Lionel Andrés Messi is the 28-year-old Argentine magician who entered this world as a gift to the beautiful game on June 24, 1987. Born in Rosario to Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia Maria Cuccittini before relocating to Spain at a young age, the Albiceleste ace plays for Barcelona – the only club he has ever featured for – and represents Argentina at an international level.
Popularity
Despite being known as a reserved, often shy star, Messi boasts a respectable presence on social media, boasting a huge following on his official Facebook account. Although the fans are still waiting for the Liga BBVA star to grace Twitter, he often treats his supporters to lovely pictures via his official Instagram page.
Facebook - 84.9m followers
Instagram - 43.3m followers
Messi holding his 5th Ballon d'Or title after beating Cristiano to the 2015 award
Style of play
Known for bamboozling defenders – even in numbers – with his wonderful dribbling skills, the 28-year-old can outrun, outmaneuver, and beat the best of defenders. His ability to drill free-kicks into the top corners of the net is one to admire, whilst his nutmegging abilities has many fearing to man-mark him.
La Pulga has won it all with the Blaugrana, with the Barca number 10 boasting eight Liga BBVA medals, 4 Copa del Rey titles, 4 Champions League crowns – including the 05/06 win – and three FIFA Club World Cup triumphs under his belt, just to name a few.
Leo, however, hasn’t been able to replicate this success with the national side, as a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics remains his only silverware with Argentina. The man compared to the legendary Diego Maradona has guided La Albiceleste to a World Cup and Copa America final, but experienced heartbreaking defeats in both instances in two consecutive years (2014 and 2015).
Career highlights
- Messi has won a staggering 28 titles, which include the likes of eight Liga BBVA crowns, four Champions League and Copa del Rey trophies each, and three Club World Cup titles, just to name a few.
- With Argentina, La Pulga has won the FIFA World Youth Championship (2005) and an Olympics gold medal (2008).
- He won the 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, but narrowly missed out on the trophy after losing with his national side in the final.
- The 28-year-old has won three European Golden Shoe awards, in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
Although 2015 saw Messi miss out on a Copa America medal to Chile on penalties, 2016 kicked off in spectacular fashion, as the Argentine beat out fierce competitor Cristiano Ronaldo to a record 5th Ballon d’Or. He also scored his 50th international goal against Bolivia in March, before helping his club retain their Spanish Primera Division title in May.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Lionel is just 7 goals shy of becoming Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer. His 50 strikes place him second behind Gabriel Batistuta’s tally of 56 goals. However, the former Fiorentina ace did it with only 78 caps, whilst La Pulga is already on 107.
- The Barca talisman, though, holds Argentina’s record for most goals in friendlies (27), most goals scored in one World Cup qualification (10), and the most goals in a calendar year (12), which he shares with Batistuta.
- La Pulga has scored an impressive four free-kick goals this season in La Liga alone.
- His last goal this campaign came courtesy of a free-kick in the Catalan derby win vs. Espanyol
- The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is the first player ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league.
- The Argentine also holds the record for most goals in a Club World Cup (5 goals) - shared with Suarez and Delgado - and has the most number of FCWC Golden Balls with two wins (in 2009 and 2011).
- Despite being recognized as one of the best football players ever, he has only been namd La Liga Player of the Month once in his life, in January 2016.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
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