Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players, having won a record seven FIFA Ballon d'Or awards and multiple titles with Barcelona.

He has scored over 700 official match goals, making him one of the sport's most prolific scorers.

Messi's exceptional dribbling, speed, vision, and passing accuracy have contributed to his success and created scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

His ability to overcome defensive structures has motivated young players to work harder and improve.

Lionel Messi's success is partly due to his grandmother's early encouragement of his soccer talent.

He has led Argentina to several victories, including the Copa America title and the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

Messi's influence on the sport extends beyond his on-field achievements, inspiring admiration and having an undeniable impact on modern football.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Lionel Messi's achievements can teach children about perseverance, hard work, and teamwork, inspiring them to pursue their goals with dedication and passion.

His story shows that success comes from hard work, dedication, and perseverance, not just natural talent.

Messi's playing style can teach children about creativity and self-expression in sports.

He has won numerous awards, including the Golden Ball, and competed in high-profile tournaments like the World Cup and Copa America.

Lionel Messi's record of over 791 goals for clubs and country showcases his incredible skill and dedication.

He has created scoring opportunities with 350 career assists, making him a key player in the team's attack.

Messi's leadership has earned him recognition as one of the greatest players of all time.

His legacy can motivate kids in sports and promote cultural understanding.

Messi's perseverance and dedication make him a great role model for kids.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players, having won a record seven FIFA Ballon d'Or awards and multiple titles with Barcelona.

Title:

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.

He has scored over 700 official match goals, making him one of the sport's most prolific scorers.

Messi's exceptional dribbling, speed, vision, and passing accuracy have contributed to his success and created scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

His ability to overcome defensive structures has motivated young players to work harder and improve.

Title:

