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    Lionel Messi

    Argentina's Lionel Messi poses with the FIFA World Cup Trophy

    With more goals than Pele, eight Ballon d'Or awards and being the most decorated player in Barcelona's history, World Cup winner Lionel Messi is a football legend.

    Lionel Messi is an Argentine football player who lifted the 2022 World Cup with his national side and currently plays for Inter Miami.

    He is regarded as one of the greatest football players to have ever graced the game and is the only eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or and the six-time winner of the European Golden Shoe.

    Messi had spent all of his professional career at Barcelona prior to his move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
    Cristiano Ronaldo
    With the national side, Messi is Argentina's all-time top goalscorer. He began his international career in 2005 and in doing so became the youngest player to represent the South American country at the age of 17.
    Messi led Argentina to three consecutive finals from 2014 to 2016, suffering defeats in the 2014 FIFA World Cup to Germany and back-to-back losses in the Copa America. However, he broke his trophy drought in 2021 when Argentina beat host nation Brazil 1-0 to lift the Copa America.

    Messi celebrated a dream, career-defining World Cup triumph as Argentina won the most dramatic final in history on penalties after Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick had kept holders France alive in 2022.

    The 35-year-old's fifth and final appearance at this stage ended in glory as he captained them to their first World Cup triumph since the late, great Diego Maradona did so in 1986.
    His opener in the final against France and extra-time strike took him to seven goals for the tournament and he was also the top assist provider. He also won the tournament's Golden Ball.

    He also became the first man to score in the last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of the same edition and won the individual accolade for a second time.

    In March 2023, he Messi netted his 800th professional goal as Argentina beat Panama 2-0 in their first match since winning the World Cup.

    Messi confirmed he would leave PSG at the end of the 2022/23 season, and a few weeks later announced he would be joining MLS side Inter Miami.

    He capped his US debut with a stunning free-kick winner against Cruz Azul and then inspired Inter Miami to their first major trophy win when they lifted the 2023 Leagues Cup.
    France Football
    Forbes

    In 2020, Messi followed in the footsteps of Ronaldo by becoming the second football player to pass $1billion earnings in his career.

    A Barcelona legend

    Moving to Paris Saint-Germain

    New adventure at Inter Miami

    Head-to-head: Messi vs Ronaldo

    Performances with his national side

    Messi at the World Cup

    Messi lifts 2022 World Cup

    Personal life

    Lionel Messi's net worth

    Lionel Messi's boots

    Lionel Messi News