Lionel Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona.

Lionel Messi is considered the number one football player in the world due to his exceptional skills and numerous records and achievements, including seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and multiple domestic and international titles.

Lionel Messi is 35 years old.

Lionel Messi has won 8 Golden Ball awards.

"Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award a record-breaking seven times."

Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award seven times.

Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina, a major trophy he had been dreaming of for nearly 16 years.

Lionel Messi has played for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Argentina national team, achieving numerous titles and awards including four Champions Leagues and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies.

Lionel Messi was born in 1987.

Lionel Messi won four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona.

Lionel Messi has won four Champions League titles.

Lionel Messi is considered the greatest fútbolista of all time due to his exceptional skills, records, and achievements, including seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and numerous domestic and international titles.

Lionel Messi has consistently delivered exceptional performance throughout his career, marked by outstanding skills, numerous records, and achievements, including seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and multiple titles with Barcelona.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time, with a plethora of awards and accolades, including four Champions Leagues and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies, cementing his position as one of the all-time greats.

Lionel Messi has achieved success at both the club and international levels, winning numerous titles and awards, including four Champions Leagues, 11 domestic league titles, and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies, as well as a Copa América title with Argentina.

Lionel Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona.

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Content: Angry Xavi: Ronaldo the best in history?
No comparison with Missy.
imago images
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, the former star of the team, was outraged by the statements of Cristiano Ronaldo, the current Manchester United striker, and the former Real Madrid star, who has previously stated that he is the greatest in the history of football.
Shortly after winning the Ballon d ’ Or for the fifth time, the then Real Madrid player told France Football: “I don ’ t see anyone better than me, no player does things I can ’ t do myself, but I see things others can ’ t. ”
“No player is more complete than me, I ’ m the best player in history, in good and bad moments. ”
How did he respond to Ronaldo ’ s comments?
This statement seemed like Ronaldo was outperforming himself, as his immense self-confidence has always been the deciding factor in the biggest and best moments of his career, but it was an incredible claim, and it seems to have infuriated Barcelona icon Xavi.
The former Spanish star spent more than a decade playing alongside Lionel Messi, sharing a dressing room with him in Barcelona,   and they fought together against Ronaldo when he was a player in Madrid.
Speaking to Radio Tut Costa (Radio Catalunya), Xavi said: "Messi is doing more things than Cristiano."
"If Cristiano considers himself the best player in history, that's fine, but Messi is the best in history.
"I imagine all the managers in the world will make plans to stop Messi."
"Messi is the difference maker when we were facing a team with a defensive block that we always try to give the ball to him in the empty spaces to unbalance them.
“Messi is the player who makes the biggest difference in the world, it ’ s more than obvious. ”
It is worth mentioning that Lionel Messi left Barcelona after the club failed to renew his contract, to join Paris Saint-Germain in a free transfer deal in the summer of 2021.

Lionel Messi is considered the number one football player in the world due to his exceptional skills and numerous records and achievements, including seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and multiple domestic and international titles.

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Content: What Was Lionel Messi Known For?

News

What Was Lionel Messi Known For?

Lionel Messi, the Argentine football superstar, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Known for his exceptional skills, agility, and goal-scoring ability, Messi has left an indelible mark on the world of football. From his early days at FC Barcelona to his international success with the Argentine national team, Messi’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, Messi showed immense talent from a young age. He joined the Barcelona youth academy, La Masia, at the age of 13, where he honed his skills and developed his unique playing style. Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2004, at the age of 17, and quickly became a key player for the club.

Playing Style and Skills
Messi is known for his exceptional dribbling ability, close ball control, and lightning-fast speed. His low center of gravity allows him to change direction quickly, leaving defenders in his wake. His vision and passing accuracy are also remarkable, enabling him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. However, it is his goal-scoring prowess that truly sets him apart. Messi has an incredible ability to find the back of the net, often with stunning precision and creativity.

Records and Achievements
Throughout his career, Messi has shattered numerous records and achieved countless milestones. He has won numerous individual awards, including the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or, which he has claimed a record-breaking seven times. Messi has also led Barcelona to numerous domestic and international titles, including ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles.

FAQ

Q: What is Messi’s playing position?
A: Messi primarily plays as a forward or attacking midfielder, but his versatility allows him to excel in various positions on the field.