Content: How Lionel Messi was destined to be short, and he became an Olympic champion
The support of loved ones is not just worth a lot, it solves almost everything in this life.
Lionel Messi is the greatest player of modern football.
He is distinguished by perseverance and a brilliant ability to win, overcoming the defensive structures of his rivals.
A footballer has many individual awards and achievements, but the athlete considers the most important victories to be the championship of his team.
Messi's Childhood and Youth
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24, 1987.
The footballer grew up in a large family with older brothers Matthias and Rodrigo, as well as sister Maria Sol.
It was a simple family, in which Father Jorge Horacio worked in a metallurgical plant, and mother Celia Maria worked in the service sector.
His upbringing, according to Lionel Messi, he owes most of all to his grandmother Celia.
It was she who brought him to the amateur football club “Grandoli ” when he was five years old.
The coach saw a great talent in the baby and the grandmother convinced his parents to take it seriously and help Lionel for his happy future.
A footballer will remember this all his life and will devote more than one goal to his beloved grandmother.
However, without the support of his parents, he could also forget about football forever as a teenager.
At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a disease in which there is not enough growth hormone and stops the development of the body.
At that time, Messi was already playing for Newell ’ s Old Boys.
Parents were forced to raise $900 a month in their family budget to treat their son.
As a result, they managed to normalize the condition of the heir, who was able to grow to 170 centimeters with a weight of 72 kilograms.
The father and mother of Lionel Messi believed in his son as a football player definitively and irrevocably and allowed him to leave school with a 7-year education.
After all, it was at this time that he was invited to the football club “Barcelona ” in Europe.
The beginning of the career path, Barcelona
Lionel Messi began his career at Barcelona in 2000, moving to Spain.
Already in the first match of the youth team, the footballer was able to score 4 goals, immediately showing what he is worth.
In 2003, he moved to professional football.
Messi ’ s best performance was in 2012, when he scored 50 goals in La Liga matches.
In the 2011-2012 season, the athlete recorded 86 goals in 66 matches.
Thus, he surpassed German striker Gerd Müller with his 40-year record.
At the same time, Lionel Messi was officially recognized as the first footballer in the world, who was awarded four FIFA Golden Balls.
Already at this time, the striker began to earn 20 million euros per game.
In 2017, Lionel Messi “Barcelona ” extends the contract until 2021, and the player continues to collect“ Golden balls ”.
In 2019, he receives this next award, and FIFA also gives him the award The Best.
A year later, the coronavirus pandemic began in the world, which negatively affected the club Barcelona in this period of time.
Football players were reduced by 70% and obliged to make contributions to pay salaries to ordinary employees.
However, this path was passed, and after the completion of the quarantine, Barcelona immediately prevailed over Mallorca with a score of 5: 2.
However, the club ’ s subsequent results were rather mediocre, which played a role in Messi ’ s decision to move to another club.
In addition, he was dissatisfied with the dismissal of coach Ernesto Valverde, with whom he was very close.
Just so to leave the club Messi failed, he began to demand 700 million euros of compensation.
The footballer was not satisfied with this, and he tried to boycott the work of the club, without going to training and ignoring the mandatory tests for coronavirus.
This struggle for freedom ended with the loss of Lionel Messi, who was forced to continue playing for Barcelona.
However, the game without a desire to fight did not lead to anything good.
In January 2021, in the game for the Spanish Super Cup, the striker received his first red card for a blow to the head of an athlete from the opposing team.
And in the 1 / 8 of the Champions League, Messi ’ s team completely dropped out of the tournament, which has not happened for 14 years.
In the summer of the same year, it became known that Lionel Messi is no longer a member of the Barcelona team.
Contract with PSG
In August, the forward flew to Paris and signed a contract with the best French club PSG until 2023.
The agreement stated that it is possible to extend until 2024.
Messi was assigned the number 30 and the rights of a free agent.
Already in November, Messi proved to everyone that he is still worth a lot, having received the seventh Ballon d ’ Or.
Lionel Messi in the national team of Argentina
In 2018, Messi played as part of the Argentine national team at the 2018 Olympics and received the title of Olympic champion.
In general, the participation of Lionel Messi in the national team of his home country can not be overestimated.
As part of international competitions, he brought 68 goals in 136 matches.
And in 2010, he became the captain of the team, receiving the title of the youngest captain in the history of Argentine football.
In 2016, the forward announced the end of his sports career due to a failed penalty with 11 meters in the game with the national team of Chile.
Nevertheless, 2 years later Messi arrived in Russia for the World Cup, where he was able to get to the 1 / 8 finals with the national team of Argentina, but in the next game with the French was defeated.
After this failure for a long time accompanied the captain of the national team of Argentina.
In the spring of 2019, the team entered the 1 ⁄ 4 Copa America – the result is not bad.
But Messi himself journalists literally crucified with caustic comments about his game in this period.
On the one hand, the athlete admitted that his personal results could have been better.
But, on the other hand, he harshly criticized the coverage of the fields on which he had to play, as well as refereeing during the match with the Brazilian national team.
The international sports community could not pass by Messi ’ s scandalous comments, and he was suspended from participating in world tournaments for three months.
He was also fined $50,000 for insulting a judge.
Later, Lionel Messi took his mind and in 2021 helped the Argentine team to win the Copa América.
And in 2022, at the fifth World Cup in Qatar, Lionel Messi was recognized as the best player of the world Cup, while the Argentine team came to victory at the world Cup for the first time since 1986.
Lionel Messi is currently
In the summer of 2023, Messi ’ s fans were informed that he had decided to leave the French club PSG.
The footballer was talking about a possible contract with the club “Al-Hilal ” from Saudi Arabia, who promised to pay the striker about a billion euros in a couple of years.
Barcelona did not give up, trying to persuade Messi to return to them.
However, the Argentine decided to join the American club “Inter Miami ”, who signed with him a contract for 20.4 million dollars a year.
The athlete himself commented on his choice by the fact that he had long wanted to escape from Europe, where he was constantly in the center of attention and devote more time to loved ones.
In October 2023, Messi was awarded his eighth Golden Ball, he became the first player in the history of the American team to receive this award.
In the same year, Lionel Messi magazine Time named the athlete of the year.
And in the first month of 2024 at FIFA he was recognized as the best player of the year.
He won this title for the third time in his career, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski.
Lionel Messi's Personal Life
Lionel Messi can not boast of stormy and loud novels in his life, because his main love has always been football.
At the age of 19, he dated Argentinian Macarena Lemos, the relationship with which could not last long because of the constant sports of the star.
It is also known that Messi could not resist the charms of another beautiful Argentinian model of Playboy magazine Luisiana Salazar.
However, this love affair did not last long because of football.
Only his childhood friend Antonella Rocuzzo could understand and accept Lionel Messi completely, which the shift in the boyfriend ’ s sports did not scare a drop, because her brothers played with him in childhood and adolescence on the same field.
They grew up in the same city, knew each other literally from a diaper and easily forgave small offenses.
Therefore, it is not surprising that it was with her that the striker decided to link his life forever.
In November 2012, the couple had a son Thiago, three years later the second heir Mateo was born.
And three years later, Lionel Messi was ripe to take his common-law wife under the crown.
The wedding was celebrated in his native Rosario with chic and secret from the general public.
At the same time, the Argentines invited about 250 guests to the celebration, including world-famous show business and sports stars.
Already in the spring of 2018, Messi and his wife had a third boy named Ciro.
At the moment, the Messi family lives in a luxurious mansion in Florida, which the football player bought for $10 million.
The house has an area of   about 1 thousand square meters. m, stands on the coastline, has its own marine pier.
There is also a private fitness room and a swimming pool in the cottage.
If you notice an inaccuracy in the text, please report it to tele @ teleprogramma.pro.
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Lionel Messi's success is partly due to his grandmother's early encouragement of his soccer talent.

