Lionel Messi, known by many as Leo Messi, is one of the most famed professional footballers in the world, argued to be the best footballer in the world. Messi is an Argentine footballer who is best known for playing as a forward for both Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Regarded as one of the greatest players that the world has seen, Messi has enjoyed a spectacular career and is internationally celebrated for his skill and ability.

Messi is the captain for both Barcelona and Argentina and has proven himself to be an effective leader.

He has won six Ballon d’Or awards and a record six European Golden Shoes. At Barcelona FC he has won a club-record 33 trophies, including La Liga titles, Copa del Reys and UEFA Champions League. Messi is internationally renowned for his creative approach to the game and his prolific goal scoring. He holds the record for the most goals in La Liga, most hat tricks in La Liga and most goals in the UEFA Champions League. Born and raised in central Argentina, Messi moved to Spain at the young age of thirteen, making his debut for the team age seventeen. Over the next few years, he quickly established himself as a key integral player on the team.

As an Argentine international, he is his country’s leading record goal-scorer.

One of the most famous athletes in the world, Messi is sponsored by Adidas and is their leading brand endorser. He was said to be the world’s highest paid footballer in 2019 by Forbes and was named among Time’s 100 most influential people in the world for two years running. In 2020, he was awarded the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and took a 70% pay cut for the cause of the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside other renowned footballers.