Top 10 Fun Facts About Lionel Messi

All the information you need to know about the Argentinian sensation!

One of the most recognizable players in football history is Lionel Messi. Messi, an Argentinean born in 1987, started playing football at a young age and became known as a tremendous talent.

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At the age of 13, he enrolled in FC Barcelona’s youth academy, and it took him just three years to make his first-team debut. Messi rapidly cemented his position as one of the finest players of his generation in the years that followed.

He has received a record number of individual honours, including seven Ballon d’Or trophies, and has aided Barcelona in winning four Champions League titles and ten La Liga crowns.

Messi has had to overcome a lot of obstacles throughout his career, despite his brilliance on the field. When he was a toddler, a growth hormone deficit was discovered, necessitating costly therapy that put a strain on his family’s income.

He led Argentina to a Copa America victory in 2021, earning his first significant international trophy in the process. A year later, in Qatar, he assisted his nation in winning their third World Cup championship.

Messi is well-known for his charitable initiatives off the field. In order to better the lives of youngsters throughout the world who are in need, he founded the Leo Messi Foundation. In addition, he has taken part in several charity projects, such as the construction of a children’s hospital in Rosario, Argentina, his homeland.

What are the top 10 things to know about the attacker, though?

Idolised an Argentina Legend

Many younger athletes look up to Messi, but who did he look up to when he was younger? Pablo Aimar, a playmaker from Argentina who later played for Real Zaragoza and Valencia, was his idol. Aimar approached the 17-year-old Messi, an unused substitute, after the game to offer him his shirt. This was one special night in 2004 when they played each other in La Liga. Even today, he still treasures the jersey. Aimar was a member of the Argentina team that won the 2022 World Cup. He served as head coach Lionel Scaloni’s assistant.

A nightmare debut for Argentina

On August 17, 2005, at a friendly international encounter against Hungary at the Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Argentina’s blue-eyed kid Messi made his debut for his country. Messi entered the game in the second half as a replacement. In the 64th minute of the game, he came in to replace attacker Lisandro Lopez. Less than a minute after onto the field, the then-Barcelona prodigy’s fairytale debut quickly turned into a nightmare when he was dismissed.

Could have won the World Cup in 2010

Messi has represented Argentina in his whole international career, but if he had accepted a request to join the national team of Spain, where he had previously played professionally for 17 years, he might have been sporting the red of that nation instead. He was qualified to play for the 2010 world champions because he spent his youth in Barcelona, but Messi claims he never considered it. The rest is history, as he went on to become Argentina’s leading scorer all-time.

A loving grandson

Although it is common to see Messi point upwards with both hands after scoring a goal, few people are aware of its significance. It is actually a dedication to Messi’s grandmother Celia, who he credits with igniting his passion in football and encouraging him when he made his debut in the sport. Tragically, she died in 1998 and never got to watch him play at the highest level, but his famous celebration makes sure that her memory lives on.

Refused to join Arsenal

When Messi was a young player at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Arsene Wenger, the previous manager of Arsenal, tried to sign him. Wenger claims that one of his scouts made him aware of Messi’s potential and that he sought to set up a deal to bring him to Arsenal. Although still in Barcelona’s development program, Messi was already being heralded as a rising talent, and the Catalan club was keen to keep him. Messi ultimately stayed with Barca and went on to become one of the most renowned and acclaimed footballers in history.

Youngest Argentine to play in World Cup

At 18 years, 11 months, and 23 days old, Messi made his World Cup debut for Argentina in 2006, making history as the nation’s youngest-ever participant in the tournament.

Related to former Barcelona teammate

Unbelievably, Messi is related to Bojan Krkic, a former colleague of his at Barcelona. The two ex-stars for Barcelona are fourth cousins. Mariano Perez Miralles and Teresa Llobera Minguet, who wed in Catalonia in 1846 and gave birth to Ramon Perez and Goncal Perez, were their great-great-great grandparents.

Most decorated Barcelona player

The most successful player in FC Barcelona history is Lionel Messi, who has 35 major trophies to his credit. He has won 10 La Liga championships, 7 Copa del Rey crowns, 4 Champions League, 3 Fifa Club World Cups, 3 Uefa Super Cups, and 8 Supercopa de Espana.

La Liga’s greatest goalscorer

With 474 goals in the top division of Spain, Messi holds the record for most goals scored in La Liga. As Messi scored his 252nd La Liga goal in 2014, he broke the previous record holder, Telmo Zarra. He has since increased his total and cemented his position as one of the greatest goal scorers in the annals of Spanish football.

Only player with two World Cup Golden Balls

Lionel Messi became the first and only player to ever win the Golden Ball award twice when he won it in the 2022 World Cup. He had already won it during the 2014 World Cup.