13 fun facts about Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés “Leo” Messi, born on June 24, 1987, is an Argentine professional footballer. He currently serves as a forward and captain for both Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer club, and the Argentina national team.

At the age of 13, Messi left Argentina to join Barcelona in Spain. He made his competitive debut for Barcelona at the age of 17 in October 2004. Over the next three years, he established himself as a vital player for the club.

In the 2008-2009 season, Messi played a key role in helping Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football. As an Argentine international, Messi holds the record for the most goals scored for his country and also has the highest number of appearances.

In his youth career, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he received both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards. He also won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Messi’s playing style, characterized by his small stature and exceptional dribbling skills with his left foot, has drawn comparisons to his fellow countryman Diego Maradona, who has referred to Messi as his successor. Since his senior debut in August 2005, Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in a FIFA World Cup (2006).

He also reached the final of the 2007 Copa América, where he was named the tournament’s young player. Here are some interesting facts about Messi.

1. His goals are dedicated to his late grandmother

Whenever Messi scores, his arms and eyes instinctively look up to the sky, as if in prayer. However, he is not praying but rather dedicating each goal to his late grandmother, Celia Olivera Cuccittini.

2. He had a growth hormone deficiency

At the age of 11, he received a diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency, which hindered his normal growth rate. The monthly expenses for his treatment amounted to $900, a financial burden his parents were unable to bear. However, upon signing Messi, Barcelona graciously covered the costs, ensuring he received the necessary medical care.

3. He has Italian roots

Lionel Messi, born and raised in Argentina, currently holds dual citizenship with Spain. Despite this, his family has Italian roots, with ancestors hailing from the town of Recanati in the Province of Macerata.

An article on Recanati’s Wikipedia page reveals that Messi’s paternal ancestors were based in Ancona, with his ancestor Angelo Messi immigrating to Argentina in 1883, as reported by Rajath Kumar of Forza Italian Football.

4. Pablo Aimar was his role model

When Messi was younger, he admired Pablo Aimar, a former playmaker for Valencia and Real Zaragoza. Aimar, who was also Argentine, served as Messi’s idol.

Despite competing against each other in La Liga, there was a significant moment in 2004 when Aimar approached a 17-year-old Messi, who had been on the bench as an unused substitute, and offered him his shirt.

Messi still holds that jersey dear to his heart. Furthermore, Aimar played a crucial role as an assistant coach to Lionel Scaloni during Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup season.

5. He is related to a former Barcelona teammate, Krkic

Messi and Bojan Krkic, who were once teammates at Barcelona, are actually fourth cousins. Their shared ancestry can be traced back to Mariano Perez Miralles and Teresa Llobera Minguet, who got married in Catalonia in 1846 and had two sons named Ramon Perez and Goncal Perez. These two are the great-great-great grandparents of both Messi and Bojan.

6. Youngest Argentine to play in the World Cup

Messi, at the age of 18 years, 11 months, and 23 days, became the youngest Argentine to participate in the World Cup when he made his debut for Argentina in 2006, setting a new record as the youngest player from his country to compete in the tournament.

7. Most successful player in the Barcelona’s history

Messi has achieved unparalleled success at FC Barcelona, boasting an impressive total of 35 major championships. His collection includes ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey victories, four Champions League triumphs, three Fifa Club World Cup wins, three Uefa Super Cup titles, and eight Supercopa de Espana trophies.

8. Highest Argentine goalscorer

Lionel Messi surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s top World Cup goalscorer by scoring seven goals in the 2022 World Cup, bringing his total to 13 goals.

9. He has won 6 Golden Boots & 6 Golden Balls

Messi’s exceptional talent has transformed the game completely. He has claimed six Golden Balls (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019), six Golden Boots (2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), and The Best award in 2019, showcasing his incredible skills on the field.

10. Only player with two World Cup Golden Balls

Messi etched his name in history by clinching the prestigious Golden Ball award not once, but twice! With his remarkable performance at the 2022 World Cup, he became the sole player to achieve this remarkable feat. Prior to this, he had already claimed the Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup, solidifying his status as a true legend of the game.

11. La Liga’s greatest goalscorer

Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in La Liga history, with 474 goals in the top Spanish league. He surpassed Telmo Zarra in 2014 after scoring his 252nd goal in La Liga. Messi has since increased his goal tally and solidified his position as one of the top goalscorers in Spanish football history.

12. Most Ballon d’Or awards holder

Messi has achieved an unprecedented feat by securing a remarkable tally of eight Ballon d’Or awards. His journey began in 2009 when he clinched his first Ballon d’Or, and he continued to dominate the prestigious accolade in subsequent years, triumphing in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Notably, there are other exceptional players who have also etched their names in Ballon d’Or history. Cristiano Ronaldo, a formidable force in the football world, has claimed the honor five times. Additionally, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten have each been crowned with the award three times.

13. Has a GWR

Messi is the proud holder of a Guinness World Record for scoring 91 goals in a single calendar year, achieved in 2012.