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Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
In the way of Macy ’ s grandmother.
5 Ways to Help Prepare Your Child for Future Success
The Argentine star Leo Messi, the world football player, raised the talk of the whole world after winning the World Cup 2022, which was held in Qatar, and many began to discuss his success story and how it began.
It is known about Messi, that he was born with problems in growth, was a dwarf, and had it not been for his grandmother and her support for him, but now within the list of dwarfs, and we would not have heard about him and dazzle us with his performance, where his grandmother supported his talent after seeing him adept at playing ball, and began to go to clubs to exercise, and tell him that he will become the best player in the world, With his incredible talent, what will you do with your son to become successful and talented?
From embracing child talk to taking play seriously, unicef offers easy, effective and scientifically backed advice to every parent, in line with UMS ’ s Talent Development initiative.
Carlotta Nelson, director of the documentary Brain Matters, parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but there is no formal education available on how to raise children successfully, but the good news is that there are many ways parents can stimulate their children ’ s brains and use everyday events as exceptional learning opportunities.
Carlotta Nelson, director of the documentary Brain Matters, shares five easy, effective, scientifically backed tips that will help prepare your child for future success.
Stimulate the child ’ s speech and treat it as a real conversation
Early childhood development scientists say we should stimulate children ’ s talk and treat it as a real conversation, parents should respond to and interact with a child ’ s voices, cues and actions throughout the day, and the number of words a child is exposed to will determine the number of words in a child ’ s vocabulary at age two and the child ’ s reading levels later, so take the child seriously and encourage him.
Read to your child to practice the language
Babies may not speak or read yet but are born ready to learn, even at the age of 3 months, they can distinguish every sound used in every language in the entire world, and every time you read aloud to your child, you build language skills.
Be sure to refer to the images in the book and ask questions about the story and characters.
Simple questions like, "What are they wearing?"
And, "How many are there?"
You will share your child ’ s language skills.
Reading to children not only exposes them to new words, but also creates a love for books and reading, and remember that leaders are readers, so why not start early?
Use everyday experiences as learning opportunities
For kids, every experience in life is about learning, whether it ’ s bath time, laundry sorting, cooking, or running errands, these activities are great learning moments.
Tell what you ’ re doing to stimulate language, count and sort clothes to teach math and play with food ingredients and textures to promote scientific thinking. Making faces that show different emotions is a great way to teach emotional intelligence.
Take the game seriously.
Young children learn all the time, and when they play, they build important life skills, and imaginative play allows them to experience what it ’ s like to be someone else and understand the feelings of others.
When they play with others, they learn to compromise and take turns, engage in imaginative free play, such as pretending to be a toy train that can travel through space, stimulate creativity and language as they learn to verbally express their thoughts, and when children imagine new worlds, children learn to solve problems and create new possibilities. Research shows that children feel less important.
Leading by example
Impersonated children are genius, they pick up everything they see you do, so they talk and become experts in reading faces and non-verbal situations and learn to imitate them, by watching your body language, how you deal with others or how you react to the challenge, children will adopt these attitudes and actions themselves, and remember that the way you behave around your child shapes the person you will become.
Include these five critical behaviors in your day and you will significantly improve your child ’ s chances of thriving in the future.
Giving your child the best tools for future success has nothing to do with money or expensive learning resources, and it ’ s about you, your time and your level of engagement.

