Lionel Messi currently represents Inter Miami CF and serves as the captain of the Argentina national football team. Over his illustrious career, he has clinched eight Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. In 2025, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics named him the All-Time Men’s World Best Player.
Messi stands as the most decorated footballer in history, boasting 46 major team trophies — more than any other player ever. His record-breaking feats are unmatched: in 2012, he scored an incredible 91 goals in a single calendar year, a record that still stands. He netted 672 goals for FC Barcelona, the highest tally for one club, and his 474 goals in La Liga remain a league record.
When Messi was just 13, Barcelona’s sporting director Carles Rexach was so impressed during his trial that he decided to sign him immediately. Without formal paperwork available, Rexach scribbled a contract promise on a paper napkin during a meeting with Messi’s parents at a tennis club. That napkin became one of football’s most iconic documents.
Messi’s devotion to the sport even extends to his home. He hired architect Luis Garrido to design a mansion near Barcelona that resembles a football pitch. The €7 million property is circular like a football when viewed from above, while the surrounding land mirrors the shape of a playing field. The design even incorporates the number ‘1’, completing the look of his famous number ‘10’.
Whenever Messi scores, he raises both arms and points to the sky — a gesture filled with emotion. The tribute is to his late maternal grandmother, Celia, who was his biggest supporter during his early years. She passed away when he was young, and Messi continues to honour her with every goal.
Despite his global fame, Messi’s culinary taste remains humble and rooted in his Argentine heritage. His all-time favourite dish is Milanesa Napolitana — a breaded chicken or veal cutlet topped with ham, cheese, tomato sauce, and herbs. He has loved this comfort food since childhood and often admits to preferring it over gourmet meals.
At just 10 years old, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, a condition requiring treatment costing between $900 and $1,500 per month — well beyond his family’s means. His local club couldn’t assist, but Barcelona’s technical director recognized his potential and offered to bring him to Spain, covering all medical expenses. That decision transformed his future.
In a rare and candid 2026 interview, Messi opened up about his personality, saying, “I’m weirder than shit. I really like being alone, I enjoy being alone.” He admitted that despite his fame, he values solitude and finds the constant bustle of family life with three children sometimes overwhelming.
Messi’s enduring romance with Antonela Roccuzzo began when he was only nine years old. Antonela is the cousin of his childhood best friend, Lucas Scaglia. Even as a boy, Messi knew she was special. After years of keeping their relationship private, the couple tied the knot in 2017, turning their long love story into reality.
Messi’s left foot is legendary, and in 2013, a Tokyo jeweller crafted a 25-karat solid gold life-size replica of it. The sculpture weighed 25 kilograms and was later auctioned for an astounding $5.25 million to a Japanese businessman. A fitting tribute to one of football’s golden players.
Messi’s international career had a rocky beginning. In 2005, at just 18, he made his Argentina debut in a friendly against Hungary. Barely 44 seconds after coming on as a substitute, he was shown a red card for a retaliatory swing after being grabbed by an opponent — all before even touching the ball. From that inauspicious start came one of the greatest international careers ever.
While fans around the globe know him as Lionel or Leo, that’s actually his middle name. His full name is Luis Lionel Andrés Messi, and among close family, he’s affectionately called ‘Luis’. The reason his public name became ‘Lionel’ remains a small mystery even to his most devoted followers.
A. Messi was nine years old when he met Antonela Roccuzzo in his hometown, Rosario, Argentina.
A. As of 2026, Messi has no plans to retire. He remains focused on continuing his career and aims to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A. Across club and international football, Messi has scored 910 goals in total.
