Football · Forward
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi
Argentine forward Lionel Messi is an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and now plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Biography
Born in Rosario, Messi moved to Barcelona as a teenager and spent 17 seasons with the club's first team, winning four UEFA Champions League titles. He left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and joined Inter Miami in 2023, helping the club win its first MLS Cup in 2025. With Argentina he won Olympic gold in 2008, two Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He led Argentina to a second straight World Cup final in 2026, which they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time, and he retired from international football later that year. He continues to play club football in Miami.
Career timeline
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2004 – 2021 · Joined the club's academy in 2000
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2021 – 2023
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2023 – present · Contract runs through 2028
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Argentina national football team
2005 – 2026 · Announced retirement from international football in 2026
Major achievements
- FIFA World Cup winner2022
- FIFA World Cup runner-up2026
- Copa América winner2021, 2024
- Ballon d'Or (8 times)2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023
- Olympic gold medal2008
- MLS Cup winner with Inter Miami2025
Personal life & family
Relationship
Spouse (m. 2017)
Children
Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo have known each other since childhood in Rosario, Argentina, introduced through her cousin Lucas Scaglia. They publicly confirmed their relationship in 2009 and married on June 30, 2017 in Rosario. They have three sons: Thiago (born 2012), Mateo (born 2015), and Ciro (born 2018).
Stories
news
Messi Inspires Dramatic Inter Miami Comeback to Clinch Champions Cup Spot
Lionel Messi sparks Inter Miami to a 2-1 comeback victory over New England Revolution, securing their place in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Football
How Lionel Messi's Career Evolved from Barcelona to Miami
From a Rosario childhood to Barcelona, Paris and Inter Miami, a look at the stages of Lionel Messi's career and how his role changed along the way.
Sources
- Lionel Messi — Wikipedia (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Spain crowned World Cup 2026 champions in New York New Jersey — FIFA (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Lionel Messi announces his retirement from the Argentine national team after a historic career — beIN SPORTS (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Inter Miami CF — Wikipedia (accessed 2 November 2026)
- 2026 World Cup Golden Boot tracker — NBC 6 South Florida (accessed 2 November 2026)