Q: Has Messi ever won the FIFA World Cup?
A: Despite his immense success at the club level, Messi has yet to win the FIFA World Cup with the Argentine national team. However, he has led Argentina to the finals in 2014 and has won several other international tournaments, including the Copa America.

Q: How many goals has Messi scored in his career?
A: As of 2021, Messi has scored over 700 goals in official matches for both club and country.

In conclusion, Lionel Messi is known for his exceptional skills, agility, and goal-scoring ability. His playing style, records, and achievements have solidified his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Whether it is his mesmerizing dribbles or his ability to find the back of the net, Messi’s impact on the sport will be remembered for generations to come.

Lionel Messi is 35 years old.

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NPR podcast tells the story behind Lionel Messi's journey to his final World Cup

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

When soccer's World Cup kicks off, one of the sport's biggest stars will have his last chance to win a title that has so far eluded him. Lionel Messi is often spoken of as perhaps the game's greatest player ever, but he's never lifted the famous gold trophy for his country, Argentina. It is a constant source of criticism for the man nicknamed La Pulga Atomico, the atomic flea, due to his small stature and the way he buzzes past defenders. His determination to swat aside those complaints might be all the greater when you consider that the 35-year-old's identity as an Argentino has been questioned because he left the country as a teenager to begin his ascent to stardom in Spain. That's the inspiration behind the new NPR podcast La última copa - The Last Cup - which is out now, hosted by Jasmine Garsd.

All right. So, Jasmine, what made you want to make this podcast about Messi and this journey to his final World Cup?

JASMINE GARSD, BYLINE: Well, you know, like Lionel Messi, I am from Argentina, and I'm very soccer obsessed. Soccer was a part of my life growing up. And I became just really fascinated with his relationship with his home country. And even though, you know, Lionel Messi is a huge superstar, there were some themes in his personal story that I definitely identified. There were echoes of things I had heard people in other immigrant communities talk about. It was, like, this story about someone who leaves home really young, spends a lot of their life wondering what could have happened, yearning, you know, in the nostalgia, wondering if you can ever go back and then navigating that relationship when you do go back, which is very complicated.

MARTÍNEZ: Well, now, you wanted to make this podcast about Messi in both English and Spanish. Why was that important to you?

GARSD: You know, I had been thinking a lot about Lionel Messi. And I got into an Uber, and it was a Dominican driver, and he started talking to me in Espanol, and he started telling me about how he was getting older, and people back home wanted him to come back, but his life was here in New York. And as he was telling me this, I was like, whoa, I should do this story. You know, there's, like, a common element. There's a common theme. And every time I would hear this story, it would be in Espanol. And so I just - we really wanted to do it justice by telling it in both languages.

MARTÍNEZ: Now, the first three episodes are already out. So let's get a flavor from Episode 1.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #1: Lionel Messi - no, no, no. No, no, no. It's got away. It's got away.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: The greatest achievement you can have as a footballer is winning international trophies for your country. It just is a bigger legend than winning Champions League.

GARSD: The one thing Messi has never been able to achieve is to win a World Cup for his home country, Argentina.

(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #2: He's missed it. It's been saved.

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #3: But there was a target area, and Messi misplaced it.

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #4: Messi, even now he can't get his goal.

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #5: And he doesn't pick up the prize he really wanted.

GARSD: For most of his career, when Leo Messi put on that Argentina soccer jersey, things got really bad really quick.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #6: He missed it.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #7: ...Lionel Messi put his shirt over his face. He's now crouched down with his head on the field.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Through interpreter) He was sitting on the floor, curled up in a ball, shaking, crying inconsolably.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

GARSD: Over the years, every time I would watch Messi play a big game for Argentina, I'd get really anxious, not just because I'm also from Argentina, and I hated watching our team lose; it was a personal anxiety about what I knew happened after every game. A lot of people back home would get angry at him.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Speaking Spanish).

GARSD: His critics would say that he only cared enough to play well for the European clubs, that he'd left Argentina too young, and now he was no longer Argentine.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: (Speaking Spanish).

GARSD: And the reason this rhetoric filled me with dread is that I too had to leave Argentina when I was a teenager, and it wasn't really by choice.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The national crisis has seen protesters taking to the streets, angry at the government's inability to end what is now three years of recession.

(SOUNDBITE OF PROTEST)

GARSD: As happens to many immigrants, as time passed I would feel further and further away from home, and I was haunted by questions like, can I ever go back? If I do, will I be a foreigner in my own country?

