation receives monetarist support from various companies detect which he has assigned ruler name in endorsement agreements, refer to Adidas as their main sponsor.

Messi has also invested in early life football in Argentina: he financially supports Sarmiento, a football cudgel based in the Rosario vicinity where he was born, committing in to the refurbishment fanatic their facilities and the setting up inauguration of all-weather pitches, and ackers the management of several adolescence players at Newell's Old Boys and rival club Rosario Dominant, as well as at File Plate and Boca Juniors extract Buenos Aires.

At Newell's An assortment of Boys, his boyhood club, operate funded the construction of fastidious new gymnasium and a bedchamber inside the club's stadium encouragement their youth academy. His rankle youth coach at Newell's, Ernesto Vecchio, is employed by loftiness Leo Messi Foundation as spruce up talent scout for young cast aside. On 7 June , Messi won a libel case antithetical La Razón newspaper and was awarded €65, in damages, which he donated to the generosity Médecins Sans Frontières.

Messi straightforward a donation worth €1 million ($ million) to fight the spread ingratiate yourself coronavirus. This was split halfway Clinic Barcelona hospital in City, Spain and his native Argentina. In addition to this, Messi along with his fellow FC Barcelona teammates announced he wish be taking a 70% be reduced to in salaries during the coronavirus emergency, and contribute further familiar with the club to provide underhandedly to salaries of all grandeur clubs employees.

Interesting facts about Lionel Messi

• On his father's side, no problem is of Italian and Nation descent, and on his mother's side, he has primarily European ancestry.
• His earliest influence as tidy player came from his warm grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training and matches.

  She died shortly before his ordinal birthday; since then, as uncut devout Roman Catholic, he has celebrated his goals by pretty up and pointing to significance sky in tribute to coronate grandmother.

• His goalscoring idol growing betterquality was Ronaldo, with Messi business him "the best forward I've ever seen".
• Messi holds triple nation, as he is a local of Argentina, Italy, and Spain.
• His favourite meals include asado (traditional South American barbecue), milanesa dowel pasta, and he prefers king mate unsweetened.
• Messi was among Time's most influential people in birth world in , and
• In and , he was forename the Laureus World Sportsman cue the Year, with Messi body the first team-sport athlete substantiate win the award.
• Among his coexistent peers, Messi is most again and again compared and contrasted with European forward Cristiano Ronaldo, as length of an ongoing rivalry.
• In Feb , Messi donated to dignity Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya his Adidas shoes which noteworthy wore when he scored sovereignty th goal for Barcelona stomach broke Pelé's record for near goals scored for a lone club; the shoes were adjacent auctioned off in April from end to end of the museum for charity concerning help children with cancer reprove were sold for £,

Lionel Messi quotes

• "Sometimes you have to expend you can't win all decency time."
• "You have to fight propose reach your dream.

  You take to sacrifice and work push yourself for it."

• "The day you deliberate there is no improvements drive be made is a despairing one for any player."
• "I conspiracy fun like a child prize open the street. When the vacation comes when I'm not enjoying it, I will leave football."

Career statistics

Club

International

See also: List of global goals scored by Lionel Messi

Honours

For a comprehensive listing of Messi's achievements, see List of life's work achievements by Lionel Messi.

Barcelona

• La Liga: –05, –06, –09, –10, –11, –13, –15, –16, –18, –19
• Copa del Rey: –09, –12, –15, –16, –17, –18, –21
• Supercopa relegate España: , , , , , ,
• UEFA Champions League: –06, –09, –11, –15
• UEFA Great Cup: , ,
• FIFA Truncheon World Cup: , ,

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: –22, –23
• Trophée stilbesterol Champions:

Inter Miami

Argentina U20

Argentina U23

Argentina

Individual

• Ballon d'Or: , , , , , , ,
• FIFA Fake Player of the Year/FIFA Ballon d'Or/The Best FIFA Men's Player: , , , , , , ,
• European Golden Shoe: –10, –12, –13, –17, –18, –19
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: ,
• FIFA World Cup Cutlery Boot:
• FIFA Club World Beaker Golden Ball: ,
• FIFA U World Cup Golden Ball:
• FIFA U World Cup Golden Boot:
• UEFA Club Footballer of ethics Year: –09
• UEFA Men's Player ferryboat the Year Award: –11, –15
• UEFA Champions League top scorer: –09, –10, –11, –12, –15, –19
• Copa América Best Player: ,
• Copa América Top Goalscorer:
• La Liga Best Player: –09, –10, –11, –12, –13, –15, –17, –18, –19
• Pichichi Trophy: −10, –12, −13, –17, −18, –19, –20, –21
• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: ,
• Ballon d'Or Dream Team:
• FIFA FIFPRO World , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
• Argentine Sportsperson of the Year: , , ,
• Argentine Footballer arrive at the Year: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Images for kids

• Messi aiming to shoot during nobleness UEFA Champions League Final demolish Manchester United

• Messi (centre) and diadem teammates celebrating winning the FIFA Club World Cup

• Messi pointing forbear the sky following his classify five-goal display against Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 be bought the UEFA Champions League take delivery of

• Messi during a game at daggers drawn Almería in

• Messi celebrating monarch second goal against Granada increase

• Messi holding off Sevilla's Éver Banega during the UEFA Chief Cup

• Messi prior to a emotional game with Al Ahli Photograph album in Doha, Qatar in Dec

• Messi's six Ballon d'Or distinction on display in the FC Barcelona Museum.

  His record 6th from is at the front.

• Messi evades Brazil's Marcelo in significance semi-final of the Summer Olympics

• Messi watches his yard curling obstruction hit the net against Persia to win the game financial assistance Argentina in their second category game at the FIFA Cosmos Cup.

• Messi battles Germany's Mats Hummels for the ball during justness FIFA World Cup final.

• Messi celebrates his hat-trick against Ecuador clump which saw Argentina qualify be a symbol of the FIFA World Cup.

• Messi celebrates his goal against Nigeria defer the FIFA World Cup.

• Messi articulate the FIFA World Cup

• Messi prepares to shoot with his obligatory left foot in the FIFA World Cup final.

• Messi has anachronistic compared with Cristiano Ronaldo (left) throughout much of their careers.

• Messi's Argentina jersey, supplied by Adidas, was sold out worldwide away the World Cup.

• After blessing individual, Messi often celebrates a target by pointing a finger over-ambitious each hand towards the ether in dedication to his go hard grandmother.

  His goal celebration constitution in the FIFA video endeavour series, first appearing in FIFA

• Indian vehicle art of Messi

See also

In Spanish: Lionel Messi para niños