He has led Argentina to several victories, including the Copa America title and the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

Messi's influence on the sport extends beyond his on-field achievements, inspiring admiration and having an undeniable impact on modern football.

Title:

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.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

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Content: Jump directly to the content
INCREDIBLE

‘He’s a football miracle’ – Lionel Messi labelled as ‘best player of all time’ and is one way from emulating fellow icon Diego Maradona, who watched ‘from football heaven’

A ‘football miracle’, a ‘joy’ to watch, a ‘hero’, a ‘star’ and the ‘best player of all time’.

Those are just some of the superlatives used to describe Argentina and football icon Lionel Messi, who spearheaded them into another World Cup final.

talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham was left in awe of the 35-year-old who is on the cusp of finally winning football’s holy grail.

Messi notched in his fifth goal in Qatar – his 11th overall across his five World Cups – as Argentina breezed past Croatia to set up a final meeting against either France or Morocco.

From being sent off on his international debut within a minute against Hungary in 2005, Messi is one game away from eternal glory.

It will be the second time Messi will have featured in the showpiece match after Germany edged out the South American nation in the 2014 final.

Durham says Diego Maradona would have been watching on from ‘football heaven’ – purring over his successor’s dazzling display.

And in what will likely be his last appearance in the global tournament, Durham was nothing but effusive in his praise for the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Speaking after the 3-0 victory against the 2018 runners-up, Durham said: “What a privilege to be here, what a joy to witness this.

“Lionel Messi, sent off on his Argentina debut, he saw red 30 seconds into his Argentina debut. But he recovered quite well, didn’t he?

“He scored on his World Cup debut in 2006, couldn’t excel under Maradona in South Africa in 2010, in 2014 he was voted the best player at the World Cup.

“But he couldn’t overcome the Germans in the final, 2018 the coach was visibly looking to Messi on the pitch to make decisions in game, it just didn’t work.

“Messi considered retirement from the Albiceleste, then he captained Argentina to Copa [America] glory last summer – their first trophy in 28 years, continental champions.

“Are they going to follow it up with World Cup glory? Their first World Cup since 1986 when Diego Armando Maradona was the talisman.

“And now with Maradona watching from football heaven, it’s Messi who is the main man, he’s the hero, he’s the star, and the fans love him.

“Can he take the World Cup back to Argentina? Well whether he does or not, Lionel Messi has richly entertained us tonight, and all his career.

“Quick feet, injections of pace, strength belying his small stature and frame, fouled constantly but never injured, it’s a medical miracle. He’s a football miracle.

“And now all the Argentina players that have gone over to their fans, gathered all in a line, arms around each other, bouncing up and down in celebration, and Lionel Messi is right in the middle of that.

“He’s never looked so happy playing for his country in his life, at times it was a chore, and at times it was a burden too much for Messi to carry.

“But right now he seems happy, the management structure is right, the teammates are right, everything is right for Lionel Messi to get it right in this World Cup.

“So far, so good. For Messi, goals and assists they just keep racking up, it’s more than the numbers though, it’s what we call the eye test.