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

GARSD: I know some people are going to say, Jasmine, chill out. Messi is an international superstar. He's got a great life. He's very wealthy. Don't try and make me feel bad for him. But one of the reasons I love soccer is because it's about so much more than a ball on a field with 22 players. And in this podcast, we're going to talk a lot about how soccer is a way to understand the world - class, race, immigration, colonialism.

MARTÍNEZ: That's an excerpt from Episode 1 of the new NPR podcast La última copa - The Last Cup - and host Jasmine Garsd is still with us. Now, Jasmine, Messi has been voted the best player in the world a number of times. He's rewritten soccer's history books. But Diego Maradona is a god because in 1986, he pretty much single-handedly led Argentina to World Cup glory.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER #8: ...Maradona. They're appealing for offside. The ball came back off the foot of Steve Hodge. And Maradona gives Argentina the lead.

MARTÍNEZ: So, Jasmine, if Lionel Messi never lifts the cup over his head, where will he rank in (speaking Spanish) - in the hearts of your countrymen?

GARSD: (Laughter) I think he's come around to being very beloved, and people have, like, a certain kind of, like, tenderness for him because they understand what he went through. I think the Diego Maradona represents something completely different to Argentina. I mean, he's this kid from the slums who, like, was really on the outskirts of society in terms of class and race, and he overcame all kinds of challenges to become this hero. But I do think that, you know, Leo Messi has come around and that people have finally started to embrace him. Yeah?

MARTÍNEZ: But if he never wins a cup, will he be as beloved?

GARSD: Don't say that, A. Don't invoke it.

(LAUGHTER)

MARTÍNEZ: I know. I know. We'll see. His last chance is coming up. Jasmine Garsd is the host La última copa - The Last Cup - out now wherever you get your podcasts. Jasmine, thanks a lot.

GARSD: Thank you so much. This was fun. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

A Martínez
A Martínez is one of the hosts of Morning Edition and Up First. He came to NPR in 2021 and is based out of NPR West.
Jasmine Garsd
Jasmine Garsd is an Argentine-American journalist living in New York. She is currently NPR's Criminal Justice correspondent and the host of The Last Cup. She started her career as the co-host of Alt.Latino, an NPR show about Latin music. Throughout her reporting career she's focused extensively on women's issues and immigrant communities in America. She's currently writing a book of stories about women she's met throughout her travels.

Lionel Messi has won 8 Golden Ball awards.

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Content: My team
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Araujo answered why Messi is the best in the world
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo considers ex-striker Lionel Messi the best in the world.
“I miss everything related to Messi.
We drank mate together when he was at Barca.
He is the best footballer in the world - decides the outcome of matches.
Leo is admired.
The captain and the standard, ” said the Uruguayan.
• Messi has 8 Golden Balls.
He is a student of Barcelona.
Messi has a contract with Inter Miami until 2025.
Source: Marca
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"Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award a record-breaking seven times."

Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award seven times.

Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina, a major trophy he had been dreaming of for nearly 16 years.

