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01
Argentina’s Olympic gold medal in 2008 came from the football team including Messi.
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02
With 8 Ballon d’Or wins 2009-2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, Messi holds the record for most titles in the award’s history.
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03
He was the leading scorer and best player of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which Argentina won.
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04
Alfredo Di Stéfano was the first Argentine to win a Ballon d’Or; Messi is the second.
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05
During his 17-season Barcelona career 2004-2021, Messi made 778 appearances and scored 672 goals.
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06
His La Liga debut came against Espanyol on October 16, 2004, at age 16.
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07
Messi has represented Argentina internationally since 2005, playing in Copa América tournaments 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and World Cups 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022.
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08
He won the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga’s top scorer eight times 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017-2021.
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09
Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo have three sons: Thiago b. November 2012, Mateo b. September 2015, and Ciro b. March 2018.
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10
At age 13, Messi moved to Spain to join Barcelona’s youth academy.
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11
He was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI fourteen consecutive times from 2007 to 2020.
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12
Messi is close friends with Sergio Agüero.
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13
He was named World Soccer Young Player of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
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14
On November 22, 2014, Messi became La Liga’s all-time top scorer.
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15
He won the Trofeo EFE as the best Ibero-American in La Liga five times 2007, 2009-2012.
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16
Messi has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since March 2010.
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17
He was part of Argentina squads that finished runners-up in the Copa América 2007, 2015, 2016 and the FIFA World Cup 2014.
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18
Messi has scored goals in finals of the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Spanish Super Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
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19
He won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award in 2011 and 2015.
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20
Messi earned the Golden Boot for the UEFA Champions League six times 2009-2012, 2015, 2019; Copa del Rey five times 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017; La Liga eight times 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017-2021; Copa América in 2021.
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21
In 2012, Messi set a Guinness World Record for most official goals in a calendar year: 91.
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22
IFFHS named him World’s Top Scorer in 2011 and 2012.
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23
On March 16, 2014, Messi became FC Barcelona’s all-time top scorer.
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24
He received the Golden Ball at the FIFA Club World Cup 2009, 2011, FIFA World Cup 2014, 2022, and Copa América 2015, 2021.
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25
Honours with Barcelona: 10 La Liga 2005, 2006, 2009-2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019; 7 Copa del Rey 2009, 2012, 2015-2018, 2021; 8 Spanish Super Cup 2005, 2006, 2009-2011, 2013, 2016, 2018; 4 UEFA Champions League 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015; 3 UEFA Super Cup 2009, 2011, 2015; 3 FIFA Club World Cup 2009, 2011, 2015. Honours with PSG: Ligue 1 2022, 2023; Trophée des champions 2022. Honours with Inter Miami: Supporters’ Shield 2024; Leagues Cup 2023.
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26
Messi played constantly with his older brothers Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both professional footballers.
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27
He has been named Argentine Footballer of the Year Olimpia de Plata twelve times and Argentine Sportsperson of the Year Olimpia de Oro in 2011.
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28
Messi was named in the UEFA Team of the Year eleven times 2008-2012, 2014-2019.
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29
He won the European Golden Shoe six times 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017-2019.
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30
Messi won the treble with Barcelona La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League in 2009 and 2015.
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31
He has captained the Argentina national team since 2011 and Barcelona from 2018 to 2021.
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32
Messi was named in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team in 2020.
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33
He won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2020.
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34
IFFHS named Messi The Best Man CONMEBOL Player of the Decade 2011-2020.
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35
He led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América at Maracanã Stadium first title since 1993, the 2022 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions at Wembley, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup first world title since 1986.
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36
Messi is La Liga’s top goalscorer 474 and top assist provider 192 in 520 games.
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37
He was Man of the Match in the UEFA Champions League final 2011, FIFA Club World Cup finals 2009, 2011, and Finalissima 2022.
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38
Named in IFFHS Men’s CONMEBOL Team of the Year in 2021.
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39
Onze d’Or winner: 2009, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2017-18.
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40
World Soccer Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019.
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41
Nelson Mandela Trophy: 2018.
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42
Globe Soccer Awards Best Player of the Year: 2015.
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43
L’Équipe International Athlete of the Year: 2011.
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44
Shortlisted for Golden Foot: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.
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45
The Guardian Best Footballer In The World: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019.
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46
Marca Leyenda: 2009.
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47
Best International Athlete ESPY Award: 2012, 2015, 2019.
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48
ESPY Awards International Footballer of the Year: 2019.
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49
Most official goals for a single club: 672, for Barcelona.
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50
Guinness World Record for most official goals in a calendar year: 91 in 2012.