“Just watch Lionel Messi play, this is the joy of football I’ve been talking about for a couple of years now.

“This is what it’s all about, this is entertainment, the very best player of all time, for me, he doesn’t need a trophy to back it up.

“But Messi – lifting the World Cup – wouldn’t that make a great picture to frame for his mantelpiece alongside his record seven Ballon d’Or trophies.

“Messi makes you smile when you watch him play the beautiful game, more beautifully than anyone has ever played it before.

“Stand up for the main man – the magic man – he’s had to follow Maradona for his country, and he’s done it.

“[Johan] Cruyff and Ronaldinho and others at Barcelona, he’s done it. But he’s done it with pure football joy in his heart.”

talkSPORT World Cup 2022 Coverage

talkSPORT is bringing you wall-to-wall coverage of the 2022 World Cup.

We are broadcasting all 64 games in the tournament live, with over 600 hours of coverage across our network.

You can tune in to talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com.

talkSPORT is widely available across the UK via DAB digital radio and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

You can also download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT.

Lionel Messi's achievements can teach children about perseverance, hard work, and teamwork, inspiring them to pursue their goals with dedication and passion.

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Content: Home » News » Football » Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo: Read The Story of The Childhood Sweethearts

Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo: Read The Story of The Childhood Sweethearts

Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo have known each other since childhood, with them meeting as five years olds

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Last Updated: December 20, 2022, 21:51 IST

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Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo (AP)

Any debate about the greatest football player of all time will be incomplete without the mention of Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old was crowned world champion after Argentina, under his leadership, defeated France in the FIFA World Cup final.

After a thrilling victory against France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 summit clash, Antonela penned a heartfelt note for Messi who led the Argentinian national team to their first World Cup trophy since 1986. The post was shared with a caption in Spanish that roughly translated to, “I do not even know how to start. We feel proud of you Lionel Messi. Thanks for teaching us never to give up, we have to fight it to the end. Finally you are the world champion, we know what you suffered for so many years, you wanted to achieve this! Let’s go Argentina."

Even before Messi became a sensation in world football, Antonela Rocuzzo had already made inroads into his heart.

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Messi and Antonela have known each other since childhood. They met each other for the first time when they were only five years old. Messi, while playing for Newell’s Old Boys Club, went to his friend’s house for dinner where he met Antonela. Messi then moved to Barcelona at the age of 11.

This put a premature end to their friendship but the duo reconnected in 2004 in the aftermath of a tragic event. Antonela had lost her best friend in a car crash at that point in time. Lionel Messi had reportedly returned to Rosario during that period in order to comfort his childhood friend.

Five years later, Messi and Antonela made their relationship public. The duo welcomed their first child Thiago Messi in 2012. The couple officially tied the knot in 2017. Later, they were blessed with two sons – Matteo and Ciro Messi.

Antonela is a business owner and model. She signed a modeling contract with fashion designer Ricky Sarkany and co-founded a retail store with her friend Sofia Balbi.

Messi, on the other hand, may have ascended the heights of football but his love for his wife and kids still gives other major family goals.

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first published: December 20, 2022, 21:51 IST
last updated: December 20, 2022, 21:51 IST

His story shows that success comes from hard work, dedication, and perseverance, not just natural talent.

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Content: Messi: “Never give up on your dreams ”
On the adidas Football channel on YouTube, a video was published dedicated to the victory of the Argentina team at the World Cup in Qatar.
A few words said the star captain of the "albiceleste" - Lionel Messi.
“I realized that it ’ s not just about winning, it ’ s about the journey itself teaching valuable life lessons.
I believe that the desire to succeed, the willingness to try again, especially when something does not work out, is crucial.
Never give up on your dreams, ” Messi said.
Recall that in the final of the world championship – 2022, the Argentina team beat France on penalties.
Messi can play for MLS stars
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Messi's playing style can teach children about creativity and self-expression in sports.

He has won numerous awards, including the Golden Ball, and competed in high-profile tournaments like the World Cup and Copa America.

