At the age of 35, Lionel Messi has been universally recognised as the best football player in the world. The Argentine football legend has received the most Ballon d'Or awards all-time, seven times, a record six European Golden Shoes, the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball award in 2022, and more.

Lionel Andrés Messi also known as Leo Messi, was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe as a result of the love between Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini. He has two older brothers, Rodrigo Messi and Matías Messi, and a younger sister María Sol Messi.

The Argentine athlete developed a passion for soccer at an early age, playing constantly with his siblings and his cousins. At the age of four, Messi joined his first club Grandoli where he was coached by his father.

In September 2000, Messi's relatives who lived in Catalonia arrange a trial with Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia. Although the board of directors hesitated as he was a very young foreign player, the club accepted to offer him a trial.

Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10. After completing his growth hormone treatment, he became an integral part of the Baby Dream Teamalongside his teammates Gerard Piquéand Cesc Fàbregas.

Messi won the top scorer during his first full season 2002–2003, with 36 goals in 30 games for the Cadetes A. When he was 16, he was given his informal debut with FC Barcelona in a friendly match

The prolific goalscorer made his debut in the UEFA Champions League against the Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. Messi scored his first senior goal on 1 May 2005, against the Spanish team, Albacete.

On his 18th birthday, Lionel Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player with FC Barcelona, which ran until 2010.

The FC Barcelona forward nearly replicated Maradona's two most famous goals within seven weeks, during the 2010–11 Copa del Rey semi-final.

Upon Ronaldinho’s departure from Barcelona, Messibecame a new star player. He was only 20 years old and received the nickname "Messiah" from the Spanish media.

Messi was given the number 10 shirt, becoming Barcelona’s highest-paid player. Actually, he has become the club's highest-ever goal scorer with 672 goals.

At 22 years old, Messi won the Ballon d'Or after three successful seasons. He is the only player on the planet to win the Ballon d'Or four times in a row.

The year 2012 broke several longstanding records. For example, on 7 March, the most famous footballer scored five times in the Champions League.

The world's highest-paid footballer signed a new deal with Barcelona through the 2020–21 season. He also broke the record to receive his sixth Golden Shoe award, two more than his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo won.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner completed his move to Paris Saint-Germain after signing a two-year deal until June 2023. Messi chose to wear number 30 at PSG, the same one he wore as a teenager.

Paris Saint-Germain forward received a record seventh Ballon d'Or on 29 November 2021. He has become the most decorated player in the history of the Ballon d'Or award.

The Argentine National Team captain won the Golden Ball Award in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. He won the award twice before Brazil phenomenon Pele and other legends.

Since 2008, Messi has been in a relationship with his childhood love, Antonela Roccuzzo. The couple tied the knot on 30 June 2017 at a Hotel City Center in Rosario.

Lionel Messi has three kids with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. Thiago Messi was born in 2012, Mateo Messi in 2015, and Ciro Messi in 2018.

Messi has a close relationship with his mother, Celia, whose face he has tattooed on his left shoulder. For instance, after leading Argentina to their historic World Cup triumph over France in Qatar 2022, Messi hugged and cried with his mother.