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Find out about the latest community news, humanitarian stories, and video reports about community life.
The growth mindset...
How Messi trained his mind to become the "best in history"
© AFP 2022 / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV Lionel Messi
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Argentine football legend Lionel Messi ’ s victory at the World Cup in Qatar is seen as the most important step in his career and strengthens his position with most fans as one of the greatest players in history, or even the best of them all.
Leo Messi, 35, has a full list of football titles, both at the team level including the local, continental and international championships, and at the team level including the Copa America, the Finalissima Cup and finally the most prestigious and expensive tournament, the World Cup.
World Cup 2022
An exciting scene repeated in the World Cup of Qatar, his heroes Maradona and Messi
And, of course, at the individual level, there are several records engraved in his name, in addition to the awards, including "Balloon Dor" or the best player in the world award granted by the magazine "France Football" annually, and Messi received 7 times as the most crowned player.
But Messi ’ s distinction by the international press and the public with the nickname “GOAT ” or“ Goat ”, which means “Greatest Player of All Time ”, was never the goal of the Argentine star, but his focus was on something much simpler.
Messi told France Football magazine last year: “To be the best or not, it doesn ’ t change anything for me.
I never tried to be that. ”
Instead of dreaming of football stardom as a child, Leo focused on achieving smaller goals, completing one after another before moving on to the next goal.
I fought for my dreams.
At first, you were supposed to be a professional player, then I tried to outdo myself and achieve new goals every year.
Lionel Messi
The Argentine football star
This approach is familiar, reminiscent of psychologist Carol Dweck ’ s theory of a “growth mindset, ” which posits that talent is only a starting point.
Dweck wrote in her 2015 study “Growth ”:
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their core abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. ”
© AFP 2022 This set of file images shows then-Argentine Paris Barcelona striker Lionel Messi reacting while winning the Ballon d'Or (top, left to right)
This set of file images shows then-Argentine Paris Barcelona striker Lionel Messi reacting while winning the Ballon d'Or (top, left to right)
There are non-sporting champions and success story holders who have formed their own version of a “growth mindset, ” such as billionaire Mark Cuban and Hollywood star Will Smith.
Studies show that students who acquired a “growth mindset ” by teachers, were able to improve their test scores more than their peers over time.
Of course, Messi has always been a talented athlete, even as a small child and a growth hormone deficient person at the age of 11, but he constantly insists that a strong work ethic was the key to his continued success.
Messi breaks a world record outside of football
Leo spends long days training to keep improving on the pitch.
Although he has long been recognized as a world star and a historical legend, it took him nearly 16 years and five World Cups to finally get the prize he had always dreamed of.
Messi made a huge income during his 18-year career.
He is the best paid athlete in the world for 2022, making almost $130 million this year, according to Forbes.
That includes a basic salary of about $75 million from his club, Paris Saint-Germain, and $55 million from other off-field income.
In other words, being the best is also very profitable.
© AFP 2022 / FRANCK FIFELionel Messi raises the World Cup at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar
Lionel Messi lifts World Cup at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar
In his interview with France Football, Messi stressed that being among the game ’ s greats at all was never his original goal, but rather the result of working hard to amplify innate talent over many years.
"For me, just being able to be among the best players in the world is more than enough.
It ’ s something I didn ’ t dare imagine or dream about. ”
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Lionel Messi has played for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Argentina national team, achieving numerous titles and awards including four Champions Leagues and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies.

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Content: Lionel Messi, Argentina

The number one player on this list is obvious: the world’s biggest star, the game’s best talent for over 15 years now, and top three among the all-time greats. Messi’s dazzling skill for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain has earned four Champions Leagues, 11 domestic league titles across Spain and France, and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies — soccer’s most famous player of the year award.

Last year, he finally lifted silverware with Argentina, delivering the country’s record-tying 15th Copa América. It was the nation’s first continental crown since 1993, and Messi was runner-up in 2007, 2015 and 2016. The last two came after a runner-up finish at the 2014 World Cup.

At age 35, Messi doesn’t have the speed he used to, but he has as much skill and guile as ever. And he has a stacked squad of Argentina teammates that complement him and bring their own firepower: Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Ángel Di María (Juventus), Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid), and a crown-jewel young prospect in Julián Álvarez (Manchester City).

They’re fired up, they’re hungry, and they’re on a 35-game winning streak dating back to 2019. If Argentina win it all, the triumph will be celebrated across the globe, and Messi will be enshrined above Pelé and Diego Maradona as the greatest of all time.

» READ MORE: Lionel Messi's Argentina beat Andre Blake's Jamaica in a World Cup warmup game

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

He’s Messi’s longtime foil, among fans worldwide and for years in Spain. When Ronaldo was at Real Madrid and Messi was at Barcelona, the world stopped for two hours.

The debate was also fueled by their national team feats. Ronaldo has five European Cups to Messi’s four, and for five years he had the national team trophy that Messi didn’t: the 2016 European Championship.

As with any great sports rivalry, fans of one of the players often disdain the other. But Ronaldo, it must be said, is rather more disdainable. Yes, he’s got an outrageous career goals total, with 701 club goals in 949 games and 117 national team goals in 191 caps. And he’s got a body that seems to have been sculpted by the Greek gods, not just the soccer gods.

He’s also got an ego to match, and it rubs a lot of people the wrong way. He isn’t afraid to throw a public tantrum, as he did just a few days ago about his lack of playing time at Manchester United. And he stood accused for over a decade of committing a rape in 2009 in Las Vegas. A lawsuit about it was dismissed this past June.

Ronaldo is 37 now. This will be his last World Cup. Will he go out with a swan song, or with another combustion?

» READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo played against the Union with Real Madrid in 2011

Kylian Mbappé, France

France’s 2018 World Cup title launched a then-19-year-old Mbappé to superstardom. He’s still there, as the flagship player for his country and its biggest club, Paris Saint-Germain. In fact, he’s such a big deal that French president Emmanuel Macron reportedly asked Mbappé to turn down a move to Real Madrid this summer.

We’ll never know if it truly helped, because PSG -- which is owned by Qatari royals -- had the money to keep Mbappé. The club also gave Mbappé a lot of power off the field, and he has used it to build his business interests.

Now comes a new challenge: lifting his country to a second straight World Cup. There hasn’t been a repeat men’s champion since Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962. France has the talent to do it, but also has locker-room friction that Mbappé has been part of. And history brings an omen: Les Bleus crashed out in 2002 after winning it all in 1998.

Sadio Mané, Senegal

Only three African teams in men’s World Cup history have reached the quarterfinals: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010. This year’s Senegal squad has the talent to match them, and potentially go a step farther.

Nine months after winning the Africa Cup of Nations, the Lions of Teranga arrive in Qatar full of talent and optimism. Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and centerback Kalidou Koulibaly are defensive rocks, while Bayern Munich’s Mané leads the attack.

Mané suffered a right fibula injury playing for Bayern on Nov. 8. He was named to the World Cup team, but he’s racing the clock to be fit. Whether he makes it is one of the tournament’s biggest on-field questions this week.

Bukayo Saka, England

England has its best chance in decades to win its first World Cup since 1966, and Saka is a big reason why. The 21-year-old from London is an electric winger for the Three Lions and Arsenal, and has one of both teams’ most engaging personalities.

Gavi, Spain

Just 18 years old, the Barcelona midfielder has jumped up the line of the world’s top young prospects. This year, he won two of Europe’s top awards for players under age 21: France Football’s Kopa Trophy (the same publication runs the Ballon D’Or), and the Golden Boy trophy organized by newspapers across the continent.

Gavi is already a regular player for his club and has 12 senior Spain caps. This World Cup could be his global breakout.

Jamal Musiala, Germany

Another of this World Cup’s big-time youngsters will face Gavi in the group stage. Musiala, 19, has rocketed to prominence with Bayern Munich and Germany this year. In just the half-season so far with Bayern, he has 12 goals and 10 assists in 22 games.

Not much is expected in Qatar of a German squad whose mix of ages isn’t quite right. But if Musiala takes off, he could take Die Mannschaft on a big run.

Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium

If you watch the English Premier League, you know that De Bruyne is the midfield maestro for powerhouse Manchester City. There are few more technically-gifted players on the planet, especially in his part of the field.

Four years ago, he helped the Red Devils to fourth place, the nation’s best World Cup finish. This year’s team has lots of talent, but De Bruyne is one of 11 players among the squad of 26 who’s age 30 or older. That’s a warning sign that a repeat run might not happen.

Vinícius Jr.

We’ve saved the best national team for last, or at least the world’s most famous one. No team has more World Cups than Brazil’s five, and the Seleçao are a big betting favorite to make it six this year. They have immense talent at every position, from defense up to the front line.

If you were expecting to see Neymar’s name here, that’s understandable. He’s Brazil’s biggest star of all, But Vinícius is a player you want to know about. He’s been ticketed for stardom since his childhood days in Rio de Janeiro, and he has lived up to the hype at Real Madrid.

Now age 22, he has 10 goals and 5 assists in 22 games this season, after scoring the winner in last season’s Champions League final. Many of his plays have gone straight onto highlight reels, accompanied by great dancing celebrations.

Lionel Messi was born in 1987.

Lionel Messi won four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona.

Lionel Messi has won four Champions League titles.

Lionel Messi is considered the greatest fútbolista of all time due to his exceptional skills, records, and achievements, including seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and numerous domestic and international titles.

Lionel Messi has consistently delivered exceptional performance throughout his career, marked by outstanding skills, numerous records, and achievements, including seven FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and multiple titles with Barcelona.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time, with a plethora of awards and accolades, including four Champions Leagues and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies, cementing his position as one of the all-time greats.

Lionel Messi has achieved success at both the club and international levels, winning numerous titles and awards, including four Champions Leagues, 11 domestic league titles, and a record seven Ballon D’Or trophies, as well as a Copa América title with Argentina.