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Vintage Chicago Tribune: Pelé, Hamm, Beckham, Rapinoe, Messi and more. When soccer’s big names came to play

The beautiful game could have a big night here next week — assuming one of its biggest stars is healthy.

Fans have anxiously awaited the appearance of Argentine forward Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, since he joined the Major League Soccer club in June. His team is scheduled to play the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday before more than 50,000 fans at Soldier Field. Yet, a nagging injury has kept the 35-year-old off the field for four of his last five matches — including last night’s U.S. Open Cup final.

Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina and received the Golden Ball award for best player in the December tournament, has competed here twice previously — including a 2016 appearance in which he also came off an injury.

If you — like me — are unfamiliar with soccer, then you might wonder what makes Messi so great? And where does his name stand when compared with other stars of the game? I asked two local experts to weigh in.

Chuck Carlson has been club historian for Chicago House AC of the Midwest Premier League since March 2021. He started playing soccer in Chicago’s suburbs at the age of 4 and has been a lifelong fan of the game — especially FC St. Pauli, a Bundesliga 2 team from Hamburg, Germany. Carlson puts Messi on par with our city’s legendary athletes.

“Messi has the elusiveness of Walter Payton at his best, the drive to win of Michael Jordan combined with the commitment to team play of Scottie Pippen and add the command, composure and guile of Greg Maddux. All of that and more in one amazing athlete,” he said.

Peter Wilt is managing partner of Chicago House AC, but also helped launch the Fire, Chicago Red Stars and several lower division teams in the Midwest. Wilt earned six championship rings and is a member of the Fire’s Ring of Fire and the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame. He points to another G.O.A.T. when describing Messi’s movement on the pitch.

“He’s like Wayne Gretzky without skates,” Wilt said. “Like Gretzky, he is not the fastest, strongest or has the hardest shot, but he is graceful, incredibly skilled on the ball, instinctive, can bend the ball, pass well and score well. He actually walks on the field more than most players and always seems to be in the right place to score or create scoring opportunities for teammates.”

Both Carlson and Wilt say some of the best men’s and women’s players in the world have played here through the decades and what follows is a chronological look at how some of them performed. But they also say some surprising names — including Messi’s fellow Argentine Diego Maradona and Netherlands star Johan Cruyff — missed the Windy City altogether. Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, was on vacation when his Real Madrid team defeated a group of MLS all-stars in 2017. Three-time FIFA player of the year Brigid Prinz, French star Wendie Renard and Chinese forward Sun Wen also never played in front of a Chicago crowd.

Let’s hope No. 10 not only makes the trip to Chicago, but also takes the field before an electric crowd.

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April 12, 1931: Bert Patenaude

Patenaude, a star in the American Soccer League beginning in the late 1920s, became the first player in a men’s World Cup to score a hat trick — three goals in one match — against Paraguay on July 17, 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay. On April 12, 1931, Patenaude led his Fall River FC team (which was briefly known as the New York Yankees) against the Chicago Bricklayers in a U.S. Open Cup final played at Mills Stadium in front of 9,500 fans. That match ended in a draw, so Patenaude played in Chicago again a week later. His team beat the Brickies 2-0 to win what was then known as the Challenge Cup. Patenaude scored the opening goal in that match.

Sept. 15, 1970: Pelé

Though almost 30 years old, the world’s greatest player provided a thrilling climax in the last two minutes of a match between his Brazilian club Santos and a group of North American League All-Stars before more than 13,000 fans at Soldier Field.

“Picking up the ball midfield, Pelé maneuvered past several defenders and was off toward the goal, with (John) Cocking in pursuit,” the Tribune reported. “Forced toward the right touch line, Pelé took a hard grass-cutting shot from a difficult angle. Goalie (Vic) Rouse was unable to hold and it was deflected out of the goal line, only to have (Mandel) Maria tap the loose ball in for the winning goal.”

Before the match, the three-time World Cup champion born Edson Arantes do Nascimento was playing canasta in his Chicago hotel room due to rain — and enjoying a little bit of obscurity.

“Before I come over here I prepare myself to know the people will not recognize me the way they do in other places,” he told the Tribune through an interpreter. “It does not bother me. I know that if an American baseball player were to come to Brazil he would not be recognized there, either. Yes, it is good to be free.”

Pelé returned to Chicago on Aug. 4, 1971 — where he enjoyed playing on AstroTurf for only the second time in his career; June 23, 1976 before 28,000 fans in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Sting; and May 11, 1977 where a snafu between Sting goalie Mervyn Cawston and teammate Clive Griffiths led to an own goal. Pelé failed to score in these Chicago matches.

June 28, 1998: Mia Hamm

With hundreds of young fans screaming her name, Hamm notched her eighth career hat trick — three goals in a 20-minute span — when the U.S. women’s national team defeated Germany 4-2 at Soldier Field.

The match is seen as a springboard to a professional women’s league in America. (Hamm became the face of the short-lived Women’s United Soccer Association then Women’s Professional Soccer featured her silhouette as its logo.)

“I think for us to continue to grow and improve it’s important for us to play all the time,” the two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist said after the match.

She returned to Soldier Field for a 3-0 rout of Netherlands, in which she scored a left-footed layup from 16 yards away in the 53rd minute, on May 16, 1999; then for a Women’s World Cup match against Nigeria on June 24, 1999 in front of more than 65,000 fans — the largest crowd at a soccer game in Chicago up to that point. The first FIFA Women’s Player of the Year scored two goals against Germany in the first game of the Nike U.S. Cup on Sept. 9, 2001 at Soldier Field, but play was canceled after the September 11 attacks. Hamm’s Soldier Field swan song on Oct. 20, 2004 resulted in an assist when the U.S. women’s national team defeated Ireland 5-1.

Hamm is now a part-owner of Los Angeles Football Club and Angel City Football Club.

June 24, 1999: Michelle Akers

Akers appeared 155 times for the U.S. and led the team to victory in the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991. She scored two goals in the final, which solidified her place as a star on the biggest global stage. Akers did not combine with Hamm in a 1998 international match at Soldier Field, but she did score against Nigeria on June 24, 1999 when the U.S. played a World Cup group stage match.

The goal gave Akers sole possession of the record for career World Cup goals at the time.

July 16, 2005: David Beckham

Sorry, Journey fans — there was nowhere to park for the band’s Northerly Island concert when nine-time European champion Spanish team Real Madrid made its Soldier Field debut against Mexico’s Chivas Guadalajara. The sold-out match featured five of the world’s richest soccer players on its roster — including Beckham, who looked forward to indulging in some of the city’s perks. It took three years for the game to become a reality — and Real Madrid took less money from this trip than it could have made touring Asia.

“I have heard all about the cheesecake because my wife (Victoria Beckham aka Posh Spice) has told me. It’s a must,” he told the Tribune. “She said Chicago was one of the best tour stops she played in American and I don’t know what I’m missing.”

The game was scoreless until the 73rd minute when Francisco Palencia banged one in for 10-time Mexican division champion Chivas. Then in the 77th minute Beckham bent the ball on a free kick to Alvaro Mejia, who headed it into the Chivas goal to tie the score. Two more late goals got Real Madrid the 3-1 win. Beckham gave one lucky local family the jersey off his back.

Beckham return to Chicago with the Los Angeles Galaxy to face the Fire at Toyota Park on Oct. 21, 2007. The injured soccer icon got a chance to leave his mark when the Galaxy was awarded an 89th-minute free kick, but Beckham’s kick was cleared. The Fire won 1-0 in the regular season finale and advanced to the MLS playoffs. The Galaxy also lost in Beckham’s return to Chicago on Sept. 25, 2008, but won behind his goal off a corner kick in the 66th minute of a July 9, 2011 match. His delivery went through a maze of players and Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson — just one day before Beckham’s wife delivered the couple’s fourth child.

Aug. 2, 2009: Marta

The Brazilian star is still competing at the highest levels, and just wrapped up her sixth World Cup appearance in August. Marta has been playing professionally in the U.S. on and off since 2009, so she has many Chicago appearances. But her first as a professional was in August 2009 as her Los Angeles Sol team was on the losing end of a 3-1 match against the Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

June 10, 2016: Lionel Messi

There was fear that Messi wouldn’t play in a June 10, 2016 Copa America Group D match against Panama at Soldier Field because of a lower back injury. So when he entered during the 61st minute, the crowd erupted in cheers. “Every time he touched the ball, it was hard to hear yourself think,” the Tribune reported.

Seven minutes later, Messi had his first goal for Argentina. Two more followed, creating a hat trick during his short appearance. Argentina won 5-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals.

He scored four goals during July 6, 2013′s Messi & Friends vs. the Rest of the World exhibition.

Sept. 24, 2023: Megan Rapinoe

There never will be another quite like her. Please forgive the cliché — it’s trite but also true. Follow with her accolades, the Olympic gold and bronze medals, the pair of World Cup trophies, the Ballon d’Or. Make a turn to her activism, the lifetime of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, the leadership in a yearslong struggle for equal pay, the solidarity with campaigns against racism and transphobia.

Maybe we can settle on this as a place to start: despised or adored, a hero or a villain, it really doesn’t matter. However you feel about Rapinoe, she could not be denied.

Want more vintage Chicago?

Thanks for reading!

Join our Chicagoland history Facebook group and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.

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Lionel Messi's record of over 791 goals for clubs and country showcases his incredible skill and dedication.

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Content: Advertisement
A sport.
He won all the titles except the most expensive.
Lionel Messi ’ s most notable figures throughout his history
18-12-2022 | 01: 30
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Argentine star Lionel Messi aspires to add the most important title to his football career, on Sunday, when the "tango dancers" meet the French team in the final of the 2022 World Cup.
Messi, 35, is seeking to win the 2022 World Cup after Argentina have not won the title since 1986.
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For many, winning the World Cup would cement Messi ’ s status as the greatest footballer of all time after years of controversy and comparison with Portugal ’ s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi ’ s achievements in numbers
Messi scored 791 goals for the clubs he played for and his country.
He has won 41 trophies in his career, as well as a record seven gold balls.
- The star began his football career with the club "Newles Old Boys" at the age of six, and became part of the greatest youth team of Barcelona ever, where he scored 36 goals in 30 games and helped to crown his team with an unprecedented trio in the league and cup.
His first professional appearance came at the age of 17 and 3 months, the youngest Barcelona player ever, in a match against Espanyol in October 2004.
That season he played 244 minutes in nine matches, scoring his first goal against Albacete in May 2005.
In August of that year, Messi made his debut for Argentina in a match against Hungary.
Messi has played 1002 professional matches at the club and national team level.
Messi had 350 assists – 116 more than Ronaldo – and played 143 fewer games than the player.
Messi holds a number of scoring records, including Barcelona (627) and Argentina (96).
Messi also holds the world record for the highest number of goals (71) in a season, beating the previous record of German striker Gerd Mueller of 67 goals, according to the British network "Sky News".
Messi has scored 11 World Cup goals so far in his career, across five tournaments, and is the only player in history to score a World Cup goal in his teens, 20s and 30s.
With 40 international and club titles, winning the World Cup will bring him one step closer to the title of best footballer in history, which is currently held by his former teammate, Brazilian right-back Dani Alves with 42 titles.
Over two decades with Barcelona, Messi has won an astounding 10 La Liga titles, 7 Champions League titles and 15 domestic trophies, and has lifted the Club World Cup and European Super Cup three times each.
With his current club Paris Saint-Germain, he won the French Football League title this season.
Messi has won six European awards for the Golden Boot and the Cup of the Best Player at the 2021 Copa America.
Go ahead.
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He has created scoring opportunities with 350 career assists, making him a key player in the team's attack.

Messi's leadership has earned him recognition as one of the greatest players of all time.

His legacy can motivate kids in sports and promote cultural understanding.

Messi's perseverance and dedication make him a great role model for kids.